http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/11/0...ref=mpstoryview

Best-selling author and movie director, Michael Crichton has died at the age of 66. Cancer steals another talented author. RIP.

I was just on my way in here to post the same sad news, lass.

Regardless of how you felt about his politics, the guy was a fantastic writer. His stories will live on, but the man will be missed.

His earlier works are still among my favorite and have a spot on my kind of selective bookshelf (ie, stuff I actually liked well enough to go out of my way and purchase instead of getting it from the library). This saddens me. He never did get around to writing a third jurassic park book...

Its sad that he has died but at least he is in peace now.

And probably with his dinosaurs

He will surely be missed. I'll always love The Andromeda Strain.

I feel slightly guilty, though. Haven't read anything of his in at least four years. Found 'Prey' last night and read half the book before I fell asleep. Wake up to find the author is dead... I really hope it's just a disturbing coincidence.

Nope, you killed him. Now do the world a favor and go read a Dan Brown book.

I'm trying to figure out if that was a cleverly-worded jab at Dan Brown, or a serious recommendation.

For the record, I have his four books, really like them all, and still re-read 'em constantly - and he's still around. Must've lost my touch...

I know I'm a little late on train here, but I will miss him. He was my favourite author and a big influence on my own writing and way of thinking. I feel guilty now for not having read Jurassic Park - I was always leaving it til the end when I finished the rest of his stuff.

He will be sorely missed by the literary world.