The Lost World - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

SUMMARY:

Since the catastrophic disaster that occurred six years ago at Jurassic Park, the dreams and imaginations of science have come crashing down. With everything in ruins, why are there whispers suggesting that something has managed to survive?

THOUGHTS:

This was honestly my favourite out of the two Jurassic Park books, and hands down an easy 5 stars. I was expecting it to be good, but the first was a bit information heavy for me and I thought this would be the same. Instead, it was so easy to read. The book was far more intense than the first, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading each chapter. I was extremely sad to find out that Steven Spielberg didn’t even try to stick to the script. I honestly believe this would have been an epic movie if the plot of the book was used, as it was more in depth, chaotic, and somewhat scarier, but just overall more enjoyable. The characters really shone through, and the scenes played out within the book would have been incredible to see on the big screen. I honestly believe the movie missed the philosophical weight of the book itself. Don’t get me wrong, I love the movie, but this would have been so much better.

The science concepts within the story were also great to read about. Between chaos theory, animal behaviour, and extinction patterns, it made for a fun way to learn, and Crichton made these complex ideas feel accessible to someone who isn’t scientific. It makes you think differently about nature and control over said nature. Combined with the theories and the action, it all made this story so easy to read.

The fact there were fewer characters than in the movie, and that these characters were not all included, made me sad, as I would have loved to see them. I was especially surprised by Arby and Thorne, as they would have been such a great addition to the movie. Every character made the storyline work, and not one felt out of place. Each brought their own unique vibe to the overall story.

The tension built up in the major scenes between dinosaurs and humans always makes for a fun time, and you almost entirely find yourself going for the T-Rex. I will say one part of the book did make it into the movie, and that was the trailer and baby T-Rex scene, although the outcome was different. The velociraptors were far more intense and scary compared to the movies, or even the first book. These raptors were on another level, and this is explained through Malcolm and Levine and how chaos theory works. It is quite interesting to understand the concept through animal behaviour, especially when applied to animals that are extinct.

I love that Ian Malcolm is always completely ignored when it comes to his theories, yet he always seems to be right when predicting dinosaur behaviour. People don’t listen, and the consequences are always fatal.

The “bad guys” were quite stupid in this book, and Dodgson was a pain in the ass. He plays a great “frustrating antagonist” who has no moral compass or ethical values. He is your typical corporate bully and greedy as. He sucks up to those who are in power and looks down on those he doesn’t value. But he is dumb.

I would say my favourite character is Sarah Harding, and she was so different from her movie self. She was more badass and level headed, and she really brought the dynamic together. Her intellect and knowledge of animals added another perspective to how they survived the island.

Overall, this book was a fantastic read and something I would happily read again. I really enjoyed all parts, and Michael Crichton did a great job. I would highly recommend this book to someone who has only seen the movie, as it gives a very different look into the Jurassic Park world. It has definitely changed the way I view the franchise, and I think it adds so much more depth to the overall story.