The Lost World by Michael Crichton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Lost World
Book Review: A decent sequel, but nothing special
Summary: 3 Stars
My father and my brother both insist that Michael Crichton is a hack who couldn't create a remotely interesting character if his life depended on it. I think that he's capable of writing some damn good adventure stories. As a matter of fact, we're all correct. I readily admit that he has some major weaknesses, characterization being just one of them, but he also has a certain talent for building suspense and getting you caught up in the story. "Jurassic Park" was one of the best science fiction adventure novels that I've ever read. The sequel, "The Lost World", starts out with a promise of more fast-paced action, but it stumbles a little bit towards the end.It's five years later, and the disaster on Isla Nubar has been thoroughly hushed up. Ian Malcolm is still offering up mathematical theories, his latest being that studies of systems "at the edge of chaos" can provide the key to the extinction of the dinosaurs. While Crichton's treatment of mathematics is, of course, nonsense, it's still amusing to read Malcolm's witty dialogue as he clashes with the skeptical mathematical community. Meanwhile, reports are coming in of strange animal carcasses being found in Costa Rica, but the government is attempting to cover up the situation. When a noted scientist suddenly vanishes without a trace, Malcolm joins with a engineer who designed special vehicles for him to rescue the man, and they take off for another island in the Pacific. Needless to say, it turns out that the InGen engineers were breeding dinosaurs on this island as well, and the rescuers are soon being chased by an irate Tyrannosaurus. Meanwhile, the notorious Lew Dodgson also ventures to the island in hopes of stealing dinosaur eggs. For about the first two-hundred pages, Crichton does an excellent job of pulling you into the story. The sense of adventure is tremendous.
Unfortunately, he just can't keep it up for the entire length of the book. One problem is that the author apparently decided that he needed to a pair of children in danger once again. The mechanism that he uses to bring two precocious kids to the island is pretty ridiculous. Also, the final section is fairly predictable, with yet another case of equipment malfunctioning in critical situations, and Malcolm once again caring more about explicating his mathematical theories than surviving and escaping from the island. I think that with a little bit more though and creativity, "The Lost World" could have been a better book, but it's still a decent way to waste a few hours of your spare time.
Book Review: A disappointment
Summary: 2 Stars
If you want a good book, try Jurassic Park. It seems Crichton just made the book so directors could make another movie out of it. Compared to Jrassic Park, this book was BAD. If you are a Christian like me, don't read this book!! The thing that angered me was the whole plot was just talking about evolution. On the very first page, Malcolm is explaining evolution. Evolution is just Satan's way of making people turn away from God and His Word. Jurassic Park made little mention of evolution and stuck with the plot through the whole book. In this book, whle Malcolm and his bud are being attaked by Raptors and Tyrannosaurus Rex's, they decide to explain about exolution. Come on! They are about to be ripped in half and decide that it's a good time to talk about evolution! I was very disappointed after reading this book. If you want REALLY good books, try Frank Peretti.Book Review: A far cry from Jurassic Park.
Summary: 2 Stars
Micheal has cramped to much theories and philosophies in this book.
Instead of being adventurous, The Lost World is being very
philosophical. Almost every few pages of actions were followed
by another few pages of theories of dinosaurs extinction. I managed to
finish this book because I don't want to waste the money I
spent on the book.Book Review: A few small gripes
Summary: 3 Stars
The writing was good but it seems he regretted the death of Malcom in the first book. It seems our favorite mathamatition is back. If M.C. wasn't such a good writer (normaly) I would have put it down then and there. The book was a tad confusing with so meny things going on at once. I'd say this sequal was a letdown and the movie was a letdown compared to the book so If I were Mike I would stop writing sequals to books that shouldn't have them.-Eli@Book Review: A good book, but can't beat it's predecessor.
Summary: 3 Stars
The first book was amazing. It added realistic science and adventure to make it great. The Lost World was good but different from the original. It added the adventure but didn't really add the interesting science to the background. It was basically the remake of the original "Lost World" book with the Jurassic Park background. The book wasn't bad at all and I would read it again and have my children read it when I grow up.