Helpful Score: 2
One of my favorite Crichton books. I can't believe how ridiculous the movie was. Read the book.
Helpful Score: 1
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes. Ten thousand miles away, at teh Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies--and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape. In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary an a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches, with stunning accuracy, the frayed brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642--a drawing of the ancient lost city. Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
-from the back cover
-from the back cover
Helpful Score: 1
Loved Congo. Fast paced, very interesting topic. Usually books about lost anicent cities are in South America. This one's in Africa.
enjoyed this book. good easy read.
Amazon.com
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
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
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes.
Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death...
Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death...
This is my second favorite book by Michael Crichton, next to Jurassic Park (I haven't read State of Fear) It is WAAAY better than the awful movie it was made into. The characters are believable and often likable, the story is suspenseful, and it is a very good read. It is nothing like the movie.
Mr. Crichton is at it again with an old-fashioned thriller-diller....ingenious, imaginative waid the Los Angeles Times. Deep in the darkest region of the Congo things are happening. You must mead this book to find out the answers.......
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins od the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes.
Publisher's Notes
An anthropological expedition disappears in the middle of the Congo, leaving behind a video tape that shows dark figures bearing down on them before fading to nothingness. A member of the home team travels to Africa to investigate, accompanied by a group of scientists who have trained a gorilla named Amy to communicate with humans. "Congo" was the basis for the 1995 film by the same name.
"Suspense that won't stop...A believable and immensely entertaining page-turner."
Morrell
An anthropological expedition disappears in the middle of the Congo, leaving behind a video tape that shows dark figures bearing down on them before fading to nothingness. A member of the home team travels to Africa to investigate, accompanied by a group of scientists who have trained a gorilla named Amy to communicate with humans. "Congo" was the basis for the 1995 film by the same name.
"Suspense that won't stop...A believable and immensely entertaining page-turner."
Morrell
great book. the ending was a little short but i would recommend this book to anyone who likes action, adventure and mystery.
Michael Cricton thriller. Enjoyed this one
Darkest Africa. An abandoned city full of diamonds,lost in the jungle. Perhaps a new animal species, a weird cross between man and ape, but unheard of in 20th-century anthropology. I enjoyed the mystery and high tech. ideas.
The Legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj in the Congo are explored by an 8 person field expedition which dies mysteriously and brutally. Immediately a new expedition is sent by the Houston based command center. The new group includes an extraordinary gorilla named Amy whose recent drawings portray the ancient lost city with stunning accuracy.
Much better than the movie.
After reading and loving Timeline, I went through and read all of Crichton's books. This wasn't one of the better ones. I actually liked the movie better.
AS a book, this was great - if you saw the movie first, please don't let that influence your decision about the book. The movie doesn't even look like it came from the book.
Deep in the darkest region of the Congo, a field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of mintutes...
At the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc., a shocked supervisor watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team--and sees the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape...
In San Francisco, an extraordinary gorilla named Amy, who has a 620 "sign" vocabulary, may hold the secret to that fierce carnage. Immediately, a new expedition is sent to the Congo, descending into a world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
At the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc., a shocked supervisor watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team--and sees the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape...
In San Francisco, an extraordinary gorilla named Amy, who has a 620 "sign" vocabulary, may hold the secret to that fierce carnage. Immediately, a new expedition is sent to the Congo, descending into a world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting read though at times it was a little convoluted. Still the story moved fast, with likable, flawed characters. I will definately read more from this author.
Murdered geologists in an African rain forest.
"Congo" is not one of Crichton's best but it is still a good book, if you are willing to overlook a few holes in the plot and just go along for the ride. As is often the case with Crichton's work you will be left wondering where fact leaves off and fantasy begins. There is a bibliography at the end which gives a starting point for research. Also the cutting edge technology described is nearly thirty years out of date. Still, a weaker for Crichton is better than most.
A gorilla that loves cigarrettes and martinis. That should be all the info you need. Crichton is pretty good. all his books are entertaining. This is not his best but still a good read.
This book has a good story line and it is an easy read for a vacation. It is one of the mindless reads that you don't have to think too much about but can get through it pretty quickly. The story is about an expedition to the Congo with a gorilla who can sign ASL. It is a little wierd at some points but worth a read since it is fun and makes you think about some ethical concepts of animal testing and training. It is classic Michael Crichton and if you like his books you will like this one. However he has better works out there like Jurassic Park but this one is not bad and moves well.
Suspense that won't stop.. a believable and immensely entertaining page turner - the Houston Post. Deep in the darkest region of the Congo, a field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes...At the Houston based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc. a shocked supervisor watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team - and sees the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape....In San Francisco, an extraordinary gorilla named Amy, who has a 620 "sign" vocabulary, may hold the secret to that fierce carnage. Immediately a new expedition is sent to the Congo, descending into a world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.....
very interesting book.. a little too technical in places but over all a fairly interesting story.. I loved Amy and of course wanted to slap the female character after the first couple interactions she had with Peter and her co workers.. over all a good book. i would love to meet a gorilla that could sign,,
A good thriller--lots of suspense. Some accurate primate bahavior observations also.
From back cover: Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes.
Ten thousand miles away at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team, a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies . . . and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape.
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 'sign'vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches with stunning accuracy the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642, a drawing of the ancient lost city. Immediately a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
From back cover: Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes.
Ten thousand miles away at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team, a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies . . . and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape.
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 'sign'vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches with stunning accuracy the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642, a drawing of the ancient lost city. Immediately a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
A Crichton classic - a good read as much for the lay science speculation as for the story.
Deep in the African rain forest, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an expedition of eight American geologists is 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 fingerpaint. 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 . . .
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 fingerpaint. 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 . . .
Classic Crichton.... read the book before seeing the movie!
good reading...one of his best....
Good book. Very scientific, though. If that bores you, then skip this one.
if you like crichtons books you will love this one...there was a movie about it too
I liked this book - it is very exciting. The movie was a dud - the book is very good!
from the cover:
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes...Ten thousand miles away, at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, inc., supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies--and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape...
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches, with stunning accuracy, the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642--a drawing of the ancient lost city. Immediately, a new expeditio is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.....
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes...Ten thousand miles away, at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, inc., supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies--and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape...
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches, with stunning accuracy, the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642--a drawing of the ancient lost city. Immediately, a new expeditio is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.....
I loved this book. Crichton has a great imagination.
Deep in the heart of the dardest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an eight-person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes.
Ten thousand miles away, at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc., supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies...and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape.
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches with stunning acccuracy, the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642...a drawing of the ancient lost city.
Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death...
Ten thousand miles away, at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc., supervisor Karen Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies...and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape.
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, an extraordinary gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches with stunning acccuracy, the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642...a drawing of the ancient lost city.
Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world where the only way out may be through the grisliest death...
If you've seen this movie, you MUST read the book! The book gives so much more detail and backstory. An intriguing read.
If you've seen the movie, parts of the book will be a shock because of when it was written. But what was left out of the movie makes for a great read
I really enjoyed this book much better than the movie.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, an eight-person field dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes....
Ten thousand miles away, at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc., supervisor Karenn Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape ....
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, a gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches, with stunning accuracy, the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642 a drawing of an ancient lost city. Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world. where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
Judith Ivey's film credits include Alice, Brighton Beach. Memoirs, and In Country. She starred on the television show "Designing Women."
Disclosure, Rising Sun, and Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton, are available from Random House AudioBooks. Sphere and The Andromeda Strain are available as Random House Price-Less Audios.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Deep in the heart of the darkest region of the Congo, an eight-person field dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes....
Ten thousand miles away, at the Houston-based Earth Resources Technology Services, Inc., supervisor Karenn Ross watches a gruesome video transmission of that ill-fated team: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside bodies and the grainy, moving image of a dark, blurred shape ....
In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, a gorilla with a 620 "sign" vocabulary and a fondness for finger painting. Her recent drawing matches, with stunning accuracy, the frayed, brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642 a drawing of an ancient lost city. Immediately, a new expedition is sent into the Congo, descending into a secret world. where the only way out may be through the grisliest death.
Judith Ivey's film credits include Alice, Brighton Beach. Memoirs, and In Country. She starred on the television show "Designing Women."
Disclosure, Rising Sun, and Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton, are available from Random House AudioBooks. Sphere and The Andromeda Strain are available as Random House Price-Less Audios.
As with all Michael Crichton works, this book is a fast-paced adventure that actually has a unique plot. The characters are somewhat generic but the book is an enjoyable read for a weekend or lazy afternoon when you want something fairly quick and not exceptionally deep. Crichton definitely deserves points for creativity and believability in this novel.
Didn't like it very much. Thought his other books were much better. At least it's better than the movie.
Darkest Africa. Strangling vines. Rain forest. Pygmies. Clouds of mosquitoes. Rampaging hippos. Roaring gorillas. Killer natives. Gorges. Rapids. Erupting volcanoes. An abandoned city full of diamonds, lost in the jungle. Maybe a new animal species, a weird cross between man and ape, but unheard of in 20th-century anthropology. Zaire. Congo.
Don't let the horrible movie scare you away from the fantastic book. Great storyline!
Don't let the horrible movie scare you away from the fantastic book. Great storyline!
EXCELLENT BOOK!
Apes, danger and suspense in the Congo. Great reading.
One of Crichton's best. A ton better than the movie.
The best of the Crichton books in my opinion.
Crichton writes very exiting stories that are based enough in fact that they seem plausable. This is the story of a lost expedition to Africa and the palces and adventures that the rescue expedition encounters.
Deep in the heartof the darkest region of the Congo, near the legendary ruinsof the Lost City of Zinj, an eight=person field expedition dies mysteriously and brutally in a matter of minutes.
Another good book by Crichton, good story teller with lots of excitement.
Thrilling, fascinating and dazzling. another truly griping page-turner from Crichton.
Better than the movie!
A supervsor wathes a grim video--a camp destoyed and all in it.What happened?
An old fashioned killer diller
Suspense that won't stop.
Book is always much better than the movie.
My book has a different cover, but it's the same book. Action, adventure, terror. This book has it all!
Great book, but I read it so long ago, I cannot remember the plot except it was set in the jungle and was a good read.
My husband is a Michael Crichton fan and enjoyed the book very much!
The front cover of the book is missing. However, it is one of the best books I have ever read.
