How James Patterson Finished Michael Crichton's Latest Novel

Eruption

Michael Crichton has long been a favourite of mine. As a teenager, I devoured his books, which seemed prophetic in their nature—tales of nanotechnology and genetic modification.

The Andromeda Strain was about a pandemic fifty years before it struck. Westworld introduced us to humans who interact with robots in a playground scenario.

He was not alone; several authors seem to predict the future with startling accuracy. George Orwell, in 1984, tells us about a form of text speech and media manipulation. Charles Dickens, when he mentioned the poor reforms and the roles of women, changed the world. Huxley talks about a society bred for specific rules. We can only hope that Ray Bradbury has not predicted the future of books with Fahrenheit 451.

Crichton was in good company with his stories predicting the future; he was also one of the best. When he passed too early, he left a void in my life. So, you can imagine how pleased I was when I discovered he had left several manuscripts that were never polished.

I approached this latest offering with mixed feelings. James Patterson, an author I have never really rated, had finished the book, and Crichton's wife asked Patterson to finish the novel.

Who was Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton was the writer who could make you believe dinosaurs could walk the earth again and then explain exactly how it would work.

Born in 1942, he was a Harvard-educated doctor who realised that writing was his true passion. He wrote twenty-five books in his lifetime, including Jurassic Park, Congo and my two favourites, A State of Fear and Timeline.

All his novels were gripping tales that combined cutting-edge science with heart-pounding suspense. Crichton had a knack for blending science, technology, and thrills to make readers (and moviegoers) feel like they were right in the middle of the action.

When Crichton died in November 2008, he left behind a legacy that included “The Andromeda Strain,” “Congo,” and “Jurassic Park,” many of which became Hollywood blockbusters. He also wrote and directed films such as “Coma” and “Westworld” and created and produced the TV series “E.R.,” which ran for 15 seasons.

Sherri Crichton

After his death, his wife, pregnant with their son, was in charge of his archives and literary legacy. Consumed with grief and trying to juggle an infant as a single mum, it was not until 2010 that she started to look through the work that was left.

It was then that she found an unfinished manuscript for a volcano story.

Michael never talked much about his works in progress," says his widow, Sherri Crichton. "I knew of a volcano story. That would probably come up in our conversations on one of the many beautiful hikes in Kauai. He would give me fun facts about volcanic activity and the evolution of different volcanoes all over the world.

When she found the manuscript, several things fell into place, including his love of Maura Loa, which he had hung a painting of in his home. She then went on a pilgrimage, determined to find all the pieces of the story.

I found so many things along the way. So much research. Like videos that had to be converted because they’re completely out of date. And it’s Michael with a research team at the top of the Mauna Loa. Or driving through the streets of the Big Island, pointing out landmarks of what’s going to make it in the book. - Sherri

Because he had always written in reality, Sherri found the streets mentioned, the library, and the banyan tree. The project was very tender to her heart as it became clear how much it had meant to Crichton with his love of Hawaii.

Once she had collected all these breadcrumbs, she knew she needed to find a writer to help finish the story. It would take her a decade until James Patterson became that man. She contacted Patterson's agent, and he said yes almost immediately.

Eruption

Eruption was published on June 3, 2024, and is the fifth posthumous novel by Crichton. The previous four were Pirate Latitudes, Dragon Teeth, Micro, completed by Richard Preston and The Andromeda Evolution, a sequel to The Andromeda Strain, which was written from scratch by Daniel H. Wilson.

It is not the first of his books to feature a volcano. Volcanoes are present in Jurassic Park and Congo.

It is not one of my favourites, but it is worth reading. There is enough Crichton in it to make it a nostalgic journey.

It is a story about the fragility and intensity of nature and how human interference can be weaponised in the wrong hands. It is classic Crichton, going back to his Jurassic Park days. He shows us a future we could have and delivers the familiar message: Just because we can do something as a species does not mean we should.

Have you read it?