Congo

Rating:
Summary: The Most Entertaining Novel Since "Jurassic Park"
Review: This novel kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I read. Michael Crichton does a good job displaying realism in this realistic science fiction novel. He creates a story in the darkest region of the Congo, near the Lost City of Zinj,where an eight-person expedition dies brutally in a matter of seconds. At the home base back in Houston, supervisors watch a gruesome video transmission of the ill-fated team: dead bodies, tents crushed, and a blurred dark moving image. A new expedition is sent to the Congo. Some are in search for diamonds while a primatologist is taking his gorilla Amy, who knows sign language, back to her home in the Congo. During the expedition they encounter trouble with the native tribes and man-eating gorillas. Many people die and there is a lot of action in this thriller. Life threatening creatures and jungle weather creates a setting which makes this book so entertaining. This book can be compared to "Jurassic Park." Both display great action scenes and interesting stories by the same author. I recommend this book greatly if you are either a science-fiction or suspense thriller fan.

Rating:
Summary: Computers, Talking Apes, The Jungle, What Else!!!!!!
Review: One of Crichton's most interesting books. This book starts out with a 8 person field expedition dies brutally in a matter of seconds. At HQ, Karen Ross watches the gruesome videotape. Dead bodies, tents crushed and torn, and a moving dark image. Everyone else goes into the jungle of Africa for The Lost City Of Zinj which, unfortunately, is guarded by man eating gorillas that killed Amy's mother. Amy is the expeditions "talking" gorilla who talks with sign language. Eventually,a volcano erupts and the expedition goes home just in time.

Rating:
Summary: Crichton's Best
Review: This book rocked!!! I can't say how much I loved it!!! It just beat out Jurassic Park as Crichton's best. It was also a million times better than the movie. Nail biting suspense and great action. I thought The Terminal Man [was bad]!!! and same with The Lost World ( no offense). Best book ever.

Travis Robinson

...

Rating:
Summary: Another Reader Added to Michael Crichton's Fan List
Review: Congo is another of Michael Crichton's wonderful masterpieces. It is a brilliant mixture of suspense, action, and unthinkable horrors. This book kept me busy, reading page after page, never wanting to stop. Michael Crichton's realistic jungle setting and descriptions greatly enhanced the feeling of suspense and thrill. At the climax in the book, my hands were sweating and my heart was thumping against my chest.

This book hurls readers deep into the depths of the Congo Jungle and the ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, where they came upon an ill fated field expedition. All the men were brutally killed and the camp destroyed in a matter of minutes. Back in Houston, the project directors watched the gruesome satellite transmission. In the midst of the ruined camp, they saw a dark, blurry, hulking figure prowling near the bodies. All the men had died the same way; their skulls were crushed. After minimal investigation, the company sent another expedition to the Congo Jungle, plunging the field expedition into the terrible unknowns of the Congo Jungle.

Congo is another must read for the books written by Michael Crichton. He has an extraordinary way of writing a book that draws people's attention. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy adventure stories. Many parts of the book take place in a eerie twilight setting where the surrounding jungle seems to be vibrant and mysterious. In addition, if you want an extra surge of thrill, read the book at night, alone, and in a quiet room.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Read
Review: Congo was the fourth Crichton book I've read (Rising Sun, Timeline, Disclosure) and although an interesting read I felt that the excitement level at the end of the novel (i.e. the last 100 pages) was lacking. The detail of primate studyies a found to be very captivating but I put the book down after the last page hoping for something more. However, all in all this was a good book and should serve as a nice, quick read.

Rating:
Summary: Another Crichton Classic
Review: In _Congo_, an expedition team was found brutally murdered by a gorrila like animal. This was caught on a video transmission. Just before the creature breaks the video camera, it is caught on tape.

Taking no time, another expedition team is set out to get a special type of diamonds at the Lost City of Zinj. Karen Ross is put in charge of the expedition, along with with Peter Elliot and his "talking" gorilla Amy.

This is another page-turner by Crichton. I highly recommend this enthralling read.

Rating:
Summary: Different, but still a Crichton classic...
Review: Before reading this, I finished JURASSIC PARK, and, believe me, they both seem pretty different. Don't get me wrong, though- they're both absolutely fabulous.

This is mainly about a lost city called 'Zinj' that was a really prosperous and ancient diamond mine in the Congo. Though it had been lost for years, a sort of artifact-hunting American company used technology to find the location. They immediately form a team to go and get it before the rival company finds the diamonds first. Why are these diamonds, that are supposed to be laced with impurities, so desirable? It turns out that these so-called 'blue diamonds' is one of the key factors to the making of super fast- and expensive- computers. Whichever computer company gets these diamonds will have a monopoly on the market for about the next five years- which makes the buyers extra and specially intent ($$$$$$$$$$) to get 'em.

But, the team has a bit of a problem. The eight crew members mysteriously were murdered on-site. Video footage of the site shows that the attacker was a black figure that looks exactly like a gorilla.

And that's one of the reasons why Amy, a super-smart gorilla that knows-and has conversations- in sign language is recruited for the ride. She had recently been having nightmares of the city, because that was where her mother had been murdered- in exactly the same way that the researchers had.

So they set off for the city, prepared for whatever the monster may be...

One thing that you have to love about Crichton books is that they're so incredibly scientific. At the beginning, anything can be possible, from aliens to yetis to monsters, but in the end, the REAL scary thing is that it really seems possible. I was a total Crichton fan after reading just one of his books; they all rock, this one included. Even if you're a bit wary about reading a book that sounds so centered around a monkey, go for it. you'll be surprised.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Chichton book
Review: I have read many of Crichton's books, and this is my favorite. This book was fast-paced and exciting, while also containing a lot of descriptive science that you would expect from a Crichton book. I saw the movie first, but the story in the book is different and much better. The characters are more believable as they appear in the book. He also does a good job of describing the political scene in Central Africa at the time, showing the difference between the waring governments and the local tribes. Overall this is a very good read, exciting and suspenseful fiction, while also being very informative.

Rating:
Summary: Catching and Keeping Interest
Review: I enjoyed this one alot. Chrichton always has a way of catching and keeping my interests. Having nearly the whole first half of the book on a close race/time schedual, really had me reading fast. And it was packed with primate facts containing everything from studies on chimps to morals on animal testing. Being a reader of adventure stories, I think he could have spent a bit more time having the team explore the ruins of the lost city, and some of the technical equipment was a bit outdated, but you have to remember when it was written. Over all, I thought it was just lots of fun, staying true to Chrichton's style of mixing fact and fiction, with very imaginated plots.

Rating:
Summary: Great!!!
Review: I've only read one crichton book but this is byfar the best book ive read in my life.