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1st out of 6 books
—
4 voters
Neanderthal
by
John Darnton
Not since Jurassic Park has a novel so enthralled readers everywhere. Now, enter the world of Neanderthal...
The expedition of the century...uncovers the find of the millennium...Neanderthal.
In the remote mountains of central Asia, an eminent Harvard archeologist discovers something extraordinary. He sends a cryptic message to two colleagues. But then, he disappears.
Matt Ma...more
The expedition of the century...uncovers the find of the millennium...Neanderthal.
In the remote mountains of central Asia, an eminent Harvard archeologist discovers something extraordinary. He sends a cryptic message to two colleagues. But then, he disappears.
Matt Ma...more
Paperback, 395 pages
Published
May 15th 1997
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
(first published January 1st 1996)
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I read this back at the end of high school. I was drawn to it by the skull on the cover, and because Discover magazine, which I was obsessed with at the time, had run article after article on human evolution.
The book is based on the premise that Neanderthals still exist, and an enclave is discovered. Moreover, the reason that humans defeated them is that they are peace-loving animals, and they are peace loving because they have telepathic powers that basically create a sense of empathy that make...more
The book is based on the premise that Neanderthals still exist, and an enclave is discovered. Moreover, the reason that humans defeated them is that they are peace-loving animals, and they are peace loving because they have telepathic powers that basically create a sense of empathy that make...more
Plot holes, flat characters, cliched twists, poor research, logical flaws, and a horrifyingly unsatisfactory ending that uses Bruce Springsteen to terrorize primitive man. What's not to like?
This is the kind of book that lovers of prehistoric fiction, or lovers of techno-thriller (read: Crichton and imitators) should love. Being both, I must report painfully otherwise. Why? Just plain sloppiness. Understand that I don't have a problem with dumb: give me a simple plot and a juicy payoff and I can...more
This is the kind of book that lovers of prehistoric fiction, or lovers of techno-thriller (read: Crichton and imitators) should love. Being both, I must report painfully otherwise. Why? Just plain sloppiness. Understand that I don't have a problem with dumb: give me a simple plot and a juicy payoff and I can...more
Darnton uses his first novel to open up a long disputed issue; the decline of the Neanderthal. While I read the book, I became convinced that Darnton is an archeologist, wanting to implant his own ideas to the reader in a fiction-based setting. I was shocked to see that his CV includes a great deal of media experience, but nothing scholastic related to the subject. Darnton not only takes the reader to the centre of the debate, but also posits numerous theories and backs them up in such a way tha...more
Part 1 was interesting. Susan and Matt discover a tribe of Neanderthals in the mountains of Turkmenistan! They aren't extinct after all!! And then this book starts to drag ass like no other book I have ever read. They're captured! Then they escape! Then...they are captured! And then...they escape! And on and on and on. Christ! I definitely do not recommend this book unless your some kind of Anthropology freak (Paige??).
This is quite possibly one of the worst books I've ever read. It was so bad that just looking at the cover now made me laugh as I remembered how truly dreadful it was.
Fantastic elements like a hidden, lost world in Asia where psychic Neanderthals continue to live in isolation are one thing. The atrocious writing, utter disregard of even the most cursory of research on what sort of technology Neanderthals had, and the pulpy obsession with sex made it seem like a book from another time. The fact t...more
Fantastic elements like a hidden, lost world in Asia where psychic Neanderthals continue to live in isolation are one thing. The atrocious writing, utter disregard of even the most cursory of research on what sort of technology Neanderthals had, and the pulpy obsession with sex made it seem like a book from another time. The fact t...more
When I first saw this in the beginning of my sophomore year in highschool, I was immediately intrigued by the skull and the front and the word Neanderthal on the cover. I had know that a Neanderthal was an early human with super human strength and was about as smart as a human.
I think that this book was made because of the theory that the legendary Bigfoot and Sasquatch are actually Neanderthals who've survived. It is quite incredible that the author had made a backstory and an explanation how...more
I think that this book was made because of the theory that the legendary Bigfoot and Sasquatch are actually Neanderthals who've survived. It is quite incredible that the author had made a backstory and an explanation how...more
People from all different walks of life are disappearing in the wildly remote, Pamir Mountains. When a shady American government agency hears local lore that strange, humanoid creatures have been taking people for hundreds of years, they launch an endeavor shrouded in deceit and exploitation.
Commandeering [Harvard] Professor Kellicut ( for the government's nefarious purposes) and given superficial revelations only, Kellicut begins an expedition which he soon discovers that keeping any findings s...more
Commandeering [Harvard] Professor Kellicut ( for the government's nefarious purposes) and given superficial revelations only, Kellicut begins an expedition which he soon discovers that keeping any findings s...more
Feb 08, 2009
Patrick Gibson
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
preposterous action adventure lovers
Shelves:
testosterone,
science-fiction
Neanderthals are out there? Still alive? Hell, I could have told you that! I’ve worked with a few. They are all in middle management! And I think someone actually made a TV movie out of this book. It must have been as bad. The idea is good and the book starts out like any typical anthropological thriller. The characters are made from discarded plastic and once past the mumble-science the story has no where to go except to start killing off either the subjects or protagonists (not a bad idea for...more
4.5 Stars
Many of you know that I am an avid history buff with an affinity for the prehistoric so when I accidentally stumbled upon a link to this book I was so excited to read it I put it on hold at the library right away.
I thought the story was unique and pretty damn near perfect. It's about Matt, Susan and their mentor Kellicut who discover two lost tribes of neanderthals living in a remote part of Asia.
What I really liked about the book was all the adventure that was packed into the 368 pa...more
Many of you know that I am an avid history buff with an affinity for the prehistoric so when I accidentally stumbled upon a link to this book I was so excited to read it I put it on hold at the library right away.
I thought the story was unique and pretty damn near perfect. It's about Matt, Susan and their mentor Kellicut who discover two lost tribes of neanderthals living in a remote part of Asia.
What I really liked about the book was all the adventure that was packed into the 368 pa...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Although this book came out more than a decade ago, it's still a fascinating read. Starting from how a group could potentially survive (Yeti, anyone?) to how they would communicate and what kind of social dynamics they would have. Also, the question of what we should do if we encountered a creature like that. Do nothing, right? But what if lives were on the line? This is a book I would read over and over every several years. It's really close to 5 stars, but it just won't measure up to Les Miser...more
A compelling story, and fascinating subject. Though at first I found the prose style to be a bit hackneyed--Mr. Darnton has spent a great deal more time in the world of journalism than living the life of a novelist, it seems--the initial lack of stylistic panache was more than made up for by an undeniable penchant for storytelling. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable novel crafted by a promising talent who clearly did his homework in preparing to write this narrative.
When researchers are 'sent for' by a former colleague who is currently looking for existing neanderthals, there's a thrill of discovery that keeps the pages turning. Almost too much like Jurassic Park at times- but still quite a good story. The beginning (the mystery, the wonderment, unanswered questions...) is much better than the end (post-discovery)- but it's a quick read and it's decent. A thought-provoking look into the past...and maybe the future.
Wow. A very exciting book. The character development left a little to be desired, but the action and tension was enough to make me over look that.
Matt Mattinson and Susan (awesome name) Arnot are scientists commissioned by the United States Government to search for their mentor, Anthropologist John Kellicut.
The only clue they have is a neanderthal skull, which should have been about 40k years old, but carbon dating sets at only 25 years old.
Matt Mattinson and Susan (awesome name) Arnot are scientists commissioned by the United States Government to search for their mentor, Anthropologist John Kellicut.
The only clue they have is a neanderthal skull, which should have been about 40k years old, but carbon dating sets at only 25 years old.
It is probably one of the most disappointing books I've ever read. I wanted to like it after reading John Darnton resume...but I guess being a good journalist doesn't mean being able to write good fiction. There is no interesting plot or characters, one of the main characters (scientist) turned out to be completely wrong about main topic of his whole scientific life and still he didn't even seemed upset about it...Some bloody and gruesome scenes repeated over and over...for some unknown reason.....more
Being the closet anthropologist that I am this was a great story. Finding real life Neanderthals would be an extraordinary experience. While somewhat far-fetched it was a great book to listen to in the car on the way to work and I loved the speculative parts.
Quite a bit of research also reflected which I found interesting. Esp. since it is possible that we might be able to clone a Neanderthal in the not so distant future.
Quite a bit of research also reflected which I found interesting. Esp. since it is possible that we might be able to clone a Neanderthal in the not so distant future.
7/10
Page-turner with enough science to be plausible, enough romance to have an emotional side, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.
With all the hard-to-believe events in this book, only one was absolutely unbelievable. See spoiler below.
SPOILER ALERT:
I just can't believe these highly competent, highly competitive scientists, would throw away all there notes, sketches, etc. Just don't buy it.
Page-turner with enough science to be plausible, enough romance to have an emotional side, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.
With all the hard-to-believe events in this book, only one was absolutely unbelievable. See spoiler below.
SPOILER ALERT:
I just can't believe these highly competent, highly competitive scientists, would throw away all there notes, sketches, etc. Just don't buy it.
Feb 14, 2012
naeblis
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ciencia-ficcion,
niamipeorenemigo
No sé si sería la traducción, pero este libro me pareció terriblemente mal escrito. Su estilo bastante directo y burdo. La historia es predecible, plagada de momentos de pena ajena, con personajes planos y estereotipados. No esperaba que el libro fuera una obra maestra de la literatura, sólo buscaba algo ligero que me entretuviera, pero desgraciadamente ni eso pudo conseguir.
I caught this book while on a long flight to Dallas. It was a little slow and had under developed characters however, it soon picked up and provided at least a somewhat believe aspect of possible Neanderthals still living in an isolated area. It picked up after about a qtr through and took off. You should check it out if you like this type of story.
Every anthropologist must read this book! Great and scary adventure about our ancient (or actually about the remains of them) cousins - neanderthals. Adventure about the moral in science too, about a "secret" which reveals the real story of the extinction of these brothers of ours... and about the awful side of our nature, the ability to lie and cheat...
Back in high school, I remember picking this book up and reading it...and then sharing it with a friend. That friend read it and loved it just as much as I did. This may be one of the best books I have ever read...at least back then, lol.
After lending it to my friend, he asked if he could lend it to someone else. They read it. They loved it. So, we were 3 for 3. It was then that we decided to pass this book along from one person to the next to see how far it would travel.
I haven't seen it since...more
After lending it to my friend, he asked if he could lend it to someone else. They read it. They loved it. So, we were 3 for 3. It was then that we decided to pass this book along from one person to the next to see how far it would travel.
I haven't seen it since...more
This is one of the worst books I have ever read in my life. I wasnted to quit after about chapter 3, but stupidly I just kept reading under the incredibly mistaken delusion that it would get better, or even make some kind of sense. Fortunately, after all this time, the only thing I remember of it was its inordinate awfulness!
it started of very promising, but the lack of empathy i felt for the characters didn't really help me get into it. the few side characters that ARE interesting die rather quickly, and the plot is pretty predictiable. few surprises, but the premise is interesting. not a must read, but it was certainly engaging, if a little short.
I found this book on a bargain shelf for a dollar, it sounded interesting so i read it. The story is compelling, parts are dry, particularly when the author switches to a certain character, but when he is on the main characters it is exciting. There is a lot of interesting concepts in the story, i really dont want to give anything away though so... all in all, good read
An interesting idea, fantastic as it may be, presented in a way that is easy to read.
If you are looking for high-end literature, or always try to find flaws, and question everything you read, this book is not for you.
But if you enjoy a fast-paced story with fantastic turns, go for it.
If you are looking for high-end literature, or always try to find flaws, and question everything you read, this book is not for you.
But if you enjoy a fast-paced story with fantastic turns, go for it.
This was an incredible thriller right from the start. I usually don't like books that flash back and forth or have more than two subplots, but this book was my exception. I was on the edge of my seat most of the book and it leaves you questioning what you know about the neandrthals.
Crapulent. Shoulda/coulda been great, ends up more of a 90's politically correct, primitive cultures are pure and dreamy tale. Nowhere near enough horse femur wielding cavemen terrorizing anybody. 1 out of a possible 5 Raquel Welch in the One Million Years BC bikinis.
There is so much fail in this book I can barely describe it. Sexist, anthrocentric, US-centric and religious bullshit. Oh, and FYI, veteran palaeoanthropologists don't snicker every time they say 'Homo erectus'. Because they're not eight year old boys.
I enjoyed this book. Plenty of action, interspersed with plenty of really interesting historical detail. A good plot and believable characters, including a truly fabulous villain (Kee-wok). Gruesome deaths which had the ring of authenticity. Highly recommended. Surprised there's been no film yet, but I might have missed it.
Dec 21, 2008
Matt Walker
added it
I read this when I was 13/14. I was turned on by the human/neanderthal sex scenes. There was a sticker on the cover that said something like, "Soon to be a major motion picture by Steven Spielberg". I wonder what happened with that.
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John Darnton has worked for The New York Times for forty years as a reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent. He is the recipient of two George Polk Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author of five novels, including The Darwin Conspiracy and the best seller Neanderthal. He lives in New York.
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Jul 17, 2012 07:11pm