Odds On
 First edition cover | |
| Author | John Lange |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Signet Books |
Publication date | 1966 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 215 |
| LC Class | PS3553.R48 |
| Followed by | Scratch One |
Odds On is Michael Crichton's first published novel.[1] It was released in 1966 under the pseudonym of John Lange. It is a short 215-page paperback novel. Hard Case Crime republished the novel under Crichton's name on November 19, 2013.[2]
Plot summary
It describes an attempt of robbery in an isolated hotel on Costa Brava. The robbery is planned with the help of a Critical Path Analysis computer program, but unforeseen events get in the way.
Structure and format
As in many other Crichton novels the chapters are named by date as in a diary, rather than by number or other content. In this particular novel the chapters reflect the total timespan, the ticking clock, of the plot as a whole. The fifteen chapters begins with Saturday, June Fourteenth, and ending with Afternoon, June Twenty-Second. The timespan of the story is just a little more than a week, which is yet another similarity to Crichton’s later novels.[3]
Being his first book, it also contains some of Crichton's 'trademarks' for the first time. Among other things, Crichton started his tradition of beginning his novels with quotes:
- "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
- – Benjamin Disraeli
Background
Crichton wrote the book in 1965 while a student at Harvard Medical School. He sent it to Doubleday for consideration under the name "John Lange". A reader at Doubleday loved the book but thought it was "too saucy" for that company, so sent it on to a friend at New American Library.[4]
Crichton used the name John Lange because at this stage he planned to be a doctor and did not want his patients worried he would use them for his plots. The name came from a fairy tale writer called Andrew Lang; Crichton added an "e" and substituted his own real first name, John, for Andrew.[5]
Proposed adaptation
In 1969, around the time film rights were bought for Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, independent producer Sam Roy bought the film rights to Odds On.[6] However, no movie was made.
References
- ↑ "Fantasist's Midas touch". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Hard Case Crime to Publish Early Crichton Thrillers".
- ↑ "Odds On".
- ↑ The versatile Crichton Seligson, Marcia. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 08 June 1969: k6.
- ↑ Michael Crichton (rhymes with frighten): Michael Crichton By ISRAEL SHENKER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 08 June 1969: BR5
- ↑ No Gap Like the Generation Gap By A. H. WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 06 July 1969: D11.