Something survives

Just re-reading Michael Crichton's 'The Lost World' and, although it is a good read, I always find myself thinking of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story. His 1912 book 'The Lost World' was the absorbing story of the Professor Challenger expedition to Maple White Land deep in the South American jungle. Since publication, the story has been filmed many times with various degrees of success. It is very much a story of it's time and sometimes reads very oddly today. The neat thing about the story is that it is based around a real 'lost world' - although there are no dinosaurs around (pity). On the borders of Guyana and Venezuela there is the mysterious plateau of Mount Roraima that, until fairly recently, was literally shrouded in mystery (and fog) and has now become a eco-tourist attraction. I actually met the first man reported to have scaled the mountain back in 1973 - Joe Brown. He said he was prepared for anything, including T-Rex, but not the massive hordes of large tarantulas that actually inhabit the cliff face of the mountain (he hates spiders). Back to the inimitable professor Edward Challenger. Conan Doyle wrote a number of stories involving this amazing character and I recommend you try all of them as they are a great romp through the early 20th Century world of explorers and adventurers - Indiana Jones has nothing on Challenger. I did find this book on Amazon and I am sorely tempted to spend money. My favorite yarn - 'When the Earth screamed' - just brilliant writing and a great idea for a story. I sometimes wish that Crichton had chosen another title for his tale, although one of the trailers is named Challenger as a nod to that great scientist.

Comments

[Jason Chamberlain]

Loved this book... would have made a great movie. Too bad Spielberg changed 75% of it!