Book Review: Jurassic Park

Title - Jurassic Park

Author - Michael Crichton

Series - Jurassic Park #1

Genre - Fiction Fantasy Sci Fi 

Format - Kindle

Published - August 30th 1993

Publisher - Ballantine 

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

State-of-the-art science and suspense combine in this uniquely exciting high-tension thriller from the author of The Andromeda Strain. Bio-engineers create authentic, detail-perfect, real-life dinosaurs for a Pacific island theme park, but scientific triumph explodes into horrendous disaster as the first visitors encounter the unbelievable.

Review

John Hammond has spent his life trying to create something incredible and now that he’s in his 70’s he’s done it at last. After a few attacks on a beach in Costa Rica the question of if a new lizard species exists on the island after several children are attacked. With Jurassic Park’s opening just a year away it’s come into question the safety of the park so an impromptu weekend with some consultants should be exactly what they need to satisfy the investors. Hammond brings in Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler two very well-known specialists in their field of paleontology and paleobotany. With Ian Malcolm who created the chaos theory as well as his grandchildren tossed in the mix it’s sure to be a well-rounded group.

It’s not till they arrive that they have any idea what Hammond has been doing at the island but genetically creating long extinct dinosaurs for a theme park. Since this is a state of the art park everything is run by computers so when the system goes down suddenly the dinosaurs are lose wreaking havoc on the guests. Not only are dinosaurs getting off the island somehow but now they are breeding on the island and roaming free with the systems down. It will take everything they have to bring the park back up and make it off the island in one piece.

For Book club this month we decided to read Jurassic Park. This is actually a re-read for me but with the new moving coming out I was all for it. I admit it’s been a long time so I didn’t remember all the parts but I had a good idea. It’s amazing how much more detail is in the book and how the story differs from the movie I’ve watched over and over. While the movie puts Hammond as more of the good guy with good intentions the book brings to light the darker side of who he is. I liked seeing the characters as the author anticipated them. We had a little role reversal with the children in ages but I think it worked either way. I honestly loved the darker story of the book over the movie it’s just so captivating. Don’t get me wrong I really enjoyed the movie.  

I really enjoyed the authors writing style it just flows so smoothly from start to finish it was hard to put down.  He created this beautiful but dangerous world taking the concept of genetically creating dinosaurs from fossilized amber. I know I’m not the only one who is secretly hoping this one day could happen well I hope not. However I hope we have learned from this series and don’t make the same exact mistakes when it comes to opening a park. I know I won’t be in line for opening weekend but one day maybe. I just really enjoyed the book it’s an amazing story one of my favorites that I read with my father growing up. I actually read the book before the movie came out and I feel that for the technology at the time they did a wonderful job. I can’t wait to re-read lost world next it was my favorite of the two. Even though my favorite dinosaur from the second book never made it to the big screen yet. Highly recommend a must for all sci fi dinosaur fans.