impersona | (Reply)

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I actually think Crichton deserves to be on this list way more than he is, Jurassic Park for Pete's sake -- whatever you think of his writing quality (and I don't think overly much), he's been iconic and influential in how we imagine genetics- and near-future-based sci-fi undeniably and in some of the "fears of progress" horrific monsters envisioned in the blurred place between science fiction and horror. Andromeda Strain is another one. Agree that both King and Crichton are pretty much sci-fi authors who became so popular that they transcended genre in readership, but not in the stuff they wrote, exactly.

I am always delighted to find another person who dislikes the massively overrated American Gods. As for Stranger In A Strange Land, I just found it unbelievably meandering and felt like I was listening to a drunk person ramble and becoming embarrassmentsquicked for how awkward they'd be when they sobered up and realized they spent like two hours nattering to me in a hot tub after meeting me five minutes ago. And I'm surprised you didn't get dragged into at least reading by the mid-2000s hype of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell at some point -- I was turned off it for a few months due to how much hype it had, actually, but obviously by my own list I came around.