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vlawton's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
emmalemonnz's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Apparently I like stories of the American West more than I thought I do. (There's possibly a review I've written somewhere that contradicts this, but never mind).
History, science, people losing their faith in religion, good story telling: why have I not read more Crichton books?
History, science, people losing their faith in religion, good story telling: why have I not read more Crichton books?
midwifereading's review against another edition
2.0
It lacks the Crichtonesque tension, suspense, and detailed scientific exploration. It could have been another Great Train Robbery, his superb historical fiction story of a real train heist. The bones are there, but it appears he never had the chance to build on that skeleton. I need to stop reading books published posthumously.
evilinchw0rm's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sarahmcg0144's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pkiwi's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastical yet believable Wild West story. The basis in real facts helps elevate this book from 'just an adventure' to 'really cool and relatively believable'. Thrilling to the end, genuinely sympathetic protagonist.
kadaroli's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
midici's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5 stars
This was a quick, entertaining read. The book contains a lot of historical facts - the dangerous rivalry between Marsh and Cope, the background of the violence and war between the army and the native tribes, the discovery of new dinosaur species are all based on fact. The main character of William Johnson was created for the purposes of exploring this time period and the dangerous activity that paleontology could be in those days.
The language is clear and descriptive, Johnson makes for a sympathetic character, and the descriptions from diary entries makes the novel read almost as if it's all fact instead of only partially. This book follows my personal pattern of enjoying Crichton's historical fictions the most.
This was a quick, entertaining read. The book contains a lot of historical facts - the dangerous rivalry between Marsh and Cope, the background of the violence and war between the army and the native tribes, the discovery of new dinosaur species are all based on fact. The main character of William Johnson was created for the purposes of exploring this time period and the dangerous activity that paleontology could be in those days.
The language is clear and descriptive, Johnson makes for a sympathetic character, and the descriptions from diary entries makes the novel read almost as if it's all fact instead of only partially. This book follows my personal pattern of enjoying Crichton's historical fictions the most.
chelsea21's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
twocats_witchery's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0