The Collectible Michael Crichton

[biomieg]

Michael Crichton is one of my favorite authors and I'm slowly building a collection of trade 1st editions of his books. This is what I have so far. I would like to upgrade some of them to NF/F-condition copies some day.











I just realized that I didn't take pics yet of my 1sts of DISCLOSURE and TRAVELS.

The nice thing about collecting Michael Crichton is that even though he did not write a very large number of books one can also obtain various proofs/ARCs, signed/limited editions (the Franklin Library books come to mind) and of course the books that he wrote under his pseudonyms John Lange, Jeffery Hudson and Michael Douglas (with his brother Douglas).

Personally, I would like to try and complete a collection of the trade 1sts of all his pseudonyms. The John Lange paperbacks are not all that easy to find and most of them are quite expensive!

[thegreattim]

Nice collection, Michaël! I really enjoy Crichton too and have a fairly extensive collection of his first trades as well. My favorite find is a copy of the Eaters of the Dead (also my favorite book, coincidentally) that I found in near mint condition for $3 at a local rummage sale last summer. I'll have to take a picture of it (and a couple others you are missing) and add it to the list!

[Clacke]

Some really cool book covers there! Are they all from the same publishing house?

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

I've only read a couple of Crichton's novels but really liked them. And I enjoy looking at your copies of his books!
The only 'collectible' I have is a near mint copy of the 1st US paperback of THE TERMINAL MAN.

[goathunter]

Have you seen this new Barnes & Noble edition? Jurassic Park / The Lost World (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)

From the B&N page:

This volume contains the full text of both of Michael Crichton s bestselling novels. Featuring a beautifully stamped bonded leather cover, gilt edging, colorful endpapers, and a satin-ribbon bookmark, this collectible edition is a fine addition to any home library.

Pretty nice for only $20!

Hunter

[ELazansky]

B&N has a lot of those "collectible" books, and this is one of the nicer ones. But, some of them are into multiple printings, and they are usually sealed. If you always want a first edition of whatever the book is, you need to be careful with them. But they are very nice.

[Randall Flagg]

I saw a stack of those last week. Very nice looking and feeling book, but I noticed no numberline, so much like a Book Club edition, it is hard/impossible to tell if there is a 1st edition.

[Roland of Gilead 33]

i just have "Lost World" & "Airframe" in hardback but i've yet to read "Airframe' though. is it any good?

[biomieg]

Thanks, Hunter! I didn't know that one but I may go try and find one. My priority right now is to upgrade my paperbacks and get all the hardcovers but $20 is really cheap.

Do any of you guys have Crichton S/Ls? I'd love to see those.

[Roland of Gilead 33]

which one is that? i don't know his work that well actually.

[biomieg]

i just have "Lost World" & "Airframe" in hardback but i've yet to read "Airframe' though. is it any good?

I liked AIRFRAME quite a bit! And regarding your other post, I was wondering if any of the other members here have some of the signed/limited (S/L) editions of Crichton's books. I have seen some pics online but I would love to see close-up photos and/or pics of the books together on a bookshelf

[ELazansky]

I saw a stack of those last week. Very nice looking and feeling book, but I noticed no numberline, so much like a Book Club edition, it is hard/impossible to tell if there is a 1st edition.

I don't know if all of the B&N books have numberlines. I was looking at an open copy of Wicked/Son of a Witch and it did show a numberline that was on the 3rd or 4th printing. I just assumed they were all like that.

[Roland of Gilead 33]

none of my books of his are signed unfortunally.

[goathunter]

I talked myself into it. I picked up the B&N edition today. I haven't opened the shrinkwrap yet to see if it has a numberline....

Hunter

[ELazansky]

Let us know when you do - curious to see what it says

[Randall Flagg]

It is a gorgeous book, and the price is low. Enjoy it. The lowest it will go is zero. If you enjoy it and spent ~$20 that's cool. About the same as 6 gallons of gas.

[goathunter]

All true, Randall!

It does have a number line. The copyright page says, "Printed in China, November 2010" and then has "9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" below that.

Hunter

[ELazansky]

Hunter,

Thanks for confirming the numberline issue. I better head on out and get one this week!

[mae]

I also collect MC and I have a complete collection of all his 1sts, except the paperback originals. Love his books. I started a couple of years ago only: http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?2182.

[mae]

Anyone yet read Micro?

[Bev Vincent]

I haven't been encouraged by the reviews.

[mae]

I haven't even seen one, but I haven't really been looking. I have the book, of course. It was billed as a new Jurassic Park.

[Bev Vincent]

The ones I've read complain that Preston filled the book full of details written in flat prose. I haven't seen anything complimentary in the main press. Even the Amazon review matrix is less than encouraging:

37 Reviews
5 star: (7)
4 star: (2)
3 star: (7)
2 star: (10)
1 star: (11)

I think I'll pass on it.

[Lurker]

Don't really collect Crichton, but have many of his books. Years ago I bought the gift edition of Jurassic Park. I have always wondered if the signature by Crichton on the tipped-in page is actually his or a facsimile. Anybody know?

[Bev Vincent]

It was created using an auto-pen capable of producing up to 3000 "autographs" a day.