Congo: The Movie Storybook

The film adaptation of this novel was criminal. Do not let that movie turn you off from this fantastic novel (my personal favorite from Crichton). The overall plot is the same: a research team disappears after an apparent attack by gorillas. A second team is dispatched to discover what happened and comes under attack from the same violent gorillas. Like other Crichton novels, this contains a lot of description and explanation of various sciences and technologies that surround the characters. Unfortunately, the technology is dated because of the 1980 publication date. Nevertheless, the action and suspense in this novel are first-rate. This was the first Crichton novel I ever read and it made me a fan instantly. I've read almost every Crichton novel since because of this book. This is one of those books you can't put down until you finish it. When you're done, you just want to read it again.

If you are going to be at the beach , then Congo is clearly the book for you. Congo is a good old-fashioned jungle adventure yarn. The author, Michael Crichton, was clearly inspired by the adventure stories of H. Rider Haggard but with a slight dose of Conrad. And since this is a Crichton novel, the reader will read about technological ruminations, which provoke Crichton's favorite theme - man meddling with nature when he probably shouldn't.A rescue team, funded (and partially staffed) by a U.S. based technology corporation, is sent to the middle of the Congo area of Africa to determine the mysterious disappearance of a prior team. On their extraordinary journey, they encounter rebellious armed forces of central African nations, fabulous cities with lost treasures, strange tribes tucked away in the forest, cannibalistic groups and some unknown force that appears to kill. Crichton keeps the pace swift so you will keep the pages turning.This book is a delightful read because Crichton delivers on his trademarks. He blends well-researched topics from diverse sciences - Congo covers biology, anthropology, archaeology, as well as descriptions of high-tech equipment (for 1979). Crichton effectively increases the suspense by giving the locations scale and a powerful perspective. The mountains, "unending virginal forest", and "thousands of miles of unexplored territory" dwarf his human characters. Finally, Crichton's storytelling gift of framing the story as a true account (along with an extensive bibliography) lends the verisimilitude that so often elevates Crichton's work.You will not be disappointed with this quick read.

Personally I found this book to be intriquing. The characters and the setting are not a typical science fiction read. Although the books facts about the rainforest and the people are off, I found the story to be plausable. Crichton uses a setting for this novel which sets it apart from other works in the same genre. The characters are believable and some are even likeable in this story. Personally I would recommend this book to begining science fiction readers and casual fans as it is not steeped in science fiction lore. Great book and should be on every Crichton fan's bookshelf.

In the heart of the African rainforest, an exploration team equipped with the latest in scientific technology has set up a camp in the proximity of the city of Zinj, which has been abandoned for hundreds of years. Being in constant video-contact with ERTS headquarters, the team is suddenly seen to be brutally massacred by what turns out an unknown species of gorilla on the monitors in Houston.R. B. Travis, director of Earth Resources Technology Systems, boasts the cynical motto "Some damn thing always goes wrong", and has therefore been prepared for the worst. Immediately, a recovery team is put together, with further instructions to continue the previous expedition's work. This new crew is joined by Amy, a "civilized" gorilla who possesses the knowledge of sign language, to function as a guide on the haphazard journey into the dark, unexplored depths of the Congo.The heavy research than defines the author's style furnishes Congo with a both realistic and informative plot. But since this book is primarily a thriller, Crichton doesn't allow the suspense to be smothered by dry schoolbook facts for a moment, and one can therefore anticipate a page-turner difficult to put down.

Congo his a story that takes us on a journey to the darkest forests, where you thing and feel that you are a parte of it. I'm Portuguese from the land of the Luís de Camões, who wrote "Os Lusíadas" the best adventure chronical after the Homero`s "Iliade", "Congo" deserves the third place in this scale. I read it 3 times.