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the_epi_reader's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The quiet town of Warchester, England has never seen anything interesting until one morning several of its residents are brutally attacked by an animal. The self-proclaimed private zoo owner, Sir Darren Penward, takes responsibility and advises a tiger escaped from his property, causing the attacks. Local reporter Pascal does not believe this, especially after Sir Penward’s suspicious behavior. A sole survivor reports seeing a dinosaur, but dinosaurs are extinct right? Pascal may think otherwise, and he knows the answers are hidden by the electric fences at Sir Penward’s “zoo.”
Carnosaur was a fun 1980s creature feature horror story that was written 6 years prior to Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park novel. I was shocked by the overlaps between Carnosaur and Jurassic Park, especially since Crichton reported not even knowing about Carnosaur.
Knight’s novel definitely had some cringe moments, including his descriptions of women (e.g. “positively glowed with good health and desirability”) and a handful of unnecessary sex scenes. I would have definitely enjoyed more dinosaurs and less awkward sex. Overall Carnosaur is worth a read, especially for fans of 80s horror!
midnight666's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
beefmaster's review
4.0
Despite the cover, this is actually a long, tender, allusive meditation on life and death from an old Eastern European woman written in a Slavic patois, with no paragraph breaks. There are certainly no tits and no gore in this. (I also own this edition lmao)
tobsi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gewidder's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny and Fatphobia
matthewmgordon's review
4.0
This was a fun, fast read. “Carnosaur” is sort of like a shorter, pulpier English cousin to Jurassic Park. It does lose a star for some (understatement) casual sexism.
landencelano's review
3.0
Sordid fun, but in its similarities to Jurassic Park made me appreciate the brilliance of that story.
itcamefromthepage's review against another edition
3.0
Incredibly trashy and for the most part fun dinosaur romp.
The big issue is that even for pulp this book has some....questionable views on women. There is a constant whiff of misogny running through this book that really drains some of the fun. The writing of Jane Penward in particular is very very odd. The word 'nymphomaniac' is thrown around a lot against her character and it just reeked of a male writer trying to be weirdly puritan. Occasionally the book tries to play with characters engrained sexism but it never works and always comes off bad.
That being said the dinosaur stuff is really really fun and outstanding. The action is really well written with some gruesome sequences I adored. Just maybe skip to the dino carnage bits and forget the rest.
The big issue is that even for pulp this book has some....questionable views on women. There is a constant whiff of misogny running through this book that really drains some of the fun. The writing of Jane Penward in particular is very very odd. The word 'nymphomaniac' is thrown around a lot against her character and it just reeked of a male writer trying to be weirdly puritan. Occasionally the book tries to play with characters engrained sexism but it never works and always comes off bad.
That being said the dinosaur stuff is really really fun and outstanding. The action is really well written with some gruesome sequences I adored. Just maybe skip to the dino carnage bits and forget the rest.
mjtucker's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
vminton706's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I saw someone describe this as “Jurassic park for people who drink beer” and I would have to agree. I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it. It was everythingI wanted it to be and more.