Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
A period piece (early 1900's) sci-fi quasi-classic by an author known better for his iconic Sherlock Holmes character. There's a little bit of Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues, Journey to the Center of the Earth) and Michael Chrichton (Jurrasic Park) at play here, but not necessarily better or worse than either - just a slightly different time and place and tone.
This book, actually part of the "Professor Challenger" series, exists in a different sphere from the Holmes juggernaut, but, like Holmes, has found its way to the television and movie screen over the years.
It's a quick, fun book, with an entertaining setup, which drags our erstwhile narrator into the orbit of Professor Challenger and onto his epic quest, and a satisfactory conclusion. Necessary to complete your sci-fi reading list? Probably not. But a minimal investment of time and energy if you're inclined to sample it.
This book, actually part of the "Professor Challenger" series, exists in a different sphere from the Holmes juggernaut, but, like Holmes, has found its way to the television and movie screen over the years.
It's a quick, fun book, with an entertaining setup, which drags our erstwhile narrator into the orbit of Professor Challenger and onto his epic quest, and a satisfactory conclusion. Necessary to complete your sci-fi reading list? Probably not. But a minimal investment of time and energy if you're inclined to sample it.
I found this very amusing, an interesting premise, and the ending was not what I expected.
Serial Reader
Serial Reader
Journalist Edward Malone wants to impress his girlfriend with his heroic prowess. He asks his editor for an assignment worthy of such a challenge, and he’s given the assignment to interview Professor George Edward Challenger, a noted zoologist notorious for his hostility to the press. The last reporter that attempted a word with him ended up with a broken skull. Challenger has recently returned from South America with some damaged photographs and the sketch book of a previous explorer depicting prehistoric beasts. Challenger is sure that they were drawn from a live model, and he intends to prove it.
It was delightful to reread this old favorite in a new illustrated edition. This 1912 action adventure by the creator of Sherlock Holmes became the basis for the original creature feature silent film in 1925.
What struck me was Doyle’s technique of indicating action in the midst of dialog, and the implicit racism of the time. The four adventurous explorers, three Anglos and an Irishman, are aided by a support team of “a gigantic negro named Zambo, who is a black Hercules, as willing as any horse, and about as intelligent. … Gomez and Manuel, two half-breeds … They were swarthy fellows, bearded and fierce, as active and wiry as panthers. … [and] three Mojo Indians from Bolivia.” (page 67) As it turns out Zambo is both heroic and faithful, not to mention having the wits to stick around and provide information to the outside world when the white people find themselves stranded; the half-breeds are deceitful and traitorous (although they are significantly less bearded and swarthy than Professor Challenger) and the Indians run away when they get scared, which is behavior also demonstrated by the Europeans. It’s interesting to read this in 2017 and see how much attitudes have changes and not changed in the following century.
It was delightful to reread this old favorite in a new illustrated edition. This 1912 action adventure by the creator of Sherlock Holmes became the basis for the original creature feature silent film in 1925.
Well written, almost poetic although outdated and lacking in realism. Yes, I expect realism in my 80 year old man meets dinosaur books. Its amusing how the scientists are portrayed in a comedic fashion and are very unscientific. I'm not sure if the author was looking for that or it he thought that all scientists are that way. Also racist although this was the standard at the time. It turns out the Nazis weren't the only ones that thought they were superior.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, and I'm not sure where I ever got the idea that I wouldn't. I love Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books, but I'd resisted reading any of his other work. I found Professor Challenger to be challenging, and not in a good way. Perhaps he has a reason for his hot temper and his predilection for fisticuffs, but this is exactly the kind of person whose ideas and opinions I'm likely to ignore simply because he can't control himself. It's distasteful, much like Holmes' opium habit. Yet, somehow, he still ends up being a likable sort once you look past his flaws (of which there are many - he's quite childish).
The adventure itself was delightful, with just enough description to please but not overwhelm. It was interesting to read this shortly after reading a book with more up-to-date scientific knowledge about dinosaurs, however. The scientist in me kept cringing every time the author presented information we now know isn't accurate, although it was, for its time, very well researched.
I'm looking forward to the next Professor Challenger adventure. I can't believe it took me this long to read any of them.
The adventure itself was delightful, with just enough description to please but not overwhelm. It was interesting to read this shortly after reading a book with more up-to-date scientific knowledge about dinosaurs, however. The scientist in me kept cringing every time the author presented information we now know isn't accurate, although it was, for its time, very well researched.
I'm looking forward to the next Professor Challenger adventure. I can't believe it took me this long to read any of them.
A bit slow, but it was great to read a story set in a time when all the places on the world map have not been filled in yet.
By Arthur Conan Doyle, dramatised by Chris Harrald. The hot-headed Professor Challenger claims that extinct species of animals are still to be found living on an isolated Amazonian plateau. Dr Summerlee, Lord John Roxton and the intrepid reporter, Edward Malone, find themselves committed to a journey of a lifetime.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfz6
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfz6
Adding into my sci-fi shelf, but not sure about that.
A group of adventurers head to a strange land somewhere in South America, where they try to shoot creatures not seen for millions of years for trophies, and wipe out any evidence of the "missing link" between apes and man.
Very much a novel of its time, in the approach and attitudes taken. It's a fairly straightforward read with no major surprises.
A group of adventurers head to a strange land somewhere in South America, where they try to shoot creatures not seen for millions of years for trophies, and wipe out any evidence of the "missing link" between apes and man.
Very much a novel of its time, in the approach and attitudes taken. It's a fairly straightforward read with no major surprises.
Palm-->Face. I just deleted my review to this in a moment of awesome stupidity. I remember thinking the audio version of this was just as great as the book. It was kind of like listening to an old timey story on the radio like the good old days.