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2024-05-23 3:02 am

Dragon teeth : a novel

by Michael Crichton

Large Print, 2017

Publication

New York, NY : Harperluxe, c2017.

Collection

Call number

Large Print Fiction C

Physical description

378 p.; 23 cm

Status

Available

Call number

Large Print Fiction C

Description

The year is 1876. Among the warring Indian tribes and lawless gold-rush towns of America's western territories, two paleontologists pillage the Wild West. They are 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 Yale student William Johnson. Determined to survive a summer in the west to win a bet, William has joined world-renowned paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh on his latest expedition. But Marsh becomes convinced that William is spying for his nemesis, Edwin Drinker Cope, so he abandons him in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a locus of crime and vice. Soon William joins forces with Cope and stumbles upon a discovery of historic proportions. The struggle to protect this extraordinary treasure tests William's newfound resilience, and pits him against some of the West's most dangerous and notorious characters.… (more)

Genres

Historical Fiction

General Fiction

User reviews

LibraryThing member JJbooklvr

Another "lost book" by the late Michael Crichton as he revisits the topic of Dinosaurs again, but this time we are just dealing with their bones. It blends fact and fiction as we journey to 1876 and the Bone Wars between Othniel Charles Marsh and Edwin Drinker Cope. The story is told through the

fictional Yale student William Johnson. Fans of that time period will appreciate the references and appearances of several real life people. I thought Wyatt Earp was one of the better choices to include. We also get a more nuanced look at the Indian Wars of the time. Now for the downside. It does have the feel of an early draft and is not one of his best books. Overall, I still thought it was a fun read! A good choice for fans of the Old West, Paleontology, or just those who like adventure.

LibraryThing member GeoffHabiger

As a Crichton book, this tale was very good, but I think lacking a little probably due to being a 'lost' manuscript found after his death. It feels to me like it was missing some of the polish of his other titles, probably due to this fact. However, despite that I very much enjoyed the story of

William "Foggy" Johnson and his rise from timid and pampered eastern Yale College man (boy?), to the rough and hardened man at the end of the story. As usual, Crichton paints a vivid story and creates a wonderful setting with some great characters. He is forced (by history) to take some major liberties with the other characters - especially Cope and Marsh - and these can (mostly) be forgiven in the interest of artistic license and weaving a good story. Sometimes though it felt as if characters from history were tossed into the story merely as window dressing, and not for any benefit of the story itself. But, in terms of character development, and following along on Johnson's adventure out West among the great men of paleontology of the day, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you enjoyed previous Crichton books, you will enjoy Dragon Teeth.

LibraryThing member Lschwarzman

Loved it! This was Michael Crichton meets Indiana Jones! This was the story of a young man who takes abet and winds up in the wild west with an early archaeological dig. Needless to say, this is action packed with adventure. It was a quick fun read. Crichton has always been one of my favorite

authors; I hope works continue to be found for a long time to come.

LibraryThing member arielfl

What a gift to have another Michael Crichton book as he is one of my favorite author's. With his passing there has been a hole in the entertainment science niche that I don't think any other author has filled. He brought science to the masses. Crichton was one of a kind and yet another bright light

taken out too soon by cancer.

When you hear the book is about dinosaurs your mind can't help but go to Jurassic Park. The dinosaurs in this novel aren't walking around however, they are confined to the fossils they left behind. It is the 1870's and young William Johnson finds himself in an adventure in the wild west that he is ill prepared for with two competing paleontologist, Edward Cope and Othneil Marsh. Hostile Native Americans, gunslingers, and grifters all cross paths with Johnson as he desperately tries to protect 10 boxes full of dinosaur fossils.

William Johnson is a made up character but Cope and Marsh were real as were other characters in the book like Wyatt Earp. My favorite part of the book were the scenes that took place in Deadwood. This is just a really fun western and learned a lot about the real life bone wars with which I was previously unfamiliar. I am so glad Michael Crichton's widow found this manuscript. If there are anymore please keep them coming Sherri!.

LibraryThing member marysneedle

This was a quick and exciting read. It had all the adventure, history, and science background anyone could want and expect from a Crichton story. Reading it took me back to all the vacations I have taken out west, and I could visualize the badlands, Black Hills, Deadwood, and the Rockies and relate

to Johnson's experience when he saw the great panoramas and the wildlife in his travels.

LibraryThing member labdaddy4

This work pales in comparison to most of Crichton's earlier works but it was good to read him again. The plot was rather fanciful and a bit preposterous but fun all the same.

LibraryThing member JillKenna

If I could give this more than five stars I would! This book was amazing and fast paced, I wish there was more of it to read.

LibraryThing member joannemonck

FAntastic. A mix of fiction and non-fiction keep the reader glued to the book. A young man (on a bet) goes fossil hunting in the old west. We have Indians, gunmen, Wyatt Earp and traitors. All the characters are colorful and the story was well written.

LibraryThing member Renzomalo

Michael Crichton’s “Dragon Teeth” has the look and sound of a manuscript found in the bottom drawer of his desk after he passed and published for no other reason than it would have a readymade audience, which it did – including me. It seems obvious that this was Crichton’s first attempt

at what eventually became “Jurassic Park,” and it is easy and interesting to see the kernels of plot and potential lying about the Black Hills of South Dakota as this less than satisfying and incomplete story unfolded.
It seemed too that “Dragon Teeth” may have been incomplete when found, a mere sketch that was completed by someone else in that there are but flares of Crichton amidst a bramble of amateurish dialogue, transitions and conclusions. The Crichton we’ve all come to know would never have written, “And that was how, on August 31, 1876, William Johnson, nearly fainting from hunger, thirst, exhaustion and blood loss, rode with a wagonload of bones….” All that was missing here was “into the sunset singing “Happy Trails,” or something. It just wasn’t Crichton, or if it was, he rejected it for good reason and came back to write “Jurassic Park.” It’s clear that some of the writing is alien to what we’ve come to know and love in Crichton’s style and insight. Still, like “Pirate Latitudes,” it’s an invaluable addition for any Crichton fan. Not a bad book per se, but not what we’d expect from a master. Two and a half stars for “ Dragon Teeth,” that and a honored place alongside all his other books on my shelf. God do I miss his craft and intellect

LibraryThing member mahsdad

A posthumously published novel by Crichton. It tells the fictionalized story of the rivalry between real life paleontologists; Cope and Marsh and their search for dinosaurs ni the Bad Lands of the American West of 1876. It is told thru the eyes of a fictional Yale student; William Johnson, as he is

pulled between the two professors. On his journey, of finding and protecting these new things called dinosaurs, he encounters savage indians, rampaging thieves, Wyatt Earp and is witness to the discovery of the first Brontosaurus (or more properly, the Apatosaurus).

This is more of a wild west adventure story the the science-rich speculative story I would have expected from Crichton. But it works and it is a worthwhile read. More so when I learned in the Afterword that basic gist of the story was true.

7/10

S: 9/24/17 - 10/7/17 (15 Days)

LibraryThing member DarthDeverell

Michael Crichton's Dragon Teeth: A Novel traces the fictional adventure of William Johnson, a spoiled student at Yale who, in 1876, goes west with Professor Othniel Charles Marsh to dig up dinosaur bones following a bet with a fellow student. Along the way, Marsh believes Johnson an agent of his

rival, Professor Edward Drinker Cope, a fellow paleontologist. The story focuses on the then-burgeoning field of paleontology and the men who shaped it, as well as the Indian Wars and the culture of Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Crichton's well-researched novel firmly grounds his reader in the time and places he describes while the fast-pace allows for a "grand tour" of the West and plenty of character growth for his main character. While Johnson did not exist, many of the figures with whom he interacts did and, in fact, Crichton actually toned down some of their mannerisms and rivalries (especially that of Marsh and Cope) as he feared it would seem too outrageous for his readers. Crichton researched and wrote this prior to working on Jurassic Park, but, beyond an interest in paleontology, fans of the more famous novel should not look to this as a forerunner to that story. In both, Crichton's research and meticulous attention to detail allow him to insert his story into the existing science or history, but that is the only connection. With that said, Dragon Teeth is an excellent introduction to Crichton for new readers and an enjoyable read for long-time fans.

LibraryThing member aurorapaigem

This might be my new favorite Crichton book. As a wannabe child paleontologist, I learned a lot about Cope and Marsh and their battle for the bones. The way the are brought to life in this story along with some other classic figures from the American Wild West makes for a very fun read. I wish he

would have written more if these historical retellings.

LibraryThing member atdCross

I haven't picked up a Crichton book in a long time and sort of forgot how enjoyable it is to read him, but this book certainly reminded me. The story, characters, events depicted in Dragon Teeth were so enjoyable I finished reading it into days; I just couldn't put it down.

Crichton is probably one

of my top three writers. Things I like about Crichton's writing:
- His characters are enjoyable and interesting.
- He writes as if he is sharing the true event, real people, or facts of science.
- He successfully ends each chapter with the last sentence making you beg for more.
- His writing style is easy, even when he uses scientific jargon.

In Dragon's Teeth, we find an expedition in 1876 going west looking for dinosaur fossil bones in the midst of paleontologists at, at times, jealously, violent odds against each other, Indians uprising, murderers, and god-forsaken small towns.

The chapter entitled, "The Second Attack," ended unexpectedly hilarious. Crichton interjects actual historical events and figure into his story that made feel I was reading a biography or historical non-fiction. Had to bop myself in the head to remind me its fiction!

Sad that we will no longer be entertained by Crichton's storytelling.

LibraryThing member benuathanasia

Crichton wrote this decades before his death and decades before the height of his fame. Yet it wasn't published until after his death. I can see why Crichton sat on this one. It isn't up to his usual flawless standards. The narrative doesn't fit his voice and the plot doesn't fit his style. It's

slow and plodding and stale. True, it tackles a a seldom discussed point in history and an fascinating period of scientific history, but it lacks Crichton's usual wonder and awe. Probably my least favorite of his works.

LibraryThing member HenriMoreaux

Michael Crichton passed in 2008 yet releases a brand new book in 2017, how can this be? Apparently it was written i 1974 and sat unreleased in his archives and was recently unearthed, much like Pirate Latitudes (Micro was also unearthed but needed work by Richard Preston to publish).

It definitely

reads like the Crichton of old, compelling and immersive. I'm not one who would typically seek out a western type novel such as this however it really is more than just a western - there's plenty of adventure, odd characters, a spellbinding mixture of history and fiction.

Set in 1875 it follows the journey of a William Johnson who seemingly lacks direction in life and signs up to go west on a palaeontology expedition as part of a bet. Throughout such he manages to overcome plenty of adversity and find himself coming back home a success with a new outlook on life.

Would recommend for anyone who's enjoyed a Crichton book in the past or has an interest in American historical fiction novels.

LibraryThing member andsoitgoes

Starts off slow, almost didn't finish it but got more interesting and ended really well. Glad I stuck it out.

LibraryThing member JeffV

In a Stephen King novel, the protagonist, himself a novelist, explains that it is common for authors to have several books in the vault ready for submission for those times when their muse fails them. In Creighton's case, it would be post-mortem.

Dragon's Teeth is a historical novel that his widow

suggests influenced Jurassic Park. Unlike the blockbuster story of an implausible scientific breakthrough regenerating dinosaurs in our time; Dragon's Teeth is a well-grounded story based on the rivalry between two famed paleontologists back in the day when the science was just getting off the ground.

The most lucrative hunting grounds were in territories controlled by Indians who, prior to the story, gave Custer his comeuppance. The protagonist, a college student posing as a photographer, is an entirely fictional character, caught up as a pawn in the middle of the rivalry.

It's an interesting story -- one that not only covers the ever-present danger in the wild west, but also the impact of "The Octopus" (railroads) on the frontiers and the passion the main characters had for their scientific discoveries - discoveries of which they could scarcely grasp the nature of.

LibraryThing member nbmars

Dragon Teeth was written by Michael Crichton in the 1970’s, but it was not discovered until after his 2008 death, and not published until 2017.

This historical fiction novel revolves around real events known as the “Battle of the Bones” or “Bone Wars.” Edward Drinker Cope (University of

Pennsylvania) and Othniel Charles Marsh (Yale) were two of the earliest paleontologists to make significant discoveries of dinosaur skeletons in the American West. Their rivalry was bitter, and involved espionage, sabotage, and even physical violence. Much of the story takes place in Montana and the Dakotas in 1876, the year and general location of Custer’s Last Stand. The story is narrated by William Johnson, a fictional wealthy Philadelphian Yale student who goes “out west” on a dinosaur fossil hunt to win a bet with a college rival.

Johnson gets his share of adventures and then some as he sets out with Marsh; is abandoned because of Marsh’s (unfounded) suspicions; joins up with Cope; and encounters Robert Louis Stevenson (briefly), Wyatt and Morgan Earp, Sitting Bull, and a host of colorful fictional characters. The book captures the feel of the Old West, with its lawlessness, conflicts between the Army and Native Americans, and particularly in its portrayal of Deadwood City. Our hero even somewhat realistically enters into a classic confrontational gun fight with an experienced gun fighter, and (with some expert coaching from Wyatt Earp) manages to survive.

The dragon’s teeth of the title refer to the fossils of the first Brontosaurus skeleton ever discovered. Edward Cope recognizes what they are, and is utterly amazed by the imputed size of the animal that had such dentures. He realizes what a find he has made, and is willing to subject his crew (including Johnson) to severe peril to get those teeth back to an Eastern museum. The trek back to civilization costs several lives, but in the process Willie Johnson matures from a spoiled college kid on a lark to an experienced explorer.

Evaluation: As is true of Crichton’s other books, this one is a good adventure story that makes for fast, entertaining reading.

(JAB)

LibraryThing member BenKline

A pretty "middle of the road" novel to be honest (akin to some of his other posthumous works). Fast paced with not a whole lot of nuance, subtlety, or introspection to it. Jumps from scene to scene with a final 'tagline' to end each chapter. No real threat to the character due to often remarks of

"Johnson would late write in his journal : [insert writing] " or even the beginning of the novel which says, "This is a description of Johnson at the beginning, and here's a photo of him at the end, and this book is about what happened in the between time".

This is also one of those novels where it takes a ficticious character and links them to all of the fascinating events and locations and characters of a timeframe / time era (think Forrest Gump). Johnson meets Stevenson, Earp brothers, Hickok, Marsh, Cope, makes it to Deadwood, goes through the Oregon Trail forts (Brenton, Laramie, Cheyenne, etc).

Its a fun page-turner, but honestly not much more to it than that (was hoping for a bit more, especially since this may/may not be the last of his works we get, and was hoping for some connection to his later dinosaur works {Jurassic Park / The Lost World}, but alas, it was not to be).

LibraryThing member lostinalibrary

It is 1876 and William Johnson, a young, wealthy and somewhat indolent Yale student who is always boasting about his mostly fictional exploits is bet that he can’t get a position on Othniel Marsh’s annual fossil hunt to the western territories. Surprisingly he succeeds but what was hopefully

going to be just an exciting undergraduate adventure, not to mention the satisfying besting of a hated classmate, quickly turns much more dangerous than Johnson could have imagined. For one thing Marsh in convinced that Johnson is a spy for Edward Cope, his despised rival. For another, Custer’s disastrous Battle of the Little Bighorn has left the western territories in constant turmoil.

Dragon Teeth was a manuscript by Michael Crichton written in the 1970s and discovered posthumously. It is an early historical thriller written around the very real feud between Marsh and Cope, rival paleontologists of the 19th century. Johnson is a fictional but interesting character. For the most part, I enjoyed this book. However, it felt like Crichton had begun to edit the novel but abandoned it about half way through. As a result, the first half feels polished but the second half feels much less so. Still, it’s a compelling tale and should satisfy Crichton’s fans.

LibraryThing member Jarratt

As usual, Crichton does a good job infusing fact and fiction. As unusual, this book is rather a stinker. The expected payoff never seems to happen and it's just slow going.

We follow William Johnson, a Yale student, as he goes west with a professor to look for fossils in 1876. The professor he's

with, Marsh, has an extreme hatred for a rival paleontologist, Cole. After a series of events that find Johnson aligned with Cole, we hear the truth about Marsh.

I did enjoy the little bit of history about how dinosaurs were viewed back in the late 19th century based on scientific and religious beliefs. But this book is nowhere near classic Crichton.

LibraryThing member SGTCat

Pretty good. It felt unfinished, which makes sense considering it probably was. I don't usually read Westerns or watch them either. I picked this up thinking it would be another SciFi story. It wasn't bad though. Not at all.

LibraryThing member lilibrarian

When William Johnson accepted a bet and joined an expedition west in search of dinosaur bones, he knew he was heading to a place very different than his hometown of Philadelphia. But he wasn't expecting to be caught in the middle of the Indian Wars, or in the middle of an escalating feud between

warring paleontologists.

LibraryThing member MontzaleeW

Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton is a book of Crichton's I didn't like. I have read all of his and loved them all but this was so un-Crichton. It lacked the spark, the thrills, the adventure that kept me glued to the others. I was bored to tears and forced myself to finish it. I got this book from

the library and noticed the total ratings on it was only 3 stars and wondered why, now I know.

LibraryThing member CatherineBurkeHines

This was very short, which was disappointing. Interesting, quick read.

Language

Original publication date

2017

ISBN

9780062674210

Local notes

First Harperluxe edition.

Other editions

Dragon teeth : a novel by Michael Crichton (Paper Book)

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