Review: The Lost World by Michael Crichton

The Lost World by Michael Crichton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lost World is a techno-thriller novel and a sequel to Michael Crichton's earlier novel Jurassic Park.


The Lost World concerns an expedition to an isolated Central American location where dinosaurs roam - recreated by genetic engineering.

‘The Lost World’ is proof that the sequels can be better than the originals, grown ups can still love dinosaurs, and even the most rigid reader can indulge in a little adventure. Michael Crichton returns to the world he originally introduced to us through Jurassic Park with new vigor. The sequel to the famous dino-zoo thriller may have blown its prequel out of the water. With more likable characters, more blood and grit, and more scientific spark, this is a must read for adventure fans.

‘Something has survived…’ is scrawled across the back of my library copy of this novel, and it speaks the truth. For fans of the first book, this is a must read for even more thrill. This time, the story takes us to an alternative site for InGen, Site B, where the dinosaurs were originally bred for Hammond’s state of the art theme park. Ian Malcolm, the dark and brooding mathematician, remains of the original cast, and somehow finds himself back among the Jurassic tenants for one last time.

The plot this time is a group of scientists, bent of observing dinosaur behavior, opposite a group of competitive researchers working for one of the world’s leading DNA companies, out to steal the technology InGen left behind, patent it, and make millions. Of course, the third group playing it’s part in the book would be the dinosaurs, who could care less what the humans are doing, since they’re just plain hungry.

The book, in my opinion, is better than the first. The characters are more likable, more three-dimensional, and there’s just more interaction and tension. The book has more ‘side-plots’ happening, you aren’t just following a couple of linear paths with a handful of characters, it’s a network of events. Crichton truly stepped up his game and style with this book.

My issues? First, sometimes his characters, albeit brilliant men and women, come out with these very complex ideas and theories that have holes in them. I am no mathematician, animal behaviorist, biologist, or paleontologist, but even I had to stop and read over what they were saying and go, “Wait, but that doesn’t make sense, you’re contradicting yourself…”

And the kids. I hated the kids. The reason they were there was absolutely ridiculous, I didn’t understand why they had to be there at all. There was no point in having them there, since at times their presence in the plot seemed a little forced. (Although, they were less annoying than the kids in the first book…)


I really did enjoy this book, though. I’m a sucker for a good science thriller. Give me a creature, but give me the science behind it, and that’s exactly what Crichton does. I’m slowly becoming a fan of his work, and I’m looking forward to reading more of it in the future.



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