| Binding: Mass Market Paperback |
| EAN: 9780345378491 |
| ISBN: 0345378490 |
| Label: Ballantine Books |
| Manufacturer: Ballantine Books |
| Number Of Items: 1 |
| Number Of Pages: 336 |
| Product Group: Book |
| Publication Date: 1992-11-23 |
| Publisher: Ballantine Books |
| Sales Rank on Amazon: 1,804,332 |
| Studio: Ballantine Books |
| UPC: |
Source:Product Description
The legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj have seen an eight-person field exhibition die. After startling discoveries, a new expedition is sent back into the Congo--its mission, to descend into the secret world where the only way back out may be through the grisliest death....
Source:Amazon.com Review
If you saw the 1995 film adaptation of this Crichton thriller, somebody owes you an apology. While you're waiting for that to happen, try reading the vastly more intelligent novel on which the movie was based. The broad lines of the plot remain the same: A research team deep in the jungle disappears after a mysterious and grisly gorilla attack. A subsequent team, including a sign-language-speaking simian named Amy, follows the original team's tracks only to be subjected to more mysterious and grisly gorilla attacks. If you can look past the breathless treatment of '80s technology, like voice-recognition software and 256K RAM modules (the book was written in 1980), you'll find the same smart use of science and edge-of-your-seat suspense shared by Crichton's other work. --Paul Hughes
Average Customer Review: 4.0
Total Customer Reviews: 250
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful:
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent (and easy) reading
The one thing you can absolutely depend on when you read a book by Dr. Crichton is that you will learn various trivia and assorted interesting facts related to topic at hand. The subject of this particular book is the great apes and their close kinship to humans. Guiding the reader through primate behavior is Amy, a gorilla belonging to a primate researcher. In short, the story is about a quest for buried treasure guarded by a band of apes that have been specially bred by the humans to protect the treasure by single-mindedly killing anyone who comes venturing too close. These are intelligent creatures who appear to adapt and change strategies to best their human adversaries. Amy seems to recognize them as gorillas but refuses to adopt them as one of her own kind (which apparently is normal, for gorillas raised by humans often think of themselves in those terms and look at other gorillas derisively. Although there appears to be a difference here --- Amy is actually afraid of these gorillas.) Alas, many tantalizing questions remain unanswered: were these apes a hybrid of human and gorilla genes? What happens to the humans who bred them? Did the apes kill them? Etc. But regardless, the book is an excellent read. I saw the movie released in the early 1990's based on the book, and am just catching up with the printed version.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful:
Rating: 5
Summary: Congo
This book arrived quickly and in great shape. The story is engaging and certainly shares some of the atmosphere of present day Congo too.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful:
Rating: 5
Summary: Great service
I had been looking for this book which seems to be out of print now. It arrived promptly and in good condition.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful:
Rating: 1
Summary: Horribly Written
I couldn't even get half way through it. Bland characters, unrealistic plot. With too much dated, unnecessary and boring information. The gorilla, Amy, was not even realistic. He made her out to be more intelligent and more capable at signing than happens in reality. I am supposed to believe that the first time Amy was shown a watermelon she signed "water fruit" combining the two signs all on her own? Really?
What is this, written for third graders?
Also, the reality is modern weapons could easily wipe out any apes alive, killer or not. Ludicrous plot. I have concluded this author is a bit overhyped and overrated.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful:
Rating: 4
Summary: Reading with Tequila
Congo was one of the first Michael Crichton books I read. I remember thinking - Killer monkeys are cool. Congo was much more than cool killer monkeys though. Evolution, nature vs. nurture, animal intelligence and rampant greed are all important themes covered in the novel. Don't let the movie deter you. Congo is a highly entertaining read bursting with the authentic science Crichton was always known for.
