Science fiction speculates on the march of science and technology. The best science fiction raises questions about how those things affect humans and the way we live. PBS Digital Studios looks at the development of science fiction from Frankenstein to Black Panther with a delightfully animated video. -via the AV Club
Most of his books are thrillers or some sort of action fantasy wrapped in a reaction to science. With the exception of computers, the man was anti-science/technology. The drivers for much of his plots involves an attitude that technology is bad, coupled with misuse or misstating of scientific progress. If you ever do a video on luddite fiction, Crichton is your man.