Beyond the techno-thriller: Michael Crichton and societal issues in science and technology

Stengler, Erik

Abstract

Michael Crichton is primarily known for being an outstanding writer of techno-thrillers and co-creator of the genre. In this paper I suggest that his fictional works can and should be considered under the deeper and wider perspective of his concern for societal issues regarding science and technology with a profound consideration of their effects and on the life of people and the development of society.

In fact this defining feature of his work is inclusive of numerous works by Michael Crichton that would not fit into the techno-thriller genre. It therefore seems a more appropriate way to characterize his work. This idea is further supported by the fact that most of the few works of his that do not fit into this perspective were written during a brief period of time in which Michael Crichton explored other genres, only to return to his humanistic approach to science and technology for the rest of his fiction-writing career.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 15, 2015
• Deposit Date: Aug 24, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 19, 2016
• Journal: Fafnir
• Print ISSN: 2342-2009
• Electronic ISSN: 2342-2009
• Publisher: Finnish Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 23-30
• Keywords: Michael Crichton, techno-thriller, science and society, technology and society
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/805749
• Publisher URL: http://journal.finfar.org/articles/beyond-the-techno-thriller-michael-crichton-and-societal-issues-in-science-and-technology/
• Related Public URLs: http://finfar.org/en/
• Contract Date: Jun 19, 2016