In the same way Crichton creates tension by layering tension on top of tension – he creates his origin in Jurassic Park by layering origin on origin on origin. The dinosaurs are born from novel eggs, found from DNA in amber. The characters are assembled. And then we follow them to a ‘magic island‘ – Isla Nublar, which is now as popular a fantasy setting as Brigadoon and Narnia.

Best Writing, Quotes

“Isla Nublar, Hammond explained, was not a true island.”

Page 88 – Crichton introduces his ‘real’ island by immediately stating that it isn’t real

The whole chapter sets the scene – beginning with a foggy entrance by helicopter and closing with our protagonists seeing the long neck of a sauropod emerge from a forest of palm trees. Isla Nublar is a magical place where humanity can invent dinosaurs. Crichton throws his best descriptions at the island as it makes the entire book possible.

The setting accomplishes many things:

• Closest enough to the US to be a tourist destination.
• Large natural mountains to serve as a ‘zoo’ and keep the animals in.
• Close enough to have world class technology, but far enough to be done in total secret.

Page by Page Highlights, Quotes

“With a whine, the rotors began to swing in circles overhead casting shadows on the runway of San Jose airport.” – Page 87

“Isla Nublar, Hammond explained, was not a true island.” Page 88

“Eight miles long and three miles wide at the wides point, in total some twenty-two square miles. Making it the largest private animal preserve in North America.” Page 89

“To the south, rising above the palm trees, Grant saw a single trunk with no leaves at all, just a big curving stump.” Page 90 – Crichton introduces the paleontologist to the dinosaurs with a different ‘reveal’ than what Spielberg did in the movie.

Isla Nublar emerges from the clouds, accessible only by helicopter.