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Indiana Jones: Prequels #10
Indiana Jones and the Dinosaurs
Fresh from a ride on a Nazi submarine, Indiana Jones is persuaded by a beautiful missionary to search for her missing father in Mongolia. Professor Angus Starbuck has discovered a dinosaur bone in the Gobi Desert. But unlike other such discoveries, this bone isn’t ancient! As Indy crosses from China through a treacherous mountain pass into Outer Mongolia, he runs afoul of the region’s fiercest warlords. Meanwhile, the world’s last innocent people, dwelling in a Stone Age paradise, are poised on the brink of destruction. Suddenly Indiana Jones is dueling wild dogs and bloodthirsty killers in a desperate effort to save the most historic discovery of the twentieth the last living triceratops!
Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
11 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Max McCoy
46 books61 followersMax McCoy is an award-winning journalist and author. He’s won awards for his reporting on unsolved murders, serial killers, and hate groups. In addition to his daily newspaper work, Max has written for publications as diverse as American Photographer, True West, and The New Territory. He’s the author of four original Indiana Jones adventures for Lucasfilm/Bantam and the novelization of the epic TNT miniseries, Into the West. His novels, including Damnation Road, have won three Spur awards from the Western Writers of America. His novels, Hellfire Canyon and Of Grave Concern, have also been named Kansas Notable Books by the state library. He's a tenured professor of journalism at Emporia State University, in east central Kansas, where he specializes in investigative reporting and nonfiction narrative. He's also director of the university’s Center for Great Plains Studies. His most recent book is Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River, from the University Press of Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 15, 2018
When George and Steve were cooking up Raiders of the Lost Ark, they were indulging themselves in the non-stop action “serial shorts” of the 1930s. I am sure they had no idea that Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones Jr., would become the iconic hero of a franchise that has gone on for almost 40 years!
If the movies have been mostly low-brow fun (and Raiders and the Last Crusade were a lot of fun), then Spielberg’s venture into Young Indiana Jones territory was higher-brow entertainment, giving him a way to show both the events and sciences of the early 20th Century to those for whom history was kind of dull.
Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs is my first venture into this series that started coming out in the 1990s and filled in many of the gaps between Young Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
This adventure is reminiscent of the first two movies, at least in its earliest scenes. We have in short order: Jones being captured and tantalized with a treasure he covets; Jones trying to grab a ride on a fleeing submarine; Jones being sent forth by the American Museum of Natural History to find a missing archeologist; Jones finding himself facing a crime boss in a Shanghai nightclub.
Yet for all of that, Max McCoy has created an entertaining story that owes as much to H.G. Well’s Lost World as it does to Spielberg. The scenes in and around the Gobi Desert build on the actual adventures of Roy Chapman Andrews, the legendary scientist who first discovered dinosaur eggs and helped expand our understanding of those creatures. It also blends tribal violence and imagined sorcery with respect for Buddhism and the protection of the natural world.
“You don’t understand,” Indy protested.
“And what is it that I need to understand about Indiana Jones?” she asked.
“That I’m a hopeless, raving romantic,” he said. “That I keep my word to my friends. That I don’t sleep around when I’m in love with somebody else. That I don’t lose my values just because I’m a few thousand miles from home. That there are things in this world which science can’t explain but which just maybe the human heart can…”
So, whether you are high-brow or low-brow, there is something in this book for you. Is it enough? For me, it was certainly enjoyable (and somewhat enlightening).
If the movies have been mostly low-brow fun (and Raiders and the Last Crusade were a lot of fun), then Spielberg’s venture into Young Indiana Jones territory was higher-brow entertainment, giving him a way to show both the events and sciences of the early 20th Century to those for whom history was kind of dull.
Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs is my first venture into this series that started coming out in the 1990s and filled in many of the gaps between Young Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
This adventure is reminiscent of the first two movies, at least in its earliest scenes. We have in short order: Jones being captured and tantalized with a treasure he covets; Jones trying to grab a ride on a fleeing submarine; Jones being sent forth by the American Museum of Natural History to find a missing archeologist; Jones finding himself facing a crime boss in a Shanghai nightclub.
Yet for all of that, Max McCoy has created an entertaining story that owes as much to H.G. Well’s Lost World as it does to Spielberg. The scenes in and around the Gobi Desert build on the actual adventures of Roy Chapman Andrews, the legendary scientist who first discovered dinosaur eggs and helped expand our understanding of those creatures. It also blends tribal violence and imagined sorcery with respect for Buddhism and the protection of the natural world.
“You don’t understand,” Indy protested.
“And what is it that I need to understand about Indiana Jones?” she asked.
“That I’m a hopeless, raving romantic,” he said. “That I keep my word to my friends. That I don’t sleep around when I’m in love with somebody else. That I don’t lose my values just because I’m a few thousand miles from home. That there are things in this world which science can’t explain but which just maybe the human heart can…”
So, whether you are high-brow or low-brow, there is something in this book for you. Is it enough? For me, it was certainly enjoyable (and somewhat enlightening).
July 13, 2022
I can enjoy a fun adventure novel now and again. This one reads about how you might expect any 1990s-written adventure to be. It's alright. I did enjoy the unique landscapes of Mongolia. And it was fun to wonder... What if a dinosaur roamed the earth somewhere in the farthest depths away from society? Is there even the faintest possibility?
August 20, 2013
I am a fan of the character of Indiana Jones, but this is the only book version I have read. And I say it sure deserves to be adapted into film. The plot is almost believable, action-packed, and also has enough mystery. Kudos to the character of the dog, Loki. Too bad, the series is no longer around.
July 14, 2019
Opnieuw een voltreffer voor wie van avontureverhalen vol aktie houdt. Soms een beetje moeilijk aan elkaar gezet om het onderscheid te maken tussen de verschillende achtervolgingen en overvallen, maar vol kogels, pijlen, messen en vuisten. Rijden in autos en treinen of op kamelen, vliegen en varen, het maakt de deelnemers aan de expeditie niet uit. Ontberingen in de woestijn en de geneugten van de oase volgen mekaar op. Vriendelijke volkeren en vijandige stammen met natuurlijk meer dan een vleugje buraucratie en corruptie om het moeilijk te maken.
Een link naar de prehistorie en dit keer een "levend" artifact, een dinosaurusei.
Het leest erg vlot door de schrijfstijl die de snelheid van de gebeurtenissen probeert te evenaren, het makkelijke woordgebruik en de vlotte, met humor doorspekte situaties en dialogen.
Een link naar de prehistorie en dit keer een "levend" artifact, een dinosaurusei.
Het leest erg vlot door de schrijfstijl die de snelheid van de gebeurtenissen probeert te evenaren, het makkelijke woordgebruik en de vlotte, met humor doorspekte situaties en dialogen.
July 11, 2020
This series is just delightful. The historical notes at the end are terrific! I have to seek out this whole series.
September 22, 2025
Well who knew the one with the stupidest title would be the best one? Honestly I don't know if you could name it anything else without giving the story away though. This was the first one that really got the humour of the Indiana Jones series right. It's no a belittling humour but a self-depreciating kind where Indy is not always the best at everything but he is tenacious and will get the job done. A lot of fun characters with a little taste of what's to come with Belloq and Lao Che and McCoy did here what he dropped the ball on in the last book with Sallah and actually gave some backstory here. The fights were a lot of fun and the early one at the Museum really got me into the book and I didn't really want to put it down. If you can get past the dumb title then you would find a fun Indiana Jones adventure and, of the ones I have read thusfar, my favourite in this prequel series.
September 14, 2022
4 sterren- Nederlandse pocket
Naar dependance op het jeugdhonk.
Naar dependance op het jeugdhonk.
September 3, 2015
This is the 10th book in the Indiana Jones prequel series and the second of four books written by Max McCoy. I was worried before starting this one because this author’s first Indy book was somewhat enjoyable but certainly didn’t knock my fedora off. This one, however, was quite a bit better and of the first 10 in the series, ranks among the top 3.
This may be partly because this novel seems more like the actual movies than many of the other books in this series. A large part of that is we get to see Indy’s nemesis from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, Rene Belloq, right at the very beginning as well as Marcus Brody. For me, that instantly put me in the scene and I could see those movie actors playing out the rest of the novel. The plot surrounds an expedition to inner Mongolia after the discovery of what appears to be a rhino horn turns out to be a triceratops horn…and from a recently living creature no less. Indy’s old friend, Granger, a big-game hunter, a female reporter disguised as a nun, a living descendant of Genghis Khan, a lost professor, and a really cool faithful dog companion for Indy all provide colorful supporting characters. The expedition is full of adventure as one would expect and I found the novel nicely entertaining and with a satisfactory conclusion. What else could one hope for in a novel such as this?
This may be partly because this novel seems more like the actual movies than many of the other books in this series. A large part of that is we get to see Indy’s nemesis from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, Rene Belloq, right at the very beginning as well as Marcus Brody. For me, that instantly put me in the scene and I could see those movie actors playing out the rest of the novel. The plot surrounds an expedition to inner Mongolia after the discovery of what appears to be a rhino horn turns out to be a triceratops horn…and from a recently living creature no less. Indy’s old friend, Granger, a big-game hunter, a female reporter disguised as a nun, a living descendant of Genghis Khan, a lost professor, and a really cool faithful dog companion for Indy all provide colorful supporting characters. The expedition is full of adventure as one would expect and I found the novel nicely entertaining and with a satisfactory conclusion. What else could one hope for in a novel such as this?
July 29, 2013
I have to redo my review on this novel. I just had to.
This novel truly captures the spirit of all of the original films. This is the Indiana Jones I came to know through film and the novel is just great.
This adventure doesn't have to do with any supernatural artifact which I thought would suck. Who would have thought that dinosaurs could fit into an Indiana Jones adventure? Well folks it works perfectly. I love dinosaurs and seeing them combined with one of my favorite heroes is just really fun. This time like I said, there is no supernatural artifact, but instead it's all natural.
The characters are all fun to read about. They are even jokes about Indy wearing a purse (it's actually a satchel) and I think that's just great. There are parts in the novel that reminded me of Temple of Doom and Jurassic Park. Indiana Jones fans and fans of adventure should really check this out.
This novel truly captures the spirit of all of the original films. This is the Indiana Jones I came to know through film and the novel is just great.
This adventure doesn't have to do with any supernatural artifact which I thought would suck. Who would have thought that dinosaurs could fit into an Indiana Jones adventure? Well folks it works perfectly. I love dinosaurs and seeing them combined with one of my favorite heroes is just really fun. This time like I said, there is no supernatural artifact, but instead it's all natural.
The characters are all fun to read about. They are even jokes about Indy wearing a purse (it's actually a satchel) and I think that's just great. There are parts in the novel that reminded me of Temple of Doom and Jurassic Park. Indiana Jones fans and fans of adventure should really check this out.
June 9, 2025
After the happy buzz I had following Indiana Jones and the Philosopher’s Stone, I was hoping the feeling would continue here in Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs and, with no intention of burying the lede, let me say upfront that I found it just as enjoyable, although it has a different vibe to its predecessor.
First up, the novel is bookended with a Rene Belloq adventure that has nothing to do with the rest of the story. Is it a little fan service-y? Yeah, to be fair, it is. And to emphasise how it has nothing to do with the rest of the plot, when I got to the segment at the end of the novel, mentioning a particular German submarine, and naming characters, I was thinking, “Wait, who was that, again?” because over the month I picked my way through the novel, I’d completely forgotten details of the “pre-credits sequence”.
The main plot, meanwhile, can be summarised as, Indy gets roped into an adventure when a missionary asks for his help finding her missing father, Professor Angus Starbuck, in Mongolia. Starbuck had been searching for fossils in the Gobi Desert when he made a shocking discovery—a dinosaur bone that isn’t millions of years old. This sees Indy cross from China into Outer Mongolia on an expedition with a motley crew of individuals for an adventure which, now I think back on it, is possibly the most brutal experience of the novel range so far. There are some scenes in this novel that are pretty horrific.
The Asian setting for the adventure works really well as it feels like a locale that isn’t tapped on the shoulder all that often to be the backdrop to an Indy adventure. The pre-credits sequence to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is one everyone will know and, of course, the video game, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb is primarily set in Asia but otherwise its appearances in novels and comics only amount to a few scenes here and there when I cast my mind back. And while the Peking, March 1910 segment of Journey of Radiance felt quite fresh as a location, the story set there didn’t really take advantage of the location, so Indiana Jones in Asia is something I still want to see more of in general.
Author Max McCoy took storyline inspiration from the real-life exploits of Roy Chapman Andrews, whose Gobi Desert expeditions unearthed some of the first-known dinosaur eggs. These were fossilised, of course, unlike the ones Indy finds in the story! Andrews himself was one of the figures that influenced the creation of the Indiana Jones character, so it feels like we’re going back to the well for something Indy’s progenitor basically did in real life which I think is a very clever thing to do.
McCoy was also intrigued by psychedelic mushrooms and weaves in a scene where Indy is under the influence—not by choice!—which feels in-sync with experiences he’s had with mind-altering substances earlier in the novel range and even in a film like Temple of Doom. Another clever move in my book.
It’s not perfect, however, and there are a few hiccups along the way. For example, the story takes a huge leap between chapters 4 and 5. One chapter ends with the expedition halfway to Urga and then the next chapter opens and they’re all in Urga, under arrest by the local authorities. It’s like a movie that fades out then fades in at a later time and you’re just meant to imagine what happened in between. It’s discombobulating when you get to that part. I actually paged back to make sure I hadn’t missed something or a that printing error had perhaps dropped an entire chapter out, it was that jarring.
Another area of the story gave me pause—Indy’s relationship with the missionary, Joan Starbuck. After Alecia—the love interest of the previous novel—walks in the pre-credits teaser, Indy’s free to get to know, and flirt, with Joan for the entire book. This goes along pretty well until a plot twist sees Indy go completely over the top about how he could never trust her and he’s actually pretty terrible towards her. Yet all she’s done to earn his ire are things that Indy has done plenty of times before, himself. Or would do, put in the same circumstances. I’m trying to be non-spoiler-y here, but people who have read the novel should know what I’m talking about. What makes it even more strange is later scenes in the story see Indy pretty much into Joan again. So while an argument could be made that perhaps Indy was just shocked by learning Joan’s truth, and went overboard for a little while, it just didn’t come across as realistic in the story. The Indiana Jones in my head would have learned Joan’s truth and been like, “You did all of that? For this? More power to you, sister…” and actually been pretty damn impressed by her.
But these are honestly small criticisms of a book that, by and large, didn’t pull any punches in its storytelling and felt quite ‘Indiana Jones’—albeit something falling more to realism in some parts. As I was reading I asked myself, several times, “Is this better than Indiana Jones and the Philosopher’s Stone?” and while it felt that way during some segments, I’m going to settle on them being equally as good in my mind. This, however, is with the caveat that they are quite different novels. The previous one is breaking into temples, punching fascists and so on. This one is a grand expedition, in Asia, meeting local warlords—both good and bad. It’s a completely different vibe.
First up, the novel is bookended with a Rene Belloq adventure that has nothing to do with the rest of the story. Is it a little fan service-y? Yeah, to be fair, it is. And to emphasise how it has nothing to do with the rest of the plot, when I got to the segment at the end of the novel, mentioning a particular German submarine, and naming characters, I was thinking, “Wait, who was that, again?” because over the month I picked my way through the novel, I’d completely forgotten details of the “pre-credits sequence”.
The main plot, meanwhile, can be summarised as, Indy gets roped into an adventure when a missionary asks for his help finding her missing father, Professor Angus Starbuck, in Mongolia. Starbuck had been searching for fossils in the Gobi Desert when he made a shocking discovery—a dinosaur bone that isn’t millions of years old. This sees Indy cross from China into Outer Mongolia on an expedition with a motley crew of individuals for an adventure which, now I think back on it, is possibly the most brutal experience of the novel range so far. There are some scenes in this novel that are pretty horrific.
The Asian setting for the adventure works really well as it feels like a locale that isn’t tapped on the shoulder all that often to be the backdrop to an Indy adventure. The pre-credits sequence to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is one everyone will know and, of course, the video game, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb is primarily set in Asia but otherwise its appearances in novels and comics only amount to a few scenes here and there when I cast my mind back. And while the Peking, March 1910 segment of Journey of Radiance felt quite fresh as a location, the story set there didn’t really take advantage of the location, so Indiana Jones in Asia is something I still want to see more of in general.
Author Max McCoy took storyline inspiration from the real-life exploits of Roy Chapman Andrews, whose Gobi Desert expeditions unearthed some of the first-known dinosaur eggs. These were fossilised, of course, unlike the ones Indy finds in the story! Andrews himself was one of the figures that influenced the creation of the Indiana Jones character, so it feels like we’re going back to the well for something Indy’s progenitor basically did in real life which I think is a very clever thing to do.
McCoy was also intrigued by psychedelic mushrooms and weaves in a scene where Indy is under the influence—not by choice!—which feels in-sync with experiences he’s had with mind-altering substances earlier in the novel range and even in a film like Temple of Doom. Another clever move in my book.
It’s not perfect, however, and there are a few hiccups along the way. For example, the story takes a huge leap between chapters 4 and 5. One chapter ends with the expedition halfway to Urga and then the next chapter opens and they’re all in Urga, under arrest by the local authorities. It’s like a movie that fades out then fades in at a later time and you’re just meant to imagine what happened in between. It’s discombobulating when you get to that part. I actually paged back to make sure I hadn’t missed something or a that printing error had perhaps dropped an entire chapter out, it was that jarring.
Another area of the story gave me pause—Indy’s relationship with the missionary, Joan Starbuck. After Alecia—the love interest of the previous novel—walks in the pre-credits teaser, Indy’s free to get to know, and flirt, with Joan for the entire book. This goes along pretty well until a plot twist sees Indy go completely over the top about how he could never trust her and he’s actually pretty terrible towards her. Yet all she’s done to earn his ire are things that Indy has done plenty of times before, himself. Or would do, put in the same circumstances. I’m trying to be non-spoiler-y here, but people who have read the novel should know what I’m talking about. What makes it even more strange is later scenes in the story see Indy pretty much into Joan again. So while an argument could be made that perhaps Indy was just shocked by learning Joan’s truth, and went overboard for a little while, it just didn’t come across as realistic in the story. The Indiana Jones in my head would have learned Joan’s truth and been like, “You did all of that? For this? More power to you, sister…” and actually been pretty damn impressed by her.
But these are honestly small criticisms of a book that, by and large, didn’t pull any punches in its storytelling and felt quite ‘Indiana Jones’—albeit something falling more to realism in some parts. As I was reading I asked myself, several times, “Is this better than Indiana Jones and the Philosopher’s Stone?” and while it felt that way during some segments, I’m going to settle on them being equally as good in my mind. This, however, is with the caveat that they are quite different novels. The previous one is breaking into temples, punching fascists and so on. This one is a grand expedition, in Asia, meeting local warlords—both good and bad. It’s a completely different vibe.
April 20, 2008
This book is exactly what I expected, and I loved it. Loads of fun.
Best. Impulse purchase. Ever.
Best. Impulse purchase. Ever.
September 22, 2021
This is a prequel to Temple of Doom. 'Nuff said!
June 2, 2022
A pleasant piece of pulp, even if it doesn't reach that level of magical pulp that infuses the Indiana Jones movies. The novels in this franchise are a known quantity: they're only for fans craving a little more, and there's an unspoken acceptance that they can't be anything other than a pale imitation of the real thing. You know none of them are going to blow you away. There's no chance of the reader unearthing a hidden gem – that's a feat that remains exclusively reserved for everyone's favourite treasure-hunting archaeologist.
Accepting this, then, the reader settles down for a routine Indiana Jones thrill, and that's what they get. The MacGuffin is an interesting one: the prospect of live dinosaurs in unexplored Mongolia, and of a 'missing link' tribe of Stone Age humans. It is, in essence, an agreeable and simplified mix of Lost Horizon and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Even allowing for the obligatory skirmish with the Nazis in the bookend chapters, Dinosaur Eggs felt like something other than just a rehash of standard Indiana Jones tropes. Hypervigilant fans will nit-pick that Indy doesn't always seem like the Indy we know and love, but I quite liked how fresh it all felt.
Having said that, it is the least of the three Indy novels by Max McCoy that I've read (I've yet to open Secret of the Sphinx). It's a disappointment that Indy doesn't have to do much (if anything) in the way of puzzle-solving or questing; he only has to journey to a place, fight, then journey back. On my shelf, Dinosaur Eggs is noticeably slimmer than the other McCoy novels: it rushes through its plot, its character conflicts and its resolutions to Indy's predicaments. The storytelling is a bit artless: any tension is bled out by its hastiness, and we aren't allowed to pause even for a moment to savour the wonder at the 'lost world' Indy discovers.
But, in the end, any flaws in the book are easily forgiven, because it's an Indiana Jones book. You could just write the sentence "It's an Indiana Jones adventure" and have covered all the necessary bases for a review. To people thinking about reading this, the quality almost doesn't matter. You'll read Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs only if you have an itch to scratch – and this it satisfies.
Accepting this, then, the reader settles down for a routine Indiana Jones thrill, and that's what they get. The MacGuffin is an interesting one: the prospect of live dinosaurs in unexplored Mongolia, and of a 'missing link' tribe of Stone Age humans. It is, in essence, an agreeable and simplified mix of Lost Horizon and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Even allowing for the obligatory skirmish with the Nazis in the bookend chapters, Dinosaur Eggs felt like something other than just a rehash of standard Indiana Jones tropes. Hypervigilant fans will nit-pick that Indy doesn't always seem like the Indy we know and love, but I quite liked how fresh it all felt.
Having said that, it is the least of the three Indy novels by Max McCoy that I've read (I've yet to open Secret of the Sphinx). It's a disappointment that Indy doesn't have to do much (if anything) in the way of puzzle-solving or questing; he only has to journey to a place, fight, then journey back. On my shelf, Dinosaur Eggs is noticeably slimmer than the other McCoy novels: it rushes through its plot, its character conflicts and its resolutions to Indy's predicaments. The storytelling is a bit artless: any tension is bled out by its hastiness, and we aren't allowed to pause even for a moment to savour the wonder at the 'lost world' Indy discovers.
But, in the end, any flaws in the book are easily forgiven, because it's an Indiana Jones book. You could just write the sentence "It's an Indiana Jones adventure" and have covered all the necessary bases for a review. To people thinking about reading this, the quality almost doesn't matter. You'll read Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs only if you have an itch to scratch – and this it satisfies.
May 12, 2020
The book, Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs, by Max McCoy, talks about how a history teacher goes out on an adventure to save one of his old friends' father and stumbles across some treasure. The book is a tremendous book that will always keep you on your edge of the seat as you read about this marvelous Indiana Jones. I really enjoyed reading this book because previously I have watched the movies about Indy, but have never heard of this story he adventures on. This book could definitely be turned into another movie to go along with the series and be an awesome storyline. The book was also able to show me many interesting facts about the world and history of it to be honest just in words Indy says throughout the book. My favorite part of the book would just be the times when it talks about how he goes up against so many men and is able to come out on top eventually. I mean if I could ever be like Indiana Jones that would be something extraordinary. The book had very few parts of the book that were tough to read, but there were a couple times where I became a little confused while reading. The book was really well written and I could not put up a debate at some parts during the book that could put this book down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into adventure and treasure finding adventures. Also to anyone who has seen the few movies before about Indiana Jones. Hopefully maybe someday someone will want to reboot the movie series and I recommend they choose this storyline to do as it is the first ever Indian Jones book. This was a fantastic book and if I had to rate it, I would give it a nine and a half out of ten.
April 28, 2023
We all know we don’t read Indiana Jones novels because they are exquitely written works of literature. This entry is fairly linear, and at times felt a little below my reading level, however it does what many books fail to do - it kept me engrossed, kept me turning pages, not wanting to put it down.
Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs provides exactly what you want from an Indiana Jones story. Interesting McGuffin, strong pacing, good action scenes, some real character moments for Jones (but nothing too deep), good collection of different two-dimensional supporting characters, a little bit of education (but not too much), and a bit of the mystical - something that might just possibly be able to happen… if only.
Also on the overall Indiana Jones character aspect, here we get the first meetings of Indy and Belloq, and of Indy and Wu Han, who we meet in the opening of Temple of Doom. And, by absolute coincidence - because this book was written in 1996 - the prologue and epilogue concern him going after a Crystal Skull. Still really dislike that movie, however that artifact being here was quite a fun surprise.
Another good self-contained Indiana Jones book by Max McCoy. He thankfully did not fall into the trap Young Indiana Jones TV writers, and some other Indy novelists have fallen into, of way too much historical education that takes you out of the story. He knows how to pepper it in, while delivering an easily digestable and exciting Indiana Jones adventure.
Worth the read if you’re in the mood for a good Indiana Jones story.
Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs provides exactly what you want from an Indiana Jones story. Interesting McGuffin, strong pacing, good action scenes, some real character moments for Jones (but nothing too deep), good collection of different two-dimensional supporting characters, a little bit of education (but not too much), and a bit of the mystical - something that might just possibly be able to happen… if only.
Also on the overall Indiana Jones character aspect, here we get the first meetings of Indy and Belloq, and of Indy and Wu Han, who we meet in the opening of Temple of Doom. And, by absolute coincidence - because this book was written in 1996 - the prologue and epilogue concern him going after a Crystal Skull. Still really dislike that movie, however that artifact being here was quite a fun surprise.
Another good self-contained Indiana Jones book by Max McCoy. He thankfully did not fall into the trap Young Indiana Jones TV writers, and some other Indy novelists have fallen into, of way too much historical education that takes you out of the story. He knows how to pepper it in, while delivering an easily digestable and exciting Indiana Jones adventure.
Worth the read if you’re in the mood for a good Indiana Jones story.
November 3, 2018
As a longtime fan of the Indiana Jones franchise, this addition to the prequel series was a fun-filled wild ride equivalent, without a shred of doubt, to the films. McCoy does a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the characters, while still bringing his own original spin to the Indiana Jones universe.
Knowing now that this narrative is (loosely) what Lucas and Spielberg intended for the initial Indiana Jones sequel made reading "Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs" all the more fascinating. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if that film had come to be. Would we still have Jurassic Park? And, if so, would it have had quite the same impact? It's impossible to tell. What I do know is that Indiana Jones with dinosaurs is something that we all deserve in our lives.
I can't wait to pick up the rest of McCoy's contributions to this series! While I love Rob MacGregor's take on the character and his adventures, I think that I might actually like McCoy's just a little bit more. "Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs" is a must-read for fans!
Knowing now that this narrative is (loosely) what Lucas and Spielberg intended for the initial Indiana Jones sequel made reading "Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs" all the more fascinating. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if that film had come to be. Would we still have Jurassic Park? And, if so, would it have had quite the same impact? It's impossible to tell. What I do know is that Indiana Jones with dinosaurs is something that we all deserve in our lives.
I can't wait to pick up the rest of McCoy's contributions to this series! While I love Rob MacGregor's take on the character and his adventures, I think that I might actually like McCoy's just a little bit more. "Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs" is a must-read for fans!
December 18, 2020
I keep labeling these books "fantasy", because they sure as heck aren't based in reality, but then the fantasy genre makes me think of dragons and unicorns (and, to be fair, unicorns HAVE featured in this series already). They're not urban fantasy, either, since they're globe-trotting adventures and not bound to one city or another. What would this genre be called, anyway? Fantasy-adventure? Adventure-fantasy? That brings to mind D&D novels.
Anyway.
These books have been entertaining (mostly; Martin Caidin's books were a bit of a chore), and McCoy does a good job of capturing the feel of an Indy adventure, but there were parts of the narrative that didn't make a lot of sense to me. At one point, one of the characters calls Indy "Marco Polo/Indiana Jones", and I couldn't figure out what that was supposed to mean. There wasn't any context in the surrounding paragraphs to explain it.
If there were one book I'd recommend to casual readers who want a fun Indy novel, this would be it. There are more ties to the movies in this book than I've seen in the preceding volumes.
Anyway.
These books have been entertaining (mostly; Martin Caidin's books were a bit of a chore), and McCoy does a good job of capturing the feel of an Indy adventure, but there were parts of the narrative that didn't make a lot of sense to me. At one point, one of the characters calls Indy "Marco Polo/Indiana Jones", and I couldn't figure out what that was supposed to mean. There wasn't any context in the surrounding paragraphs to explain it.
If there were one book I'd recommend to casual readers who want a fun Indy novel, this would be it. There are more ties to the movies in this book than I've seen in the preceding volumes.
February 7, 2023
The Indiana Jones original novel series features a number of novels with great titles. Others are named, "Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs."
This one was good. I'd say it was better than Max McCoy's first novel in his Indiana Jones run, "Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone", but still not as good as Rob MacGregor's run. Where his books are more well-written and showcase Indy's character development, these novels are more fun and in line with the films.
I heard someone say they're more like dime novels of the 50's and 60's. You'll have your share of fun reading them, but a few months pass and you can't recall anything that happened while reading them.
But that doesn't mean they're bad books. They do have somewhat intense action, some jokes and it's really nice to see some familiar faces too.
If you can get your hands on these rare, out-of-print books leading up to Raiders, then I'd definitely recommend them to you. That is, if you enjoy a good adventure or are a fan of Indy and need a bit more than the movies have to offer.
This one was good. I'd say it was better than Max McCoy's first novel in his Indiana Jones run, "Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone", but still not as good as Rob MacGregor's run. Where his books are more well-written and showcase Indy's character development, these novels are more fun and in line with the films.
I heard someone say they're more like dime novels of the 50's and 60's. You'll have your share of fun reading them, but a few months pass and you can't recall anything that happened while reading them.
But that doesn't mean they're bad books. They do have somewhat intense action, some jokes and it's really nice to see some familiar faces too.
If you can get your hands on these rare, out-of-print books leading up to Raiders, then I'd definitely recommend them to you. That is, if you enjoy a good adventure or are a fan of Indy and need a bit more than the movies have to offer.
February 18, 2018
Няколко месеца след събитията в "Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone", намираме д-р Джоунс във вътрешността на Монголия, a.k.a. абсолютния задник на географията, в търсене на яйца от трицератопс, и то нефосилизирани. Да, правилно прочетохте. На пазар, за този най-екзотичен омлет, са излезли и монголи-канибали, подивелите им четириноги (канидите!!!; конете са читави) и американска монахиня. Това е и книгата, в която Инди най-после среща любимите си спаринг партньори- нацистите, но не получава възможност да изтупа прахта от Hugo Boss-овските им дрешки.
October 5, 2017
Overall a fun story and one of the better Indiana Jones books out there. As usual, the female characters are ditsy and/or worthless. One of the main characters does an out-of-character flip flop toward the end. Maybe the book needed more words? It was unnecessary and took away from the story. But, the story did include dinosaurs, which was fun. I'd consider this one standard fantasy crack. Don't expect too much and just enjoy the ride.
Spoiler: The dog lives. 👍☺
Spoiler: The dog lives. 👍☺
February 22, 2021
A lovely present from my nine year old last Christmas ("because we both love dinosaurs, Daddy"), and another cracking installment from Max McCoy.
The title says it all, including the clear references to Roy Chapman Andrews, and I won't post spoilers. Safe so say, it's a ripping yarn very much in the spirit of the film and including a few cameos (four to be precise) from across the movie franchise.
The title says it all, including the clear references to Roy Chapman Andrews, and I won't post spoilers. Safe so say, it's a ripping yarn very much in the spirit of the film and including a few cameos (four to be precise) from across the movie franchise.
August 20, 2023
It's kind of a difficult topic to tackle, on whether or not this book is misinformed or not, but honestly I think a lot of the point of Indiana Jones is more the action that a professor can get into, and not necessarily about historical accuracy. This was a good book to start reading to really launch myself into Indiana Jones lore. I did find that there was something just a little lacking about this book but I can't quite put my finger on it.
July 29, 2024
Indiana Jones was famously directed by Steven Spielberg. Another movie he's well-known for directing is Jurassic Park. As the title implies, this book sees Indy going in search of dinosaur eggs. Think of it as Indiana Jones meets Jurassic Park. There were also elements that reminded me of Dinotopia and Land of the Lost. Additionally, the book provides some foreshadowing for both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I really liked this book.
October 21, 2024
If cannibalism, shooting dogs and horses is your thing, this book is for you. Those parts really pushed me out of my comfort zone though they were few and far between. Aside from this I found the story interesting and certainly enjoyed traveling with Indy to exotic destinations in search of a fabled dinosaur egg.
I think this author once again really got the Indiana Jones adventures right. Looking forward to reading the final book he wrote in the series.
I think this author once again really got the Indiana Jones adventures right. Looking forward to reading the final book he wrote in the series.
September 9, 2020
This one was just okay. To me, it read more like an episode of an Indiana Jones TV series than an Indiana Jones movie. I've read a few of these books now, and this one is my least favorite. Still, its loaded with adventurous charm.
June 30, 2021
This was much more entertaining than I had anticipated . The story had a great flow and the author understands what makes for a good Indiana Jones story. Unfortunately most of the other characters are on the forgettable side .
March 30, 2023
This was one of my favorite books in the series. The author seems able to capture the flavor of the movies. As the title implies, Indy finds himself on a quest for dinosaur eggs, and maybe even more than eggs! Plenty of adventure and exotic locales. Great read for adventure fans.
September 24, 2023
A enjoyable read.
great introduction to Bellok
(not spelled correctly, I know)
I am looking forward to reading more.
(found several in a second hand store)
Kind of wonder why this story wasn't used
instead of the Dial of Disappointment
All people want is a good story
Is that so hard?
great introduction to Bellok
(not spelled correctly, I know)
I am looking forward to reading more.
(found several in a second hand store)
Kind of wonder why this story wasn't used
instead of the Dial of Disappointment
All people want is a good story
Is that so hard?
July 13, 2017
I'm becoming a big fan of these Indiana Jones books.
July 18, 2017
Solid little book, very entertaining and faithful to the character of Indiana Jones.
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