Michael Crichton was an American author and filmmaker who was known for his science fiction and techno-thriller novels. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and over a dozen have been adapted into films. Crichton's literary works often feature technology and are usually within the science fiction, techno-thriller, and medical fiction genres. Many of his stories explore themes of human technological advancement and attempted dominance over nature, frequently with catastrophic results. Several of his works center on topics such as genetic modification, hybridization, paleontology, and zoology, reflecting his own medical background.