Michael Crichton (1942-2008) entered Harvard University in 1960 to study literature. However, after concluding that he would never receive the grades he felt he deserved, he switched his major to biological anthropology and graduated summa cum laude in 1964. Crichton then entered Harvard Medical school, publishing his first novel, Odds On, in 1966 under the pseudonym John Lange. Crichton wrote eight novels under the Lange pseudonym from 1964 to 1972. Under the name Jeffrey Hudson, he published a medical mystery called A Case of Need (1968) that was later made into the movie The Carey Treatment (1972). Crichton’ first bestseller was The Andromeda Strain (1969), published under his own name. It became a blockbuster film in 1971.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Crichton continued to write novels and moved into writing screenplays as well. It was during this time he wrote the screenplay for the original Westworld (1973). Crichton also took on the role of director for several films, including his adaptation of Robin Cook’s Coma (1978). His novels during this time period include The Great Train Robbery (1975), Eaters of the Dead (1976), and Congo (1980).