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mewpasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I am disappointed that I read this in two days, meaning that now I am out of book.
This was a really enjoyable jaunt in fiction through a section of the post Civil War era. While it may not be up to Crichton's later works as far as science storytelling and descriptive details, it was still immensely enjoyable and I devoured it no differently than any of his other works. Focusing mostly on the Bone Wars that took place between two very interesting characters, I found the sprinkling of other notable personas of the Wild West to be extremely entertaining as well.
This was a really enjoyable jaunt in fiction through a section of the post Civil War era. While it may not be up to Crichton's later works as far as science storytelling and descriptive details, it was still immensely enjoyable and I devoured it no differently than any of his other works. Focusing mostly on the Bone Wars that took place between two very interesting characters, I found the sprinkling of other notable personas of the Wild West to be extremely entertaining as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Racism
renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Waktu baca blurbnya, gue nyangka ini bener-bener fiksi karangan alm Michael Chricton. Gue ga nyangka kalau kejadian di novel ini sebenarnya emang fakta. Dragon Teeth adalah karya alm Chricton yang menceritakan kembali tentang Bone Wars, persaingan antara dua ahli Paleontologi yaitu Othniel Charles Marsh dan Edwin Drinker Cope. Bersetting di tahun 1876, selain Bone Wars, ceritanya juga berlatar belakang perang antara suku Indian dan warga USA saat itu. Jadi, konten rasis dan kolonialismenya sangat kental, karena mungkin alm Chricton emang berusaha membuat cerita yang otentik sesuai dengan kondisi saat itu. Walau memang menceritakan kejadian yang pernah ada, tetap aja novel ini memang fiksi karena semua diceritakan dari sudut pandang seorang karakter pemuda bernama William Johnson.
Gegara taruhan, William yang sial (atau malah untung?) terpaksa bohong dan ngaku jadi ahli fotografi ke Marsh biar bisa ikut ekspekdisi Marsh untuk penggalian fosil dinosaurus. Sayangnya, Marsh yang kadung curiga sama William, ninggalin pemuda malang itu di Cheyenne. Untungnya (atau sekali lagi, sialnya?) William malah bertemu sama Professor Cope dan berujung ikut professor melakukan ekspedisi ke daerah Badlands yang di satu sisi juga sedang ada perang dengan suku Indian. William dan Professor Cope berhasil menemukan fosil gigi seekor dino yang sangat besar, hence the title of the book, Gigi Naga. Cuma, masalah emang kayak bertubi - tubi menghampiri William setelah penemuan fosil ini. Dikejar - kejar Indian, harus bertahan hidup, dikira nipu karena Cope nyangka William udah mati. Cuma gegara taruhan dengan temannya, hidup William akhirnya berubah sepenuhnya di akhir perjalanannya.
Awal baca buku ini emang gue merasa haduh ini fiksi tapi kayak buku non fiksi. Begitu banyak tokoh - tokoh yang ada dan gue agak sulit buat menghapal mereka semua plus bbrp juga tokoh nyata. Selain prof Marsh dan Cope, ada juga Earp bersaudara dan bahkan nama Calamity Jane pun disebut.Tapi jangan khawatir, fokus utamanya tetap di perjalanan William kok. Pemuda ini kasian juga kayak kena sial terus - terusan, sampai gue khawatir apa dia bisa selamat pada akhirnya. Walau emang di awal buku, agak - agak bosenin, pace ceritanya mulai seru setelah perjalanan William dan Profesor Cope mencapai Badlands dan menemukan fosil - fosil. Gue merasa penelitian alm. Chricton tentang Bone War dan perang antara suku Sioux dengan tentara federasi Amerika itu sangat ekstensif karena detail - detail terutama deskripsi daerah Badlands, Deadwood, etc di buku ini emang luar biasa.
Dragon Teeth diterbitkan setelah Michael Chricton meninggal, jadi ada semacam catatan dari istri almarhum. Selain itu catatan ini juga mengarahkan pembacanya untuk membaca buku karangan Stenberg, seorang ahli paleontologi yang juga pernah jadi asisten Prof Marsh dan Prof Cope untuk pengalaman baca yang lebih otentik. Meskipun Dragon Teeth ini memang murni fiksi, tapi gue seneng dapat beberapa info tentang Bone Wars dan mau ga mau gue ikut semangat pas Prof Cope melakukan penggalian fosil. Buku ini cocok kalau kamu cari hisfic yang ga melulu berfokus sama perang, tapi tentang hal - hal lain, misalnya penggalian fosil dino di abad 19.
Tentu saja, "gigi naga" ini harafiah ya. Naga disini hanya merujuk pada asumsi Cope kalau fosil gigi dino yang mereka temukan sangat besar bak naga XD.
Gegara taruhan, William yang sial (atau malah untung?) terpaksa bohong dan ngaku jadi ahli fotografi ke Marsh biar bisa ikut ekspekdisi Marsh untuk penggalian fosil dinosaurus. Sayangnya, Marsh yang kadung curiga sama William, ninggalin pemuda malang itu di Cheyenne. Untungnya (atau sekali lagi, sialnya?) William malah bertemu sama Professor Cope dan berujung ikut professor melakukan ekspedisi ke daerah Badlands yang di satu sisi juga sedang ada perang dengan suku Indian. William dan Professor Cope berhasil menemukan fosil gigi seekor dino yang sangat besar, hence the title of the book, Gigi Naga. Cuma, masalah emang kayak bertubi - tubi menghampiri William setelah penemuan fosil ini. Dikejar - kejar Indian, harus bertahan hidup, dikira nipu karena Cope nyangka William udah mati. Cuma gegara taruhan dengan temannya, hidup William akhirnya berubah sepenuhnya di akhir perjalanannya.
Awal baca buku ini emang gue merasa haduh ini fiksi tapi kayak buku non fiksi. Begitu banyak tokoh - tokoh yang ada dan gue agak sulit buat menghapal mereka semua plus bbrp juga tokoh nyata. Selain prof Marsh dan Cope, ada juga Earp bersaudara dan bahkan nama Calamity Jane pun disebut.Tapi jangan khawatir, fokus utamanya tetap di perjalanan William kok. Pemuda ini kasian juga kayak kena sial terus - terusan, sampai gue khawatir apa dia bisa selamat pada akhirnya. Walau emang di awal buku, agak - agak bosenin, pace ceritanya mulai seru setelah perjalanan William dan Profesor Cope mencapai Badlands dan menemukan fosil - fosil. Gue merasa penelitian alm. Chricton tentang Bone War dan perang antara suku Sioux dengan tentara federasi Amerika itu sangat ekstensif karena detail - detail terutama deskripsi daerah Badlands, Deadwood, etc di buku ini emang luar biasa.
Dragon Teeth diterbitkan setelah Michael Chricton meninggal, jadi ada semacam catatan dari istri almarhum. Selain itu catatan ini juga mengarahkan pembacanya untuk membaca buku karangan Stenberg, seorang ahli paleontologi yang juga pernah jadi asisten Prof Marsh dan Prof Cope untuk pengalaman baca yang lebih otentik. Meskipun Dragon Teeth ini memang murni fiksi, tapi gue seneng dapat beberapa info tentang Bone Wars dan mau ga mau gue ikut semangat pas Prof Cope melakukan penggalian fosil. Buku ini cocok kalau kamu cari hisfic yang ga melulu berfokus sama perang, tapi tentang hal - hal lain, misalnya penggalian fosil dino di abad 19.
Tentu saja, "gigi naga" ini harafiah ya. Naga disini hanya merujuk pada asumsi Cope kalau fosil gigi dino yang mereka temukan sangat besar bak naga XD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Colonisation, Cursing, and Gun violence
Moderate: War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs
Minor: Animal death
fatfatrat's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, and Racial slurs
Minor: Colonisation and War
carliethompsonwriting's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Racial slurs, and Gun violence
bravokidroxy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
fast-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
3.0
It reads like Crichton. It is a fun and fantastical story of real history and science with a bit of fudging around the edges.
My favorite character is either Little Wind or Edward the little brother. My favorite scene is toward the end when Johnson gets one last bamboozle because Emily is not who he thinks she is because why would you believe anyone in the literal Wild West boy
My favorite character is either Little Wind or Edward the little brother. My favorite scene is toward the end when Johnson gets one last bamboozle
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, War, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia and Gaslighting
hannanni41's review against another edition
adventurous
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, and Death
marc_le's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Racism
shieldbearer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
From an accuracy standpoint, it's a fascinating, well-researched read, but it fails to properly contextualize the practice of body mutilation that was mentioned within the text. <i>Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee</i> has more information.
Honestly feels as if the last quarter or so of the novel was stuck in a previous draft or ghost written.
Honestly feels as if the last quarter or so of the novel was stuck in a previous draft or ghost written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, Blood, Cursing, Gun violence, Murder, and Racism
books_n_pickles's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I went to the library with Areg to find him a page turner and I found one for myself, as well! We got home around 4, had an afternoon tea, and by 9 pm I was done. Whew!
This turned out to be much better historical fiction than I was expecting--there's a biographical fiction element, with major secondary characters including real dinosaur bone hunters and outlaws, even though our protagonist, William Johnson, is fictional.
Johnson is a lazy, spoiled, Ivy-league rich boy who talks his way into a trip out west to dig for bones only on a bet, not realizing just how paranoid and, well, crazy the renowned Professor Othniel Marsh is. He spends his semester learning photography to maintain his cover, which already does a bit to tame his pride by giving him a task he actually has to work at to excel at--no paying his way through this one. The book description tells you what happens next: Marsh becomes convinced that Johnson is a spy sent by his rival, Edward Cope, and leaves him behind in Wyoming.
Who should happen to find him but Cope himself, who offers to take Johnson along on his own bone-hunting expedition. Contrary to Marsh's belief, Cope is not following him to steal his bones--instead, he's striking out into Montana territory on his own, without army protection, right as the Great Sioux War is picking up into full swing. To make matters worse, Marsh has slandered Cope far and wide, so that everywhere he goes he bumps into rumors and accusations that prejudice the people whose help he most needs for a safe expedition.
The rest of the story is so action-packed that a full summary would take too much space. (I'm a bit conscious of how long my last two reviews have been, particularly the one for a 120-page book.) Highlights include a successful dig, a tension-packed encounter between Cope and Marsh, meetings both peaceful and plot-propulsively hostile with Crow and Sioux American Indians, a second separation that leaves Johnson in possession of Cope's most significant find of the summer, races and escapes across the Badlands, and a high-tension couple of months in the notorious Deadwood Gulch, where no one can believe that Johnson would be so dead set on protecting boxes of bones--he must be guarding something more valuable.
Johnson's new-found photography skills come in useful in maintaining his finances but turn disastrous when he captures an image of a murderer who won't hesitate to kill again in order to destroy the evidence. Fortunately, he has friends as well as enemies among the notorious outlaws: the wily Earp brothers and a young, first-generation Chinese boy are on his side as long as he has money, but those professional relationships yield more loyalty than they are, strictly speaking, worth. Another bone-rattling race out of Deadwood to escape his unintended enemies leads Johnson to what ought to be safety...until a final confrontation with none other than the conniving Professor Marsh.
All along the way, Crichton seamlessly integrates real American history, even including some excerpts from books and newspapers of the time, to illuminate just how rapidly the American West was "opening" to "progress", and the tragic and bloody results of that rapid expansion. These asides are concise, rarely taking a whole page and never slowing the plot (for me, at least). He does caution readers in an afterword not to read the book as history, pointing to a few places where he fudged timelines to demonstrate that the book is fiction. <i>Dragon Bones</i> was published almost ten years posthumously, and had he written it today Crichton probably would have been encouraged to be more balanced in describing the devastation wreaked on the American Indian populations. Though he does mention some of the ways that the U.S. government deliberately decimated their way of life, writing a thriller from the perspective of a white boy from the east coast does skew the perspective enough to make me uncomfortable. I'm fortunate in knowing just enough about this time in history to read critically.
Honestly, my biggest beef with this book is the T-rex skull on the front and sharp teeth decorating the section breaks in the pages. Johnson and Cope make a significant discovery in the Montana badlands, but T-rex ain't it: the bones they find are from the largest herbivore found up to that point, not a carnivore. Ah well, that's book marketing for you. It's really no big deal to the story, as the bones are carefully packed away in boxes for most of the plot.
If you're looking for a fun and informative historical thriller, give <i>Dragon Bones</i> a shot!
This turned out to be much better historical fiction than I was expecting--there's a biographical fiction element, with major secondary characters including real dinosaur bone hunters and outlaws, even though our protagonist, William Johnson, is fictional.
Johnson is a lazy, spoiled, Ivy-league rich boy who talks his way into a trip out west to dig for bones only on a bet, not realizing just how paranoid and, well, crazy the renowned Professor Othniel Marsh is. He spends his semester learning photography to maintain his cover, which already does a bit to tame his pride by giving him a task he actually has to work at to excel at--no paying his way through this one. The book description tells you what happens next: Marsh becomes convinced that Johnson is a spy sent by his rival, Edward Cope, and leaves him behind in Wyoming.
Who should happen to find him but Cope himself, who offers to take Johnson along on his own bone-hunting expedition. Contrary to Marsh's belief, Cope is not following him to steal his bones--instead, he's striking out into Montana territory on his own, without army protection, right as the Great Sioux War is picking up into full swing. To make matters worse, Marsh has slandered Cope far and wide, so that everywhere he goes he bumps into rumors and accusations that prejudice the people whose help he most needs for a safe expedition.
The rest of the story is so action-packed that a full summary would take too much space. (I'm a bit conscious of how long my last two reviews have been, particularly the one for a 120-page book.) Highlights include a successful dig, a tension-packed encounter between Cope and Marsh, meetings both peaceful and plot-propulsively hostile with Crow and Sioux American Indians, a second separation that leaves Johnson in possession of Cope's most significant find of the summer, races and escapes across the Badlands, and a high-tension couple of months in the notorious Deadwood Gulch, where no one can believe that Johnson would be so dead set on protecting boxes of bones--he must be guarding something more valuable.
Johnson's new-found photography skills come in useful in maintaining his finances but turn disastrous when he captures an image of a murderer who won't hesitate to kill again in order to destroy the evidence. Fortunately, he has friends as well as enemies among the notorious outlaws: the wily Earp brothers and a young, first-generation Chinese boy are on his side as long as he has money, but those professional relationships yield more loyalty than they are, strictly speaking, worth. Another bone-rattling race out of Deadwood to escape his unintended enemies leads Johnson to what ought to be safety...until a final confrontation with none other than the conniving Professor Marsh.
All along the way, Crichton seamlessly integrates real American history, even including some excerpts from books and newspapers of the time, to illuminate just how rapidly the American West was "opening" to "progress", and the tragic and bloody results of that rapid expansion. These asides are concise, rarely taking a whole page and never slowing the plot (for me, at least). He does caution readers in an afterword not to read the book as history, pointing to a few places where he fudged timelines to demonstrate that the book is fiction. <i>Dragon Bones</i> was published almost ten years posthumously, and had he written it today Crichton probably would have been encouraged to be more balanced in describing the devastation wreaked on the American Indian populations. Though he does mention some of the ways that the U.S. government deliberately decimated their way of life, writing a thriller from the perspective of a white boy from the east coast does skew the perspective enough to make me uncomfortable. I'm fortunate in knowing just enough about this time in history to read critically.
Honestly, my biggest beef with this book is the T-rex skull on the front and sharp teeth decorating the section breaks in the pages. Johnson and Cope make a significant discovery in the Montana badlands, but T-rex ain't it: the bones they find are from the largest herbivore found up to that point, not a carnivore. Ah well, that's book marketing for you. It's really no big deal to the story, as the bones are carefully packed away in boxes for most of the plot.
If you're looking for a fun and informative historical thriller, give <i>Dragon Bones</i> a shot!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Gun violence
Minor: Death
Period-accurate slurs and racism against American Indians (Crow and Sioux).