MC- R.I.P

Michael Crichton 1942-2008. Terrible loss to the literary world.

Back when I had absolutely nothing to do during my Class X hols, I came upon a book called Congo near the section of books that were mostly in demand. I was dying for something new after years of Agatha Christie, Hardy Boys and HP stuff.. and Congo came as a relevation to me. I still pat myself on the back for having done the only two worthwhile things in my life: having picked up Congo during my Class X hols and The LoTR during my Class XI hols. 

Congo literally kept me hooked to my seat... I usually try and finish a book in one sitting, but with Congo, there was NO choice. The pace at which the book moved, the rapid no-nonsense narration, the interesting tidbits of science thrown in between, all these kept me riveted till the end. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the rest of the MC books, and Jurassic Park(naturally!), Timeline, Eaters OF the Dead, The Andromeda Strain, Terminal Man, The Lost World and the rest followed. 

Sphere was one unexpected hell of a ride, so was Jurassic Park.

For a guy who grew up thinking that the whole Jurassic Park series(spoiled by Spielberg) was just a commercial mish-mash of special effects + monstrous dinosaurs + screaming ladies, the book came as a sucker punch from the dark. And I simply can never forget the time I spent reading State Of Fear, and my baseless argument in the class debate on Climate Change, fueled by the fact that thalaivar Crichton was on my side :). 

People may argue that Crichton was losing his touch, but hell, he's done more than enough. Writing science-fiction in such a manner that even the common man can understand its nuances, without compromising on its quality or its pulsating pace is not an easy task. 

He leaves behind a void that none can fill for now, a void which is all thats left of a place that was rightfully claimed by him.

 RIP, Mike. 

Ian Malcolm will forever remain in our heads, as the God of all Geeks. So will Richard Levine.