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Michael Crichton’s Congo, is a novel published in 1980, which revolves around a team’s journey into the depths of the Congo rain forest in search of diamonds. Congo centres around two overarching plots, the ERTS team’s scientific investigation to the lost city of Zinj and its diamonds, and Peter Elliot’s investigation into a new species of mountain gorilla.
In Congo, Crichton uses the first storyline to discuss the importance of technological advancements in the fields of communication, computer tech and weaponry. In 1980 Crichton’s claims might have seemed outrageous and unrealistic however in present society one can agree that the world’s use of technology has rapidly advanced beyond even Crichton’s claims. The novel revolves around the premise of the competitive race between the American ERTS (Earth Resource Technology Services) company and the Euro-Jap consortium for locating and sourcing the type II-b blue diamonds. Amidst the initial investigation for the diamonds, the team was viciously and swiftly murdered by what is later revealed to be a new species of Gorilla; a grey and highly intelligent primate.
The second story line in which Crichton expands on is the language acquisition of Primate Amy, a captive mountain Gorilla who displays a heightened sense of intelligence. Peter Elliot is in charge of the Project Amy experiment and has cared for and taught Amy a vocabulary of over 500 words. Amy has recalled her birthplace being the lost city of Zinj. Peter discerned this as genetic memory – a ground-breaking feat. Karen Ross, the head of the ERTS expedition, recruits Peter who is intrigued by the prospect of a new Gorilla, and aspires to utilise Amy’s skills in being a liaison and interpret between the apes and man.
During the 1970s, the world was amazed by the mountain gorilla Koko. Francine Patterson worked with Koko in the late 70’s, and taught him hundreds of signs, using AMSLAN. Crichton utilises this concept and uses it to flourish his novel.
Despite its fast paced tempo, the novel is rather anticlimactic and redundant. The premise of the story is to find the diamonds and source the new ape species. However, Ross excitedly excavates the mine with explosives which ignites the nearby volcano, eventuating in a cataclysmic eruption which destroys the not only the mining possibilities, but the entire civilization of gorillas. Not only does Ross not attain her diamonds, but inadvertently ensured the death of hundreds of Gorillas. In the epilogue, it states that she left ERTS and worked in a geological workplace which had no onsite missions. This might be because she is traumatised by her actions. Peter decided to move to Africa to study Amy’s interactions with native Gorillas, of whom in 1980 she joined a local troop in the wild and had children of whom she taught sign language to, confirming Peter’s claims of enhanced intelligence among primates. Munro resides in Tangier, after collecting a lump sum for his personal findings of the diamonds during the expedition.
Congo is an extremely well thought out novel, encompassing a thorough investigation into the technology of the time and the trend for primate intelligence experiments. Crichton is a very methodical author, completing ample research into his subject in order to articulate a novel in which comes across as legitimate and factual. He is an amazing author.
Congo was an enjoyable book, however I found myself not gripped to it. This could be due to personal reasons, not being engaged in reading at that point in time. I think it was a great book but perhaps not as engaging as I was expecting, since having read Jurassic Park previously. I endeavour to read more novels by this amazing author in the future.
Only three stars because of my lack of motivation for the novel, which does not reflect of the authors skills.
In Congo, Crichton uses the first storyline to discuss the importance of technological advancements in the fields of communication, computer tech and weaponry. In 1980 Crichton’s claims might have seemed outrageous and unrealistic however in present society one can agree that the world’s use of technology has rapidly advanced beyond even Crichton’s claims. The novel revolves around the premise of the competitive race between the American ERTS (Earth Resource Technology Services) company and the Euro-Jap consortium for locating and sourcing the type II-b blue diamonds. Amidst the initial investigation for the diamonds, the team was viciously and swiftly murdered by what is later revealed to be a new species of Gorilla; a grey and highly intelligent primate.
The second story line in which Crichton expands on is the language acquisition of Primate Amy, a captive mountain Gorilla who displays a heightened sense of intelligence. Peter Elliot is in charge of the Project Amy experiment and has cared for and taught Amy a vocabulary of over 500 words. Amy has recalled her birthplace being the lost city of Zinj. Peter discerned this as genetic memory – a ground-breaking feat. Karen Ross, the head of the ERTS expedition, recruits Peter who is intrigued by the prospect of a new Gorilla, and aspires to utilise Amy’s skills in being a liaison and interpret between the apes and man.
During the 1970s, the world was amazed by the mountain gorilla Koko. Francine Patterson worked with Koko in the late 70’s, and taught him hundreds of signs, using AMSLAN. Crichton utilises this concept and uses it to flourish his novel.
Despite its fast paced tempo, the novel is rather anticlimactic and redundant. The premise of the story is to find the diamonds and source the new ape species. However, Ross excitedly excavates the mine with explosives which ignites the nearby volcano, eventuating in a cataclysmic eruption which destroys the not only the mining possibilities, but the entire civilization of gorillas. Not only does Ross not attain her diamonds, but inadvertently ensured the death of hundreds of Gorillas. In the epilogue, it states that she left ERTS and worked in a geological workplace which had no onsite missions. This might be because she is traumatised by her actions. Peter decided to move to Africa to study Amy’s interactions with native Gorillas, of whom in 1980 she joined a local troop in the wild and had children of whom she taught sign language to, confirming Peter’s claims of enhanced intelligence among primates. Munro resides in Tangier, after collecting a lump sum for his personal findings of the diamonds during the expedition.
Congo is an extremely well thought out novel, encompassing a thorough investigation into the technology of the time and the trend for primate intelligence experiments. Crichton is a very methodical author, completing ample research into his subject in order to articulate a novel in which comes across as legitimate and factual. He is an amazing author.
Congo was an enjoyable book, however I found myself not gripped to it. This could be due to personal reasons, not being engaged in reading at that point in time. I think it was a great book but perhaps not as engaging as I was expecting, since having read Jurassic Park previously. I endeavour to read more novels by this amazing author in the future.
Only three stars because of my lack of motivation for the novel, which does not reflect of the authors skills.