Michael Crichton books in order
American author, screenwriter, film director
- Lived
- 1942–2008
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 37
- Also writes as
- Jeffery Hudson, Michael Douglas, John Lange
Michael Crichton published 34 novels, 1 non-fiction book, 1 play and 1 other book, beginning with A Case of Need (1968). The best-known is Jurassic Park (1990).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Michael Crichton
Start here
Jurassic Park
Michael Crichton's most-read book, rated by 203 Open Library readers.
Highest rated
The Lost World
Rated 4.3 out of 5 by 34 readers.
Shortest way in
Eaters of the Dead
One of the most-read, at about 220 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Odds On (1966)
Scratch One (Sep 1967)
A Case of Need (1968)
Easy Go (1968)
The Venom Business (1969)
Zero Cool (1969)
The Andromeda Strain (May 1969)
Five Patients (1970)
Drug of Choice (Jan 1970)
Grave Descend (Apr 1970)
Dealing (1971)
Binary (1972)
The Terminal Man (1972)
The Great Train Robbery (May 1975)
Eaters of the Dead (Mar 1976)
Congo (Nov 1980)
Electronic Life (Aug 1983)
Amazon (1984)
Sphere (1987)
Travels (1988)
Jurassic Park (Nov 1990)
Rising Sun (1992)
Disclosure (1994)
The Lost World (1995)
Airframe (1996)
Timeline (1999)
Prey (2002)
State of Fear (2004)
The Kidnapping of Amir Hamza (2004)
Next (2006)
Pirate Latitudes (2009)
Micro (Nov 2011), with Richard Preston
Dragon Teeth (May 2017)
Eruption (2024)
Non-fiction in order
Jasper Johns (Jan 1977)
Plays in order
Twister (1996)
Other books in order
Westworld (1974)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Carey Treatment (1972)Film · from A Case of Need
- The Andromeda Strain (1971)Film · from The Andromeda Strain
- The Andromeda StrainTV · from The Andromeda Strain
- Pursuit (1972)TV · from Binary
- The Terminal Man (1974)Film · from The Terminal Man
- The First Great Train Robbery (1978)Film · from The Great Train Robbery
- The 13th Warrior (1999)Film · from Eaters of the Dead
- Congo (1995)Film · from Congo
- Sphere (1998)Film · from Sphere
- Jurassic Park (1993)Film · from Jurassic Park
- Rising Sun (1993)Film · from Rising Sun
- Disclosure (1994)Film · from Disclosure
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)Film · from The Lost World
- Timeline (2003)Film · from Timeline
About Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton was an American author and filmmaker. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and over a dozen have been adapted into films. His literary works heavily feature technology and are usually within the science fiction, techno-thriller, and medical fiction genres. Crichton's novels often explore human technological advancement and attempted dominance over nature, both with frequently catastrophic results; many of his works are cautionary tales, especially regarding themes of biotechnology. Several of his stories center on themes of genetic modification, hybridization, paleontology and/or zoology. Many feature medical or scientific underpinnings, reflective of his own medical background.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Michael Crichton FAQ
- How many books has Michael Crichton written?
- Michael Crichton published 34 novels, 1 non-fiction book, 1 play and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Michael Crichton's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Jurassic Park.
- What is Michael Crichton's last book?
- Pirate Latitudes (2009).
- What is Michael Crichton's most famous book?
- Jurassic Park (1990) is Michael Crichton's most widely read book.
- Does Michael Crichton write under a pen name?
- Yes: Michael Crichton has also published as Jeffery Hudson, Michael Douglas and John Lange.
- Which Michael Crichton books have been adapted?
- 13 books have been adapted for film or TV, including A Case of Need (as The Carey Treatment, film, 1972), The Andromeda Strain (film, 1971), Binary (as Pursuit, TV, 1972) and The Terminal Man (film, 1974).
Authors like Michael Crichton
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.