Wednesday, November 19, 2008

And, You went away too!



The end came on November 4! The world lost Michael Crichton!

But for him, we would not have known the Jurassic Park, the Lost World, Congo, Andromeda Strain and many many more. Apart from the wonderful author and filmmaker that he was, he was also a Doctor, having received his Doctoral Degree in Medicine from the Harvard Medical School. That, folks is just the beginning of what was a long list of commendable accomplishments.

He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies where he spent time researching public policy while also teaching anthropology at Cambridge University. Amid all this, he also found time to do some writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His speeches on Genetic Research, Complexity Theory, Global Warming, Extra-terrestrials and the Environment were very well received, are descriptive of impeccable knowledge and hold immense scientific and political significance.

I will remember him for being the author who wrote with ease, his process of thought, in a measure of clarity and description like none other.

While I respectfully and rather painfully bid adieu to this remarkable soul, I would like to conclude this post by quoting lines from his speech at the Washington Center for Complexity and Public Policy, Washington, D.C., on November 6, 2005, where he criticized environmental groups for failing to incorporate the complexity theory.

In his talk he spoke of the importance of the theory of complexity in environmental management. The lines are very apt, simple to comprehend and extremely relevant in today's rapidly deteriorating environment and highlights how unsuccessful we human beings are while trying to understand systems that we co-exist with.

"Most people assume linearity in environmental processes, but the world is largely non-linear: it's a complex system. An important feature of complex systems is that we don’t know how they work. We don’t understand them except in a general way; we simply interact with them. Whenever we think we understand them, we learn we don’t. Sometimes spectacularly."

Footnotes

With inputs from Michael Crichton - The Official Site
Image Courtesy - Wikipedia

46 comments:

  1. I didnt read Crichton, so unable to relate to the books. Of course , I watched Jurassic park which was a must-see those days.
    But I know of friends who worsip Crichton for the clear and intresting way in which he brought ot facts through a story line. An amazing talent. Of course God wants the best to be closer to him...Rest in peace Crichton.

    ReplyDelete
  2. havent read Crichton. But, after reading this post, i think i will. But, yeah, reg. the jurassic and the naive nature of humans I agree :)
    RIP

    ReplyDelete
  3. yeah, it is a huge loss for readers. his imagination was fantastic!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Rak!

    Great remembrance...

    Nice Post!!

    wishes!
    devika

    the CKW will have a new one in a while...more interesting -- may be...things are not leaving me..a need felt to unwind ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. this post came as a shocker for me..was not aware that this wonderful write is no more..am a huge fan of his for his sheer imaginative power.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi………
    Very cool your blog!
    Great! Keep writing…….
    Good week

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have not read his books, but Michael Crichton has always been someone I have looked up to, for Jurassic Park. He certainly had a knack of storytelling, and knew how to ground his theories so well.

    And this tribute to him is well delivered, with a lot of information too, for someone like me who did not quite know much of him.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. One of the books that I started with was Micheal Crighton's Andromeda Strain. Boy, he knows science. And writing. Actually, I was afraid of such fat books. But once I started reading him and Sidney Shelton, I was hooked on.... Exceptionally talented - this guy.

    Destination Infinity

    ReplyDelete
  9. ahhhh
    never knew he was a doctor till i saw ur blog.. but love all his movies!!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Iam sheepishly admitting that I dont read books at all. but out of the very few books that I had read, Lost World was one of them (thanks to my bro).

    May his soul rest in peace.

    and btw, nice post buddy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A genius writer ! May his soul rest in peace.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Have read his Lost world.... The book, which led me to read many more science fiction. I have known about him from Sujatha, a tamil author.. Indeed a great genius, Have got his other books, haven't started.

    May His soul rest in peace..

    btw A very thoughtful post.

    ReplyDelete
  13. being an ardent fan f crichton, this has come as a wonderful read! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Archana

    You should read Jurassic Park and the Lost World to understand the level of clarity and descriptiveness in MC's writings!

    I'm an ardent fan!

    Rest in peace Crichton!

    Thanks for your comments

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  15. Vibu

    You ahould read Jurassic Park and Lost World, if not anything else.

    Am sure you will enjoy them both!

    Btw... Whats with the new pic?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  16. Satheesh

    Yes, it is indeed a sad loss! One that cannot be replaced.

    I second your thoughts on his descriptive imagination and the ability to put in on paper!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  17. Devika Ma'am

    Thanks very much! Btw.. have you read any of his works?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mathew

    When I read the news on Nov 6, I was shocked!

    And yes, I agree when you uphold his power of imagination!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  19. Femin Susan

    Welcome here! Thanks very much for coming!

    Do keep visiting!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  20. Usha

    You should read Jurassic Park and The Lost World to start off. You will be awed by his style of writing which describes his power of imagination

    Thanks for your appreciating comments!

    Regards

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  21. Destination Infinity

    Indeed, none other like MC!
    Right when you say that one cannot put the book down when started!

    A big loss!

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  22. Elith

    If I may call you so!
    MC was a lot more than just a very good writer! A very multifaceted personality!

    Finally, Welcome here and thanks very much for Blogrolling me!

    Appreciate it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  23. Vimmuuu

    I'm sure (while you read The Lost World) you noticed the very descriptive software functioning of the program that controlled the park and monitored its systems!

    Extremely descriptive you would agree!

    Thanks for your appreciating comments!

    RIP MC!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  24. Humanobserver

    Indeed! May his soul rest in peace!

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  25. Bharath, the seeker!

    Yes, he was a wonderful author and a genius.

    Sujatha too was an extremely popular author!

    Do start off with some of MC's works, you will love them

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sashu

    Welcome here and thanks for your very appreciating comments!

    Crichton's demise is such a sad loss for the literary world!

    May his soul rest in peace!

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Rak,

    I only read 'about' people who interest me..i do not read much 'by' them especially the intellectual kinds...

    Howsoever great they me, i feel they corrupt my intellect and free thinking..so i deliberately keep away from the 'mind boggling' stuff

    Crichton's -- remember reading parts of Time Line, Disclosure, Rising Sun, Lost World...just to get a 'feel' of his views :-)

    He was a man with a vision, definitely..

    wishes!
    devika

    ps: this Ma'am is back..i don't take stripped off things back ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  28. a gr8 loss ..
    I havent read any of his medical dramas but Spielberg made me read his most popular book yet

    ReplyDelete
  29. Well came to know just thru blogs... read one n arvs blog and now here....

    World has lost a mon with a unbeleivebly fantastic imagination... Sad day indeed

    ReplyDelete
  30. I just got his book Jurassic park is yet to read and until I didn’t know anything about him then.

    Nice tribute to the author who get us to a wonderful real fantasy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for informing about these for me hidden talents of Michael Crichton! 66 - too early to leave!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Rak!

    just came to see, if you had something new...you said, with busy work shedules you couldn't post more...

    But, looking at the blog in totality..including the blog name ...hope you aren't planning to be an obituary writer ;)

    you got a good hand at writing -- that home far away...and such posts were really good, seriously...

    come again later

    wishes,
    devika

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great writer. What a pity when someone like this goes.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Devika Ma'am

    Yes, Crichton was definitely a man with a lot of vision! Coupled with immense scientific knowledge and a wonderful style of writing, he was indeed a great author!

    Lol! No, I am not planning to be an obituary writer! ;) Hopefully not!

    Of late work is taking quite a toll and time and hence am squeezing a lot into cramped days!

    I will be ready with a new post this Wednesday!

    Thanks as always for your comments

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  35. Praveen

    Yes, his loss will create a very big void! It is quite rare to experience someone who writes with such a degree of clarity!

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  36. ArmyGuy

    Yes AG, his loss is the end of an era! Something that cannot be replaced

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  37. Jeevan

    Among the best of MC's works are Jurassic Park and The Lost World which are must reads!

    You will understand, rather feel the clarity with which the author has described this thoughts in both these books!

    Thanks very much for your appreciating comments

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  38. Peter

    Yes, 66 is quite too early to leave. But as they say "God prefers to pull-back the best to keep with him"

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  39. Lynn

    Yes, MC was a league apart! Indeed a matter of great sorrow!

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  40. acha your Wednesday is Monday night...

    time curve flowing back!? :)
    the latest in a good one, Rak..

    btw, to me MC's Timeline and Rising Sun seemed much arresting..though i read only parts...

    wishes,
    devika

    ReplyDelete
  41. Devika Ma'am

    Lol! Actually, I was planning to do my next post on wednesday, but then the very thought of keeping the blog idle for a few more days was revolting and hence I decided to do the post ASAP!

    ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  42. Rak..

    Yeah, plan for a decent obituary note for Wedesday,

    name: Devika Jyothi R.
    age: 40
    rest fill in as you please ;))

    You plan to be at Soc-Pol blog or looking to kill me...!?!

    BUT, would i, i BE !?

    What kind of a 'follower' are you??
    whom do you follow, really..please do tell me..then things will be easier...

    wishes,
    devika

    ReplyDelete
  43. BUT, would i, IF i BE !?

    Typos...they are to take my life, anyway :)))

    ReplyDelete
  44. Devika Chechi

    I saw this comment today, just now, precisely!

    And yeah, I've been a bit sloppy at visiting spaces now! The overload of work seems to be taking a toll!

    Will mend!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

    ReplyDelete
  45. RIP crichton!
    I started with his "state of fear" and finished all his fictional works except disclosure and gtr.
    It is sad that he has less fan follow.His novels are a must-read.

    ReplyDelete