A new book, “Eruption,” brings to life the story of a volcanic catastrophe, and is by two of the world’s most famous best sellers: Michael Crichton and James Patterson.
Crichton, the author of “Jurassic Park,” died in 2008 at age 66. After his death, his widow, Sherri, knowing that he had an unfinished manuscript about a volcanic eruption in Hawaii, searched his hard drives and papers for all relevant materials.
The manuscript was about an imminent eruption on Mauna Loa on Hawaii Island. However, it’s not just Hawaii Island residents that are threatened. Turns out the U.S. military has buried radioactive waste nearby, which will explode into the atmosphere if it’s hit by lava and kill all life on Earth. But the book ended on an unintended cliff-hanger.
In 1980, Crichton had begun working on “Eruption” — 10 years before “Jurassic Park” was published, according to the official website for the late author. The late author visited Hawaii many times over the years, conducting on-site research. He left behind hours of video footage, including interviews with a volcanologist.
Sherri Crichton spent years searching for an author to finish the project.
In 2021, she brought the unfinished manuscript to James Patterson, who is also a prolific writer and the creator of the Alex Cross series. Patterson agreed to finish the book, saying “I wanted to know the ending!”
“Eruption” is the fourth posthumously published novel by Crichton.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
