My dad (then an airline pilot) had Crichton on one of his flights right after Andromeda Strain came out. He was reading it, and Crichton was nice enough to sign it for him. No idea where that book is! :-( But Dad said he was a great guy.
I admire him for bucking the leftist establishment. The Slate review even screwed up the title, calling it "State of Terror" instead of "State of Fear." Nimrods.
This will be a must-see tonight.
I know the feeling, I mnade the mistake of buying the book just before going on guard duty, had to read it by moonlight, no sleep that night, Had the moon not have been near-full that night, I would probably be blind!