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RIP :-"

Michael Crichton, 1942-2008, of cancer.

jesus the mexican boi wrote:Michael Crichton, 1942-2008, of cancer.

Wow, that's sad...I had no idea that he even had cancer.

For me, Jurassic Park and the wonder of that time it was in theaters holds a special place in my heart. It was a hell of a thing for a 13yr old kid, and ever since...

exte wrote:For me, Jurassic Park and the wonder of that time it was in theaters holds a special place in my heart. It was a hell of a thing for a 13yr old kid, and ever since...

He was only thirteen when he wrote Jurassic Park?

heh heh exte means that when he was 13, Jurassic Park wowed him in the theatre. Correct me if I'm wrong I too loved Crichton's books (and movie adaptations) at that age. When I was in my pre-and-teen years, I remember going to the library and taking out piles of his titles. His writing also played a big part in my developing an interest in science...however silly that sounds.

I can still remember having to drink a capful of Tabasco in 3rd grade because of him. My sister ran crying into the living room while my parents were having a party and told everyone that I had called her a "bastard". I calmly admitted to the fact, having only read the word in Jurassic Park. It wasn't until a few years later that I found out the meaning of the word and that it wasn't used in the book just as "a swear", but as an accurate description of the illegitimate dinosaurs.

And then in middle school I realized that I was the one conceived out of wedlock!


I haven't read anything of his since Airframe or Timeline, whichever of the two is the latter book. His earlier novels (Jurassic Park, Sphere, The Terminal Man, Congo, The Andromeda Strain) were definitely the first "grown-up" books I read, and I've always appreciated and the quality of the adventures he wrote, and also credit the speculative fiction elements for informing my own interest in science, as well. Nothing sillier about that than earlier generations being brought up on H.G. Wells and Jules Verne.

Don't forget Coma and Westworld - both cracking films. The former especially attracted a lot of feminist interest (some of the theoretical writing about it is very hard work...)

I can't remember if either were on my final 70s list - but perhaps at least Coma should have been.

Along with the 'second tier' of films he directed: The Great Train Robbery, Looker and Runaway (I haven't seen Physical Evidence with Burt Reynolds yet!) as well as creating ER (Though I hadn't realised that he had co-written Twister )

I think Michael Crichton, Stephen King and Robin Cook were the holy trinity of my reading obsession during my early teen years.

God, I loved Runaway when I was a kid. Heat-seeking bullets and robot spiders? ROBOT SPIDERS!?! Yes!

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:Forrest J. Ackerman

Apparently reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.

Yeah, it was posted on Locus (still showing there) but other sites indicate he isn't quite dead yet.

Amazing....Hendrix died nearly 40 years ago, and Mitch was still a relatively young 62. RIP.

Very sucky year for Rock deaths. Hendrix's other drummer, Buddy Miles passed earlier this year too.

Director, producer, screenwriter Marcello Fondato died yesterday evening November 13, 2008 at the age of 84. In the ‘50s he was a screenwriter for Luigi Comencin’s “Tutti a casa” and “La ragazza di Bube”. In the ‘60s he started directing films and actors such as Vittorio Gassman, Claudia Cardinale, Monica Vitti, Enrico Montesano, Catheirne Spaak, Renato Pozzetto in numerous Italian comedies. In the ‘70s he made a number of films with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. With Spencer they made “Charleston”, “Bulldozer” and “Bomber”, “The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid”, In the ‘80s with his son Paolo he wrote and producer dramas for RAI Television such as “Affari di Famiglia (1988).

flyonthewall2983 wrote:Mitch Mitchell.

These guys are dying so young. 62???

Mitch was a monstrous drummer, his work with Jimi remains a benchmark to this day...

RIP.

Sad news for all those requesting a Criterion release of the On The Buses films - Reg Varney has died.

colinr0380 wrote:Sad news for all those requesting a Criterion release of the On The Buses films - Reg Varney has died.

Blakey got him at last!

flyonthewall2983 wrote:Hendrix's other drummer, Buddy Miles passed earlier this year too.

Something I didn't know until I was doing some spot research on Mitch's death. Only the underrated Billy Cox remains.

colinr0380 wrote:Sad news for all those requesting a Criterion release of the On The Buses films - Reg Varney has died.

So off he goes, back to the great depot in the sky.

A singalong tribute, I think. RIP.

Screenwriter Ennio De Concini (Divorce Italian Style, Il Grido, Black Sunday).

Clive Barnes, NYTimes Arts/Dance Critic.