Michael Crichton: A Critical Companion

(Hardback)

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Description

Until now, Michael Crichton's many readers have had nowhere to turn for more information on one of America's most popular novelists. This companion features clear analyses of Crichton's life and literary influences, as well as chapters on each of his 13 novels to date. It should help Crichton's readers to learn more about how significant events in his life affected the development of his fiction and literary style and how the heritage of popular fiction, including mystery, gothic, adventure and science fiction, influenced his writing. This study provides close textual analysis of each of his novels in turn, focusing on plot, character development, theme and critical interpretation. This study analyses Crichton's novels from "The Andromeda Strain" (1969) to "Disclosure" (1994). It features a clear, user-friendly organisation, with two general chapters on Crichton's life and literary heritage, and one chapter on each of his novels. For ease of use by the reader, each chapter is subdivided into sections on general critical analysis, plot, theme, character development, and alternative perspectives on the novel that offer additional insight. The author shows how each of Crichton's novels incorporates a theme or debate from current culture and how his visions of genetically engineered dinosaurs, killer viruses from outer space, and deadly relations in international business have become part of American culture. This study should help the reader to understand the important issues raised by Crichton's fiction and to apply critical insight to an examination of those issues.

Reviews

Highly recommended for secondary school, public and academic libraries.-Catholic Library World
If the entire series lives up to this book, it should be a required purchase for schools where students study contemporary writers...This book makes literary criticism of popular fiction accessible to high school readers, and the reading level is such that many upper middle school students can also enjoy the book...Highly recommended.-The Book Report
This is a carefully crafted and researched book begining with a biographical sketch and a description of various literary genres, Gothic, detective, adventure, and science fiction, which have influenced Crichton... The format is pleasing with good margins and headings in heavy type for ready reference.-VOYA
"Highly recommended for secondary school, public and academic libraries."-Catholic Library World
"This is a carefully crafted and researched book begining with a biographical sketch and a description of various literary genres, Gothic, detective, adventure, and science fiction, which have influenced Crichton... The format is pleasing with good margins and headings in heavy type for ready reference."-VOYA
"If the entire series lives up to this book, it should be a required purchase for schools where students study contemporary writers...This book makes literary criticism of popular fiction accessible to high school readers, and the reading level is such that many upper middle school students can also enjoy the book...Highly recommended."-The Book Report

Author Bio

ELIZABETH A. TREMBLEY is Head of General Education at Davenport College in Holland, Michigan. She has published extensively on modern popular and detective fiction. She is coeditor of It's A Print!: Detective Fiction from Page to Screen (1994) and of the mystery and detective fiction section of the forthcoming Encyclopedia of United States Popular Culture.