Product Description

On a remote jungle island, genetic engineers have created a dinosaur game park. Drawing on all his bestselling talent and scientific brilliance, Michael Crichton has, in "Jurassic Park", written the most electrifying techno-thriller of our time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10272 in Books
• Published on: 1998-01-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Review
The author of The Andromeda Strain again combined thorough scientific research with the thriller genre to comment on an issue that will soon affect everyone's life. Jurassic Park takes place on a remote jungle island over 24 hours, in which an unprecedented emergency threatens the world. The crisis is the result of genetic engineering and 'the headlong rush to commercialize' this dangerous area of science which sees the potentially devastating recreation of the dinosaur. A highly imaginative thriller. Was the inspiration for the blockbuster film by Steven Spielberg. (Kirkus UK)

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)

From the Publisher
In the future there are dinosaurs

Customer Reviews

Mathematics Vs Science
First of all i saw the film first, when i was about ten and i am big fan of it. My hunch when i watched it again a few years ago was that Ian Malcolm was the key character. As Michael Crichton died recently i decided to buy a copy of the book hoping for enlightenment and it seems i was correct.
Unlike most of the reviews, I think the film adaptation was very good, the actors did a superb job, special effects recreated the books descriptions well and it stuck closely to most of the script until nearer the end, the bits left out were not a great loss. There are a few unexplainable changes, for example in the book, Tim, the boy, is older and his sister, Lex, younger, this was reversed in the movie.

Crichton did a good job with the story, it differs enough from the movie to be worth reading on its own and his writing style is simple and easy to follow, Dan Brownish.
Dan Brown strengthens his Da Vinchi Code with in depth references to conspiracy theory and likewise Crichton's Jurassic park is full of scientific information. Crichton is either very knowledgeable about science or he does an awful lot of research. I feel that this scientific detail its a major strength, its an education experience for most and if you dont like it you are missing out on really enjoying Jurassic Park.

However, to fully understand the message of this book, you need to grasp that its about chaos theory.
Dr Malcolm is the key character and this is evidenced by the fact the book is broken into seven segments called iterations, with a fractal drawing and a quote from Ian Malcolm relating to chaos.
Chaos theory is a previously obscure mathematical theory that is increasing popular and trendy as a way of understanding the world, it is clear from this book Crichton understood the significance of it and the role it might play in destroying the scientific certainties we still live with today, for those who can grasp that, this book is an early warning of what was/is to come in the real world. I think time will see Crichton proved correct.
So the concept of the book is that despite an array of experts, vast funding and the incredible achievements of science, ultimately there comes a point where science will never be able to break, and that some systems, Crichton chose life, chaos and unpredictability will always reign and will never be tamed by science.

Despite all of this, the book is an interesting and exiting story on its own.

Clever and Suspenseful
This book combines drama and suspense with science and a certain amount of moralizing. The book's major premise-using the DNA of long extinct species-is clever because it is so believable and thus frightening. The book plays upon the idea that if one tampers with Nature's most sacred mechanisms, there will be a price to pay and dangers that one can neither anticipate nor accommodate. The idea of a Caribbean park featuring such resurrected creatures provides a macabre and riveting fascination. The book and movie have been out for a while but nevertheless, if you haven't read this, it is still a good read.

Entertaining and educational
This is my favourite book of all time. It is thought provoking and hair raising and verging on prescient. I think everybody should read this at least once in their life. Enjoy!