Jurassic Park [Mass Market Paperback]

Unless your species evolved sometime after 1993, when Jurassic Park hit theatres, you're no doubt familiar with this dinosaur-bites-man disaster tale set on an island theme park gone terribly wrong. But if Speilberg's amped-up CGI creation left you longing for more scientific background and ... well, character development, check out the original Michael Crichton novel. Although not his best book (get a hold of sci-fi classic The Andromeda Strain for that), Jurassic Park fills out the film version's kinetic storyline with additional scenes, dialogue and explanations while still maintaining Crichton's trademark thrills-'n'-chills pacing. As ever, the book really is better than the movie. --Paul Hughes, Amazon.com --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Genetically engineered dinosaurs run amok in Crichton's new, vastly entertaining science thriller. From the introduction alone - a classically Crichton-clear discussion of the implications of biotechnological research - it's evident that the Harvard M.D. has bounced back from the science-fantasy silliness of Sphere (1987) for another taut reworking of the Frankenstein theme, as in The Andromeda Strain and The Terminal Man. Here, Dr. Frankenstein is aging billionaire John Hammond, whose monster is a manmade ecosystem based on a Costa Rican island. Designed as the world's ultimate theme park, the ecosystem boasts climate and flora of the Jurassic Age and - most spectacularly - 15 varieties of dinosaurs, created by elaborate genetic engineering that Crichton explains in fascinating detail, rich with dino-lore and complete with graphics. Into the park, for a safety check before its opening, comes the novel's band of characters - who, though well drawn, double as symbolic types in this unsubtle morality play. Among them are hero Alan Grant, noble paleontologist; Hammond, venal and obsessed; amoral dino-designer Henry Wu; Hammond's two innocent grandchildren; and mathematician Ian Malcolm, who in long diatribes serves as Crichton's mouthpiece to lament the folly of science. Upon arrival, the visitors tour the park; meanwhile, an industrial spy steals some dino embryos by shutting down the island's power - and its security grid, allowing the beasts to run loose. The bulk of the remaining narrative consists of dinos - ferocious T. Rex's, voracious velociraptors, venom-spitting dilophosaurs - stalking, ripping, and eating the cast in fast, furious, and suspenseful set-pieces as the ecosystem spins apart. And can Grant prevent the dinos from escaping to the mainland to create unchecked havoc? Though intrusive, the moralizing rarely slows this tornado-paced tale, a slick package of info-thrills that's Crichton's most clever since Congo (1980) - and easily the most exciting dinosaur novel ever written. A sure-fire best-seller. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

In the future there will be dinosaurs --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Creatures once extinct now roam Jurassic Park, soon-to-be opened as a theme park. Until something goes wrong...and science proves a dangerous toy....
"Wonderful...Powerful."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

In the future there are dinosaurs --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

On a remote jungle island, genetic engineers have created a dinosaur game park.

An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now one of mankind's most thrilling fantasies has come true and the first dinosaurs that the Earth has seen in the time of man emerge.

But, as always, there is a dark side to the fantasy and after a catastrophe destroys the park's defence systems, the scientists and tourists are left fighting for survival...

'Crichton's most compulsive novel to date'

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'Breathtaking adventure... a book that is as hard to put down as it is to forget'

TIME OUT

'Wondeful... powerful' WASHINGTON POST

'Full of suspense' NEW YORK TIMES

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Michael Crichton was born in Chicago in 1942. His novels include The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Airframe, Jurassic Park and Disclosure. He is also the creator of the television series ER --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.