The Lost World
By: Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrated by: Glen McCready
Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-25-08
Language: English
Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks
Genre: Adventure, Classic, Historical, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.
Publisher's Summary
Here is the precursor to Jurassic Park. Victorian explorers have heard there is a remote plateau where dinosaurs still survive, and a group set outs on a dangerous mission to find out more about it.
Download the accompanying reference guide.
Public Domain (P)2008 Naxos Rights International
Review:
Edward D. Malone is a reporter who determines to do something adventurous to impress the woman he wants to marry. He attends a scientific lecture where Professor Challenger, an egotistical, quick tempered scholar, is mocked when he claims he has seen living dinosaurs. Challenger can’t prove his claims because he lost a specimen and his camera in a boat accident as they were leaving the area. His prime cynic is closed minded Professor Summerly. The only way to prove (or disprove) Challenger’s outrageous claims is to take an expedition to the same location. Four people are assigned to go: Challenger, Summerly, Adventurer Sir John Roxton and Malone as a unbiased reporter.
These four men make for an interesting team, often arguing and occasionally working together for protection and live saving schemes. They retrace Challenger’s earlier trip and then proceed further into ‘the lost world’ to discover the fantastical secrets of a world locked in Jurassic times. There are dangerous encounters with prehistoric creatures and even more startling encounters with prehistoric ape-men and cavemen.
I totally enjoyed the four distinct explorers and the imaginative world they explore. The story wasn’t quite as suspenseful as I expected but it was satisfyingly interesting and creative especially considering it was published in 1912! I was also impressed that it was written by Doyle who is primarily known for the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I did see a hint of the Sherlockian deductive reasoning and the Watson side kick relief in the characters.
This isn’t as thrilling as Jurassic Park but as a classic novel of Jurassic exploration it is quite engaging. The audiobook comes with a pdf download and I was disappointed that there were no images which is what I hoped for. (I found some on the Wikipedia article.) I recommend this to Doyle fans and readers who enjoy classic sci fi. (There are free ebook versions available.)
Audio Notes: Glen McCready does and excellent job with the narration. He matches distinct voices to each of the characters and captures the underlying humor that fits the historic time of the writing. I am very glad I listened to the audio book.
Source: October 2017 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.
