Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was an American author, screenwriter, and film producer. He is best known for his science fiction novels, such as Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, and Congo. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie Westworld, and created the television series ER. Crichton was a pioneer in the use of computer-generated imagery in films, and was one of the first to combine science and entertainment in his works. He was a New York Times best-selling author, and his books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide. He was posthumously awarded the 2008 Grand Master Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.