Survivor

Jurassic Park Adventures #1

by Scott Ciencin

Author Michael Crichton created a blockbuster franchise with Jurassic Park, and these original digest novels continue the adventures for its millions of young fans!

In this third book, Americans are stunned when a trio of Pteranodons escapes Jurassic Park and tears across the United States. No one wants to see these awesome creatures destroyed, yet their presence is terrorizing the country—especially after they nest in one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions! Can Jurassic Park survivors Dr. Alan Grant and 13-year-old Eric Kirby find a way to lead these winged creatures home?

Genres: Dinosaurs

116 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2001

About the author

Scott Ciencin was a New York Times best-selling novelist of 90+ books. He wrote adult and children's fiction and worked in a variety of mediums including comic books. He created programs for Scholastic Books, designed trading cards, consulted on video games, directed and produced audio programs & TV commercials, and wrote in the medical field about neurosurgery and neurology. He first worked in TV production as a writer, producer and director. He lived in Sarasota, Florida with his wife (and sometimes co-author) Denise.

(Also wrote under the pseudonyms Nick Baron and L.J. Oliver)

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, this is the first book in this series, not the third as the description says. It occurs not on the mainland USA, but all on Isla Sorna. Just like in the 3rd movie. This is supposed to be during the time that Eric is stranded on the island until he is rescued.

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only found out about this series a few days a go and immediately had to give it a go. I presumed it'd be some half-assed kids book. Well I'm wrong. Some genuine love went into this short novel and its a pretty damn good prequel to the third movie.
These books are not related to the storyline of the Michael Crichton novels of Jurassic Park but are related to the movies so I judged them as that.

I really enjoyed the story expansion and found the book to be less silly than the movie set immediately after it. It's a pity this book isn't more well known because I think any Jurassic Park loving kid would enjoy it. It's not ground-breaking in any way but it knew what it wanted and is the best it could possibly be at it in my opinion.

It's not as the blurb on Goodreads describes btw. Its the first book, set before the events of Jurassic Park 3.

[Ammar I. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here I am writing this review on a tie-in book to one of my favorite guilty pleasure films from my favorite film franchise. Do I give a hoot to the fact that I'm 28 years old and I'm reading a book that's targeted towards young readers? No! I'm gonna read it because it's Jurassic Park.

So this book is the first book to the trilogy of Jurassic Park Adventures which takes place in the third Jurassic Park film. This is a semi-canon book that documents Eric Kirby during his time stranded on Isla Sorna for eight weeks. It doesn't document his whole eight weeks time. As he tries to find a way to reach contact from the outside world and to escape the island alive, he discovers the abandoned facility where they create the dinosaurs and he encounters the dangerous animals themselves. He survives based on his wits and tries not to get killed and eaten by the dinosaurs.

I decided to read this book after watching clips of the third film online and this book wasn't bad for one targeted toward young readers. I thought that Ben, Amanda's boyfriend, would be killed by velociraptors, not impaled by tree branches as he and Eric landed on the island. I was hoping to see the Spinosaurus in the book but it was never mentioned. Also Eric encounters and befriends an Iguanodon whom he named "Iggy" and I thought he was unnecessary but that's just me.

I would have read these books back then as I am a Jurassic Park fan but I was 4 going on 5 when the book and film came out and I doubt they would have kept selling the book trilogy as I got older. I have to give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Now I'm going to read the second book.

[Kshe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I first saw Jurassic Park 3, the question that has always teased my mind was - how did Eric collect the T-Rex piss?

While I can't confidently say this was answered, this book absolutely delivered on the years of my childhood spent imagining what it would be like to be a lost child trying to survive on an island full of dinosaurs.

The whole adventure was increadibly gripping, brutal, and incredibly admirable. The author captured the intelligence of the character in the film and gave a wonderful backing to how quick thinking, a love for paleontology, and rapid reflexes can get you through most situations in this world, while keeping a very human perspective to their environment.

[Miia Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book.
Is it my favourite?
No.
The next two are much more enjoyable in my opinion, but if you're only looking to expand your knowledge of film canon, they're not for you.
This is interesting, it explains a lot and is a nice worldbuilding piece.
I don't love the depictions of the dinosaurs.
Mostly the raptors.
There's an alpha raptor, not the worst thing in the world, there's kind of one in the movie.
It's the depiction of the alpha raptor that bothers me.
The raptor was described as an alpha male, when in the movie(s?) the female raptors are shown to be the alphas.
It does and doesn't make sense.
Overall, one of my least favourite of the trilogy.

[Persephone Jaeckel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this with my son. It's the previously unknown story of the 12 year old boy, Eric Kirby, that is the main focus of a rescue operation, as told in the movie Jurassic Park 3. This is the story of how he survived, alone, on an island overrun by dangerous carnivores for 8+ weeks before the events of the movie unfold. So, if you've ever wondered how a little kid survived all alone for such an extended period of time while dinosaurs tried to eat him... this is definitely worth your time.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this explains what was missing from the movie. It's a good companion piece that answered some questions for me.