MICHAEL CRICHTON has sold over 200 million books, which have been translated into thirty-six languages; thirteen of his books have been made into films. His novels include Next, State of Fear, Timeline, Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain. Also known as a filmmaker and the creator of the television show ER, he remains the only writer to have had the number one book, movie and TV show simultaneously. At the time of Crichton s death in 2008, he was well into the writing of Micro; Richard Preston was selected to complete the novel.