The reader knows there are dinosaurs on an island, and the island is called Jurassic Park. It’s the title of the book. The characters don’t know. Crichton builds tension by letting the reader in as the characters miss many potential opportunities to learn about the dinosaurs but they constantly just barely miss a clue.

Best Writing, Quotes:

“They had run toxicity profiles as well, and they had found only one positive match: the blood was mildly reactive to the venom of the Indian king cobra.” – Page 27

Jurassic Park, Page 27

Writing Exercise – Take the quote and make it Active Voice, Present Tense: Toxicity profiles show only one positive match; the blood reacts to the venom of the Indian king cobra. Had anyone else introduced the idea of dinosaurs having poison prior to Crichton?

Page by Page Highlights:

25

“Dr. Richard Stone, head of the Tropical Diseases Laboratory of Columbia University Medical Center, often remarked that the name conjured up a grander place than it actually was.” – Page 25

26

“While you’re waiting for it to thaw, do an X ray and take Polaroids for the record.” – Page 26

27

“They had run toxicity profiles as well, and they had found only one positive match: the blood was mildly reactive to the venom of the Indian king cobra.” – Page 27

Guitierrez reads a fax from Jones as epistle. 

“On the contrary, he felt his original views were correct: that a lizard species had been driven from the coast into a new habitat, and was coming into contact with village people.” – Page 28

He’s right to be suspicious of the new contacts – but he can’t imagine what is really driving the rash of attack, because it is unimaginable. 

28

“But long before she reached the bassinet, she could see what had happened to the infant’s face, and she knew the child must be dead.”