Testing the Limits of Imagination
Richard Attenborough, who passed away on August 24, starred in Steven Spielberg's big-screen version of Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park" (1990). The director of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) turned a cautionary tale into an armchair fun ride in an amusement park. To be a few inches away from a T. rex was a thrilling moment, but Crichton used Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" as a reference. The book was a scenario on the possible consequences on unguarded biological tinkeing. Only a writer with such an imagination could thought of that.
Crichton, who was raised in Long Island, showed interest in writing at a young age. He studied literature, but switched to biological anthrolopogy. He went to medical school afterwards. The author's experience in medicine was the reason why he ventured into science fiction and medical fiction. There was no turning back.
Heart of Darkness
"Congo" (1980) was arguably Crichton's best work. It was the latest in the Lost World sub-genre, where the plot would remind readers of Henry Rider Haggard's "King Solomon's Mines" (1885). Crichton's vision, coupled with his research on African history, made this more than an adventure yarn.
Earth Resource Technology Services Inc. sent a team to the dense rain forest of Congo to look for deposits of diamonds. But they were attacked and killed by an unknown creature. It might be creatures. Karen Ross, a prodigy at the Earth Resource, guessed they found the lost city of Zinj. Many historians believed this was the origin of King Solomon's wealth, but she was more interested in what happened to her (dead) colleagues. She wasn't the only one going there, as rivals from Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands wanted to be the first to get their hands on those gems.
Karen assembled a team she believed would give her the edge. Murno was a known mercenary, while Peter Elliot was a trainer of Amy, a female gorilla. She was able to communicate with humans with sign language, which might helped them as they navigate through the jungle. It turned out that Amy was helpless in civil wars, plane crashes, and predators. After passing through the Great Rift Valley, where Africa's active volcanoes were located, Karen's group made it to Zinj. They learned that the diamonds could be semiconductors, making them more valuable. But they fell into a trap.
The former inhabitants of Zinj trained gray-haired gorillas to guard the mines from intruders. Karen thought they were hybrids. Peter believed the civilization that once flourished in this part of Africa was way ahead of her time. This gave them trepidation, as they discovered the gorillas' lair and found out that they were outnumbered. They also looked upwards and saw a volcano. It wasn't far from the ruins and it was showing signs of eruption. Time was not on their side.
Crichton penned a great thriller. It was also a fine science fiction novel. Some suggested medical romance, alluding to the relationship between Peter and Amy. It would be unconventional if that was the case, but this was debatable. Whatever it was, the book was a good read.
Wormhole
"Sphere" (1987) was a peculiar novel. It was about a group of scientists who detected a crashed spaceship at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Once they went down and entered the craft, they were surprised to find out that this wasn't alien in origin. It was made by human hands three centuries ago. They were intrigued by time traveling, which was only possible in novels.
What happened next was a choose-your-own-adventure sequence. Crichton wanted his readers to test the limit of their imagination. The outcome would determine the level of one's enjoyment. The plot was intriguing, given the premise of moving between different points in space. The author surpassed himself, until he wrote "Jurassic Park".
