We all know the story – a remote jungle island, genetic engineering that knows no bounds, and a bunch of humans who (mostly) think they’re in control. Naturally, the creatures Hammond and his pals create have other ideas and when given the opportunity to escape their enclosures, carnage and catastrophe can’t be far behind.
I feel a little ashamed to admit that this is the first Michael Critchton novel I’ve read, and even more so that it’s taken me so long to get round to it. Anyway, having seen the movie (and all the sequels) I was surprised to see how different the novel is – not in the basic storyline so much (though there are significant differences), but in the sheer amount of detail that reinforces the novel. Though it takes a while for the dino action to get going, there was no feeling of being held back by Crichton’s character development and explanations of the complex theories behind recreating dinosaurs. For the most part this is a good old rollicking adventure with plenty of torn limbs and ground-shaking panic. An absolutely fascinating read for all fans of noisy monsters and screaming kids.
Colin Garrow 