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2nd out of 7 books
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5 voters
The Lost World (Professor Challenger #1)
An exciting account of a jungle expedition's encounter with living dinosaurs, written with the same panache exhibited in the author's Sherlock Holmes mysteries. This 1912 novel, the first installment of the Professor Challenger series, follows an eccentric paleontologist and his companions into the wilds of the Amazon, where they discover iguanodons, pterodactyls, and sava...more
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
January 26th 1998
by Dover Publications
(first published 1912)
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Move aside, Sherlock…Sir Arthur has conjured a protagonist who's an even more arrogant assbag than you.
Everyone...the intrepid, the indefatigable, the insufferable Professor G.E. Challenger…
If, like me, you enjoy characters that are gruff, prideful curmudgeonly sorts, than you will have fun with this guy. He is a serious hoot. Trust me.
Physically, Prof. Challenger is a funhouse mirror reflection of Mr. Holmes. Instead of a tall, lanky, clean-shaven gentlemen who calmly condescends to the world...more
Everyone...the intrepid, the indefatigable, the insufferable Professor G.E. Challenger…
If, like me, you enjoy characters that are gruff, prideful curmudgeonly sorts, than you will have fun with this guy. He is a serious hoot. Trust me.
Physically, Prof. Challenger is a funhouse mirror reflection of Mr. Holmes. Instead of a tall, lanky, clean-shaven gentlemen who calmly condescends to the world...more
I don't like to end the book so soon, I really love this book although I expected something gorier like dinosaur killing the whole tribe or cannibals eat human flesh. Still, I did love this book in many ways and as long as I live I'll treasure this book forever. Hey, stop looking to me like that. I can still remember all the things I read from the book. Amen.
The whole journey started when a Gazette Irish journalist named, Malone, went go straight to the house of notorious Professor Challenged cl...more
The whole journey started when a Gazette Irish journalist named, Malone, went go straight to the house of notorious Professor Challenged cl...more
23 likes · like · see review
Sep 13, 2011
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of lost world/quest adventures
Recommended to Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress by:
Nicolle as a Buddy Read
The Lost World is a classic work of action/adventure that has a lively feel that made for a very fun read. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, best known for his Sherlock Holmes stories, has a way of writing an engaging tale. For readers who fear reading books published prior to the later 20th century out of the desire to avoid dry, stale language, I would offer up this book. Although it shows the sentiments, good and bad, for the period in which it was written, the writing tone could easily be as modern as...more
11 likes · like · see review
The Lost World was both my first foray into reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and my first experience reading a full-length e-book. First of all, my impressions of the electronic format for reading have been significantly improved by this experience. Although I still would prefer to read with a book in hand, I can appreciate the portability and convenience of this medium. I do not own an actual e-reader, so when I one day do own one, I may have to increase my current liking of the electronic format...more
"The Lost World" 1912 by Arthur Conan Doyle is a plateau deep in the Amazon jungle, where four brave British gentlemen seek the truth of a dinosaur sketched by a dead American, Maple White.
The woman is a faithless flibberdygibbet who rejects our young narrator's proposal, demanding heroism. The Negro is like a faithful dog who waits with a rescue party, yet participates in no rewards. Despite dated inequities wherein appearance of ape-man versus red Indian dictates intelligence quality, the rip...more
The woman is a faithless flibberdygibbet who rejects our young narrator's proposal, demanding heroism. The Negro is like a faithful dog who waits with a rescue party, yet participates in no rewards. Despite dated inequities wherein appearance of ape-man versus red Indian dictates intelligence quality, the rip...more
3 likes · like · see review
Professor Challenger is Arthur Conan Doyle's other eccentric hero. While I loved the Sherlock Holmes stories, I never got around to reading this well-known adventure novel until now. Challenger, along with a rival professor, a big game hunter and the narrator, a young reporter, go to Venezuela to find a plateau where dinosaurs still survive. It is a very enjoyable tale but certainly not up to the best of the Holmes stories. Those into action and those interested in the early origins of science f...more
Where to begin with this one. The meat of the story itself would get a Four Star rating from me, if it wasn't for the Two Star characters. So I will average it to a Three Star book.
The Story : We spend about the first third of the book listening to Prof. Challenger throw a tantrum about how nobody believes his story about the Plateau nobody but him has seen. The First Third! Was this long of a tantrum necessary? I say no, but some may disagree. It really served no purpose other than to further m...more
The Story : We spend about the first third of the book listening to Prof. Challenger throw a tantrum about how nobody believes his story about the Plateau nobody but him has seen. The First Third! Was this long of a tantrum necessary? I say no, but some may disagree. It really served no purpose other than to further m...more
May 22, 2013
Chris The Story Reading Ape
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reading-challenge,
books-reviewed
In this tale, I suspect Arthur Conan Doyle was having a go at the the Honourable Learned Gentlemen of the the Victorian Era Royal Society, who were famed for their pompousness and regarded themselves as the last word in all matters scientific, prehistoric and everything else come to that ...
The characters of Challenger and Summerlee were typical representatives of the RS I suspect...
The Story is rich with descriptions of characters, appearances, attitudes and the ideas of prehistoric creatures k...more
The characters of Challenger and Summerlee were typical representatives of the RS I suspect...
The Story is rich with descriptions of characters, appearances, attitudes and the ideas of prehistoric creatures k...more
1 like · like · see review
As a classic of action/adventure I really enjoyed this novel. However the accompanying short stories were less to my appreciation as they were in no means memorable.
The prose of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is magnificent although I must admit I prefer the style he adopts for his Sherlock Holmes stories. Here again he introduces another character who, like Holmes, is a kind of sociopath in many regards. Which makes me question what that says about the author when he creates memorable and anti-social...more
A great story that carts you along with some brave and headstrong Edwardian characters for companions on the premise of an exploration to a world within a world hidden in the Amazon basin.
The reader is invited into the story by young love struck reporter Edward Malone whose journal - written as the adventure progresses for use when he returns to civilisation for publication by his newspaper - weaves a tale of strange creatures and other beasts who inhabit an undiscovered land long thought to ex...more
The reader is invited into the story by young love struck reporter Edward Malone whose journal - written as the adventure progresses for use when he returns to civilisation for publication by his newspaper - weaves a tale of strange creatures and other beasts who inhabit an undiscovered land long thought to ex...more
The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle is part of the fantastical adventure novel genre that was so popular among the late Victorians. In it, eccentric British scientist Professor Challenger claims that dinosaurs still exist in a remote area of South America. He intends to prove it. Included in the expedition are Professor Summerlee, a skeptic, Lord John Roxton, a big-game hunter, and Ned Malone, a reporter. They soon become stranded in the remote “Maple White Land,” threatened by lumbering dinosa...more
First written in 1912 this is a classic adventure story that follows four men on a scientific expedition to a remote and secluded plateau in the heart of the South American rainforest to prove/disprove the findings of Professor Challenger. Told through the letters and correspondence of Ned Malone, a journalist that manages to talk his way into the expedition group, this is a vivid account of their travels, very much in the vein of Verne.
Although some parts of the story do date it, specifically t...more
Although some parts of the story do date it, specifically t...more
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World" is a classic adventure story first published in 1912. It is the story of a scientific expedition that is sent to determine if the reported findings of prehistoric life still existing in a remote area of South America are true. Professor Challenger is the one defending his findings, Professor Summerlee is the skeptic, and there are two unbiased observers: the guide, Lord John Roxton, and a reporter Ned Malone, who also servers as the Narrator of the story...more
I had no clue that Conan- Doyle had written anything besides Sherlock Holmes, when I found this book and was blown away.
Professor Challenger is not quite the anti-Holmes, as he's a genius himself, but unlike Holmes, Challenger is an arrogant, short tempered, loud genius.
When he and the young reporter that becomes his 'Watson' discover hints of a secret land in South America, they assemble an expedition and end up trapped in a world of dinosaurs.
While dealing with this turn of the century Jurassi...more
Professor Challenger is not quite the anti-Holmes, as he's a genius himself, but unlike Holmes, Challenger is an arrogant, short tempered, loud genius.
When he and the young reporter that becomes his 'Watson' discover hints of a secret land in South America, they assemble an expedition and end up trapped in a world of dinosaurs.
While dealing with this turn of the century Jurassi...more
Listening to this story being read on BJ Harrison's Classic Tales Podcast. Great story!
I really liked this story of Victorian academics and a reporter traveling to South America to discover an enclosed valley containing some dinosaurs, Great Apes (possibly supposed to be Neanderthals) and Homo Sapiens. The ending was somewhat predictable, but a good romp nonetheless.
I really liked this story of Victorian academics and a reporter traveling to South America to discover an enclosed valley containing some dinosaurs, Great Apes (possibly supposed to be Neanderthals) and Homo Sapiens. The ending was somewhat predictable, but a good romp nonetheless.
Read this as part of The Lost World Read 2009. After reading many of today's thriller adventure stories, this was a really refreshing change. An exciting tale, told in a completely different fashion from the writers of today. One could view it as "dated" but I preferred to view it as a trip back in time, and found it delightful in many ways. Imagine how exciting it would have been in a world without television, telephone, internet and digital cameras. If this happened now, one would accuse the o...more
Listened to The Classic Tales podcast reading which came in weekly installments. I can't praise B.J. Harrison's reading enough. He is picture perfect to my ears. This was a delightful story full of adventure, derring-do, scientific scoffing, and exciting discoveries. Being from the time it is, there is also some politically incorrect thinking and language, but you can't take the novel out of its age ... so just ignore that and enjoy the dashing story telling.
1 like · like · see review
Adam C. Zern opines . . .
"Among all of the classic adventure tales I've read so far, which includes Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Time Machine, among others, I have liked The Lost World the most. I think its charm lies in its themes, even if they're somewhat subtle. Doyle's interesting insights into the subjects of science, faith, love, and truth make the book meaningful when the moments of grandeur, awe, and danger come. It's not too heavy, how...more
"Among all of the classic adventure tales I've read so far, which includes Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Time Machine, among others, I have liked The Lost World the most. I think its charm lies in its themes, even if they're somewhat subtle. Doyle's interesting insights into the subjects of science, faith, love, and truth make the book meaningful when the moments of grandeur, awe, and danger come. It's not too heavy, how...more
I had always thought that Michael Crichton originated the idea of the Lost World and Jurassic Park, so when I came across a book of the same name written by Arthur Conan Doyle decades before Crichton, I figured it must be about a different subject. Oddly it wasn't. Maybe die hard fans of Michael Crichton already know this as maybe he mentioned Conan Doyle's story as inspiration. It has to have influenced him because the plot line is so similar. The famed Professor Challenger takes 3 men - a jour...more
Feb 20, 2013
La Stamberga dei Lettori
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sakura87
Non tutti sanno che Arthur Conan Doyle, 'padre' del celebre investigatore Sherlock Holmes, ha anche generato - oltre a numerosi racconti e romanzi di tenore diverso dal mystery - un ciclo di cinque opere di genere avventuroso/fantascientifico accomunate dal personaggio di G.E. Challenger, geniale scienziato aggressivo e sprezzante, tutte scritte tra il 1912 e il 1929.
La prima e più famosa opera della serie è Il mondo perduto, che come le altre si inserisce in un filone molto in voga a cavallo t...more
La prima e più famosa opera della serie è Il mondo perduto, che come le altre si inserisce in un filone molto in voga a cavallo t...more
Solid pulp adventure by the penfather of Sherlock Holmes. Yet, Conan Doyle's adventure tale is no match for Verne, Wells or Kipling. It is a staccato of daring feats, wild beasts and savage tales set in a plateau roaming with prehistoric beast. Facing various trials, the party of four, two professors, one gentleman and a journalist, long to prove the existence of the prehistoric animals.
The book is slightly above average. There is bits of humour in it and some nice descriptions of creatures, but...more
The book is slightly above average. There is bits of humour in it and some nice descriptions of creatures, but...more
Oh my, where do I even begin to start describing how much I love this book? It's the only one on my bookshelf that I've read twice and I loved it both times.
As a fan of Doyle, but not a complete Sherlockian, I was excited when I saw that he had written something that invovled dinosaurs and secret worlds and on-the-verge-of-steampunk adventure. In addition, being a fan of obscure geographical places, the fact that it was set in a fictional version of the Venezuelan tepuis, I started feeling skept...more
As a fan of Doyle, but not a complete Sherlockian, I was excited when I saw that he had written something that invovled dinosaurs and secret worlds and on-the-verge-of-steampunk adventure. In addition, being a fan of obscure geographical places, the fact that it was set in a fictional version of the Venezuelan tepuis, I started feeling skept...more
The Lost World is quite easily my favourite novel to date.
Doyle seamlessly blends brilliant storytelling with breathtaking visuals. As the reader you almost feel as though you are being transported to this strange new part of the world filled with ancient beasts.
The characters are full of...well...character. You love each one for very different reasons and get to feel as though you know them as opposed to are simply reading about them. John Roxton's fearless nature adds so much to the story wher...more
Doyle seamlessly blends brilliant storytelling with breathtaking visuals. As the reader you almost feel as though you are being transported to this strange new part of the world filled with ancient beasts.
The characters are full of...well...character. You love each one for very different reasons and get to feel as though you know them as opposed to are simply reading about them. John Roxton's fearless nature adds so much to the story wher...more
Great adventure story, but in truth, I liked Haggard's "King Solomon's Mines" better despite the lack of dinosaurs in KSM. Don't misunderstand me, Doyle is a great novelist, his Sherlock Holmes series is still one of my favorites, and his skill shines in this book, but he lacks a certain lyrical nature that Haggard evinced with ease. Plus Haggard wrote better large scale warfare scenes. All that aside, it's a fun book, if for nothing else than Professor Challenger, he's just one of those literar...more
This is a very fun read, I was instantly reminded of Journey to the Center of the Earth (one of my favorites). I only wish it were longer.
There is some blatant racism, but sadly such were the times. I don't believe in white washing the past. I didn't listen to the book for racism sake, I listened to the book for wonder and adventure, both were found in generous portions.
There is some blatant racism, but sadly such were the times. I don't believe in white washing the past. I didn't listen to the book for racism sake, I listened to the book for wonder and adventure, both were found in generous portions.
1 like · like · see review
A classic adventure novel with great force of imagination. I found it a quick read, once the story gets rolling. Style is what one would expect from Sir ACD: plenty of character and setting exposition, a well-conceived world, and a clean plot progression that does not rely overmuch on foreshadowing while still priming the reader with clues. I also appreciated the author's humorous treatment of what could otherwise be dry passages.
I regretfully withhold 1 star; I felt that the secondary character...more
I regretfully withhold 1 star; I felt that the secondary character...more
I first read this book as a nine year old, and simply loved it. It’s terrifically of its period; high adventure and heroism in the vein of H Rider Haggard; but brought bang up to date through its objectives as a scientific expedition as opposed to treasure hunting or Empire-building.
The map (on page 89) of “Malone’s Rough Map of the Journey to the Cliffs (neither orientated nor to scale)” is absolutely wonderful: it leaves everything (as it should) to the imagination. Especially where X literal...more
The map (on page 89) of “Malone’s Rough Map of the Journey to the Cliffs (neither orientated nor to scale)” is absolutely wonderful: it leaves everything (as it should) to the imagination. Especially where X literal...more
I wish I had read this book in high school. At that time, I was embarking on a life-long interest in biology and zoology. This book would have helped to not only further that interest; but also would probably have been looked upon favorably by my lit. teacher. While the author is best known for his Sherlock Holmes novels, this book demonstrates his knowledge of botany and zoology (he was trained as a physician). I would think this book, among others, served as the inspiration for the modern day...more
It is truly said that most amazing things in the world often come for free! I got this eBook on Google for free! ( I thank Google for converting all these long lost classic books in eBooks and this is the 3rd classic novel eBook I have read on Google books!).
First words that came to my mind when I finished reading this book - "Wow! Fantastic!"
Books like these, are no doubt the genesis of all the hollywood adventure movies that people of my generation grew up watching! I salute the imagination an...more
First words that came to my mind when I finished reading this book - "Wow! Fantastic!"
Books like these, are no doubt the genesis of all the hollywood adventure movies that people of my generation grew up watching! I salute the imagination an...more
1 like · like · see review
Edward Malone, a reporter for a London newspaper, dreams of doing something heroic in order to impress a young lady whom he wishes to marry. The opportunity presents itself in the squat, powerful, hirsute form of Professor George Edward Challenger, one of Doyle's most memorable characters. Challenger leads an expedition to a remote plateau in South America, where unusual environmental conditions have permitted the survival of many species previously believed to be long extinct, including several...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| moo | 2 | 16 | Jun 08, 2013 10:16am | |
| La Stamberga dei ...: Il mondo perduto di Arthur Conan Doyle | 3 | 7 | Feb 21, 2013 09:20am | |
| PTS Readers: Are there dinosaurs out there? | 1 | 1 | Oct 11, 2012 07:24am | |
| Action/Adventure ...: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | 54 | 42 | Jul 06, 2012 10:43am |
Arthur Conan Doyle was born the third of ten siblings on 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, Charles Altamont Doyle, was born in England of Irish descent, and his mother, born Mary Foley, was Irish. They were married in 1855.
Although he is now referred to as "Conan Doyle", the origin of this compound surname (if that is how he meant it to be understood) is uncertain. His baptism record...more
More about Arthur Conan Doyle...
Although he is now referred to as "Conan Doyle", the origin of this compound surname (if that is how he meant it to be understood) is uncertain. His baptism record...more
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“So tomorrow we disappear into the unknown. This account I am transmitting down the river by canoe, and it may be our last word to those who are interested in our fate.”
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