Michael Crichton was an American author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted into films, television series, video games, and comics. His work often explores the potential dangers of scientific and technological innovations. Crichton began his writing career with short stories and non-fiction articles before going on to write novels. His first published novel, The Andromeda Strain, was a critical and commercial success, and was adapted into a film in 1971. He followed this with a string of bestsellers, including The Terminal Man, Jurassic Park, Disclosure, Prey, and Next. Many of Crichton's novels have been turned into successful films, including Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Twister, and Congo. He also wrote and directed the films Westworld and Looker. His final novel, Micro, was published posthumously in 2011. Crichton died in 2008 at the age of 66.