Michael Crichton, who dominated bestseller lists and Hollywood in unprecedented fashion for nearly 40 years, died last week at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer that he and his family kept private until his passing.

Perhaps no author perfected multimedia success in the way Crichton did. While many of his novels were almost routinely adapted into movies, the same could be said of Stephen King. However, Crichton’s unerring pop culture sense and cinematic eye are best understood by remembering that he was a film director of some note. His best films included his own work, Westworld and The Great Train Robbery, plus the adaptation of Coma. another science-based thriller written by Robin Cook. Full Piece