Cripes, Crichton, What a find!
The Lost World' Writer Stumbled Upon Dino Career
May 20, 1997
By Kelly Milner Halls
Special to the Tribune.
In 1989, as he looked forward to the birth of daughter Taylor, writer Michael Crichton was struck with the urge to buy stuffed animals dinosaur stuffed animals. The toys helped him understand people's love for prehistoric beasts. So he decided to write a dinosaur story and out came "Jurassic Park," which was later made into a monster hit movie. Eight years later, "The Lost World," the sequel to Jurassic Park, is about to open in theaters. Join us as we get to know the man who brought dinosaurs to life.
KidNews: Is it true you started writing when you were in the 3rd grade?
MC: I did begin in the 3rd grade, with a long script for a puppet show.
KidNews: What subjects did you write about as a kid?
MC: I wrote adventure stories hunting sharks and lost cities.
KidNews: Were your stories always as good as they are now?
MC: They were pretty bad, trust me. I can't even read them now. But I kept trying. Eventually I got better.
KidNews: Did you fantasize about dinosaurs in elementary school?
MC: I liked dinosaurs, but no more than the average kid.
KidNews: What surprised you as you researched "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"?
MC: I postulated (that means came up with a theory) a very large Velociraptor. After the book was published, one was found!
KidNews: Why did you include kid characters in "Jurassic Park"?
MC: I wanted to show that the makers of the park were indifferent to safety. Having kids at risk was the easiest way to show it.
KidNews: Were any of the characters in "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World" Michael Crichton in disguise?
MC: I like Malcolm best. Like him, I tend to be critical of technology.
KidNews: Did you think kids would read "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"?
MC: The fact that young people started reading the books was unexpected. I didn't think kids would be interested.
KidNews: What ideas would you like kids to think about as they finish reading or watching "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"?
MC: Science is exciting. Knowledge is power. Wisdom is needed to wield power.
KidNews: Will you ever write about dinosaurs again?
MC: Probably not.
KidNews: What did you like to read as a kid?
MC: Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and Edgar Allan Poe's spooky stories and a lot of non-fiction.
KidNews: Do you have any advice for kids?
MC: Learn everything you can. Never assume you won't need certain information. The world is going to be radically different in 10 years.
When I was in elementary school, there was no TV, no jet airplanes, no personal computers. All that came later. So, don't be so sure about what you should and shouldn't have to learn.
May 20, 1997
By Kelly Milner Halls
Special to the Tribune.
In 1989, as he looked forward to the birth of daughter Taylor, writer Michael Crichton was struck with the urge to buy stuffed animals dinosaur stuffed animals. The toys helped him understand people's love for prehistoric beasts. So he decided to write a dinosaur story and out came "Jurassic Park," which was later made into a monster hit movie. Eight years later, "The Lost World," the sequel to Jurassic Park, is about to open in theaters. Join us as we get to know the man who brought dinosaurs to life.
KidNews: Is it true you started writing when you were in the 3rd grade?
MC: I did begin in the 3rd grade, with a long script for a puppet show.
KidNews: What subjects did you write about as a kid?
MC: I wrote adventure stories hunting sharks and lost cities.
KidNews: Were your stories always as good as they are now?
MC: They were pretty bad, trust me. I can't even read them now. But I kept trying. Eventually I got better.
KidNews: Did you fantasize about dinosaurs in elementary school?
MC: I liked dinosaurs, but no more than the average kid.
KidNews: What surprised you as you researched "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"?
MC: I postulated (that means came up with a theory) a very large Velociraptor. After the book was published, one was found!
KidNews: Why did you include kid characters in "Jurassic Park"?
MC: I wanted to show that the makers of the park were indifferent to safety. Having kids at risk was the easiest way to show it.
KidNews: Were any of the characters in "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World" Michael Crichton in disguise?
MC: I like Malcolm best. Like him, I tend to be critical of technology.
KidNews: Did you think kids would read "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"?
MC: The fact that young people started reading the books was unexpected. I didn't think kids would be interested.
KidNews: What ideas would you like kids to think about as they finish reading or watching "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"?
MC: Science is exciting. Knowledge is power. Wisdom is needed to wield power.
KidNews: Will you ever write about dinosaurs again?
MC: Probably not.
KidNews: What did you like to read as a kid?
MC: Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and Edgar Allan Poe's spooky stories and a lot of non-fiction.
KidNews: Do you have any advice for kids?
MC: Learn everything you can. Never assume you won't need certain information. The world is going to be radically different in 10 years.
When I was in elementary school, there was no TV, no jet airplanes, no personal computers. All that came later. So, don't be so sure about what you should and shouldn't have to learn.
