I agree with SpaceMarines, in that State of Fear being a low point for him. It seemed more like a personal grievance than an acutal story. Sphere was fantastic; it was such a fun ride. The conversations between Norman & Co. with Jerry are ten times better in the novel; truly chilling. Another novel I adored was Timeline. Only Crichton can make time travel seem possible and so damn convincing.
I have to find time and read Pirate Latitudes, his last novel. Crichton writing pirates sounds f**king epic.