1980 Michael Crichton novel (5)
I believe the answer is:
congo
'1980 michael crichton novel' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for congo that I've seen before include "Region of central Africa" , "tea" , "It was known as Zaire" , "Wide river" , "African runner" .)