Michael Crichton has won an award for the ruby-red, pear-shaped hickey he planted on Exxon CEO Lee Raymond’s butthole, “State of Fear”. Even if you disagree with his journalistic ethics, you have to acknowledge Crichton’s masterful art of storytelling. The dinosaur stood twelve meters high… it was forty meters away and raced towards us at a speed of ten meters per second…

Crichton’s latest work received an “excellence in journalism” award from the pillar of the literary establishment, the Association of Petroleum Geologists. Seriously. I’m thinking I might be able to nab this award in ’07. I’m working on a novel that depicts Jesus returning to Earth because solar panels are being used to channel Satan’s power into our homes, and saving the world with the help of a ragtag team of oil corporation CEO’s. Still working on that Crichtonesque touch of poetry - here’s what I have so far:

Jesus floated down to earth on a beam of light ten meters wide. He placed the palm of his hand on the ridge above the brow of a young eleven-year-old male child who was afflicted with a communicable disease that affects the nervous system, causing fatigue, fever, vomiting, headache and paralysis. After a period of twelve seconds he removed his hand and explained to the child that his symptoms would be relieved within six to eight hours. Remarking that solar energy is a completely non-cost effective and unrealistic solution to our energy needs, Jesus blessed the other witnesses and went forth to achieve his goal of saving the human race from God’s wrath.

Yep – it’s a page turner.

“The Journalistic Triumph of Michael Crichton” (Scientific American)