Congo by Michael Crichton
Paperback, 496 pages
2009, Harper
ISBN: 0061782556
Synopsis
Deep in the African rain forest, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an expedition of eight American geologists are mysteriously and brutally killed in a matter of minutes.
Ten thousand miles away, Karen Ross, the Congo Project Supervisor, watches a gruesome video transmission of the aftermath: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside dead bodies—all motionless except for one moving image—a grainy, dark, man-shaped blur.
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, a gorilla with an extraordinary vocabulary of 620 "signs," the most ever learned by a primate, and she likes to finger paint. But recently her behavior has been erratic and her drawings match, with stunning accuracy, the brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642 . . . a drawing of an ancient lost city. A new expedition—along with Amy—is sent into the Congo, where they enter a secret world, and the only way out may be through a horrifying death . . .
Review
Congo was one of the first Michael Crichton book 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 known for.
Rating
Links
Michael Crichton's website
Of all the Crichton books I've read I've never read Congo, I think it was the movie. I will have to try it.
ReplyDeleteMy dad loved this book. I havent read it yet. One day
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this book -- it sounds interesting. The themes sound somewhat similar to those in Jurassic Park.
ReplyDeletethis book introduced me to michael criton, and i've been a fan ever since, i think my favourite is timeline.
ReplyDeleteI love how you pointed out not to let the movie deter you because I really didn't dig the movie. Good call! :)
ReplyDelete