Michael Crichton Dead At 66... RIP
 

Many readers have submitted stories about the death of Michael Crichton. The 66-year-old author of Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain died unexpectedly Tuesday "after a courageous and private battle against cancer," a press release said. In addition to writing, he also directed such sci-fi classics as Westworld and Runaway. Crichton was married five times and had one child.

http://entertainment.slashdot.org/en.../0019253.shtml

He was the author of the book Jurassic Park?

And many other good books as well.

Andromeda Strain, Lost World, Airframe, State Of Fear, Prey, Next, Terminal Man, Sphere and many more, excellently researched books which are better than any movie adaption will allow, Jurassic Park book is 1000x better than the movie :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Crichton

writer and filmmaker

I agree on the Jurassic Park comment, loved the book, which I read after seen the movie :-).

Iirc, Timeline was also one of his books.

Not certain anymore though, long time I read it.