Michael Crichton, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Jurassic Park, returns to the world of paleontology in this recently discovered novel—a thrilling adventure set in the Wild West during the golden age of fossil hunting.The year is 1876. Warring Indian tribes still populate America’s western territories even as lawless gold-rush towns begin to mark the landscape. In much of the country … to mark the landscape. In much of the country it is still illegal to espouse evolution. Against this backdrop two monomaniacal paleontologists pillage the Wild West, hunting for dinosaur fossils, while surveilling, deceiving and sabotaging each other in a rivalry that will come to be known as the Bone Wars.
Into this treacherous territory plunges the arrogant and entitled William Johnson, a Yale student with more privilege than sense. Determined to survive a summer in the west to win a bet against his arch-rival, William has joined world-renowned paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh on his latest expedition. But when the paranoid and secretive Marsh becomes convinced that William is spying for his nemesis, Edwin Drinker Cope, he abandons him in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a locus of crime and vice. William is forced to join forces with Cope and soon stumbles upon a discovery of historic proportions. With this extraordinary treasure, however, comes exceptional danger, and William’s newfound resilience will be tested in his struggle to protect his cache, which pits him against some of the West’s most notorious characters.
A page-turner that draws on both meticulously researched history and an exuberant imagination, Dragon Teeth is based on the rivalry between real-life paleontologists Cope and Marsh; in William Johnson readers will find an inspiring hero only Michael Crichton could have imagined. Perfectly paced and brilliantly plotted, this enormously winning adventure is destined to become another Crichton classic.
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I’m a huge fan of Crichton’s Jurassic Park, and I think when I saw this cover I was hoping for a posthumous manuscript that takes place in the same universe. Dragon Teeth is not at all related to the JP franchise, however, and its plot was completely unexpected. I was unaware before reading this (and the afterword that details Crichton’s film, Westworld, the inspiration for the HBO franchise of the same name) that Crichton was even interested in the West/westerns.
Dragon Teeth definitely isn’t a traditional western in the William W. Johnstone sense, but he pulls it off just the same in riveting Crichton fashion. It’s additionally a coming-of-age story for young William Johnson (an homage to Johnstone?), and while I didn’t like his snobby, Ivy League character at the beginning, I was wholeheartedly rooting for him by the end.
Notable: Crichton fictionalized the lives of several real-life characters that existed in or during the Bone Wars, including Othniel Charles Marsh, Edwin Drinker Cope, and the Earp brothers (!). The content itself, in which Johnson and co. discover never-before-seen dinosaur fossils, nods at the creatures that lead Crichton to such fame: the unbelievable dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.
Not one of Crichton’s best
Meh. It’s not even worth the five minutes to review this weird, goes-nowhere-interesting story.
In a word, BORING.
Don’t believe the hype, there is no wild adventure here, no characteristically Crichton oddities to spice up the story. I toughed it out all the way to the end, even though it was as dry and dusty as Deadwood itself. Just a bunch of boring old bones.
Usually Michael Crichton’s books capture my attention right away, this one was slow going at first at but picked up after a bit and became what I expect of a Crichton, novel informative and interesting. In particular found the parts re traveling to & in the west, digging for fossils in the badlands, life in Deadwood & its characters, good reading.
It’s tragic to think that there may never be another book from Michael Crichton. Dragon Teeth delivered everything I’ve come to expect from this imaginative story-teller. His ability to combine fact and fiction into a thrill-packed page-turner is unparalleled.
Interesting premise, starts to drag a bit near the end.
I bought Dragon Teeth in an airport when I ran out of something to read, and my flight was delayed. It was great fun to read! Chrighton at this best. He wrote this before writing Jurassic Park. Once he started that book, he couldn’t publish this book, possibly as it would have been competition against himself. This is based on the genuine competition between paleontologists and the museums they represented at the end of the 1800s, and the start of the 1900s. As for me, and the flight delay, the time flew even if I didn’t- at first. A perfect book to fly with! Exciting and entertaining, I felt I was along for the very bumpy ride!
I wish he could keep them coming as he’ never missed the “great book” category for me. Always #`1. Always the best. Fun to read this one too.
Throughout reading this book I kind of understand why Dragon Teeth never got published in Crichton’s lifetime. It’s brief and very much lacks in the detail of his usual work. If there is such a thing as speed writing then I guess this is how this book was written but don’t let that put you off. As I got to the latter stages of this book I began to appreciate the unique nature in how this book was written.
Never once did it stay in the same place and the pacing for a fast moving cross country story was simply perfect. In fact as i got further in I didnt want it to end.
I took Crichton’s death as a heavy loss because I knew then I would never read a new book of his again but this story stands as a tribute much to his earlier writing days as it represents a style suited to a younger writer trying to introduce a well researched fact heavy style in which we all know what followed.
Overall I enjoyed Dragon Teeth and its probably the most unique book of his I have read. Say what you want about ghost writers and his estate cashing in, through reading this book I could feel the effort and research put in by the only Michael Crichton I ever knew the guy who made such stories and the inspiration for me to become a writer.
I love Michael Crichton’s unique views and innovative ideas merging interesting characters with science and technology. This book is a little different due to the timeframe but no less entertaining. If you love dinosaurs, westerns, and Montana/Wyoming then you won’t be disappointed.
Not the best book written about the Bone wars but it is interesting as it incorporates the history of Paleontology as a new science and a fictional account that is well-written and original.
Dragon Teeth is a fast paced piece of historical fiction. The late 19th century Western setting allows for some the appearance of some classic real life Western characters. The MacGuffin is unique and a spoiled rich kids gets an opportunity to grow.
Despite the cover making you think this is another of the Jurassic Park books, Dragon’s Teeth is different than the typical Crichton story. With an Old West setting and even a shoot out, it has the feel of a western, but it also has plenty of the science (archaeology) and thriller aspects you expect from a Crichton novel. A rewarding bonus with this one was the strong character development you don’t normally see in his books.
The energy and pacing in Dragon’s teeth is typical Crichton. Fast, engaging prose will keep you moving through this book while the characters move through the landscape, and hopefully return with great treasures, and their lives indeed.
Action packed! Beautifully written!
Gotta love science, history and adventure all wrapped up nicely.
I devoured this in an afternoon.
Not one of Crichton’s best, but entertaining enough and educational. The audio book is easy to listen to. The printed book should be a light, quick read.
Based on history, with great characters. Learning while enjoying a great read
Good story in a great location. true story. exciting.