37. Jurassic Park

by Michael Crichton (399 pgs)

Rating: 3

Dinosaurs are cool. All kids love dinosaurs. Parents spend thousands on taking their kids to theme parks. Ergo, a theme park with real dinosaurs is a good idea...right? No, of course not, this is a Crichton book after all. Something must go terribly wrong and it does when the dinosaurs start defying the precautions the park builders imposed on them.

So yeah. Jurassic Park is a much better book than it was a movie. The book is much darker and grim than the movie and I have to say Hammond's fate was gruesomely satisfying. Malcolm, of course, has the best lines. I really related to what he had to say about intelligence. The writing was pretty good and the main characters were well done. The cast of supporting characters tended to blend together and that was a bit irritating. Also, the chaos theory sub line was clumsily handled. I remember reading this when I was twelve and going, 'why the hell is chaos theory in here, this makes no sense.' I get it now but It's a little to obtruse.

Recommended for planes, dino nuts, and sci fi enthusiasts.