The Past Comes Alive

from guest blogger Colin



Dinosaurs walk among us! With the latest installment in the Jurassic Park cannon, Jurassic World, hitting theatres this summer, viewers will be taken back to the beautiful and deadly island of Ilsa Nublar. However, the excitement doesn’t have to end once the credits start rolling. Here are some prehistoric reads that are sure to please.

In Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel, Jurassic Park, things take a darker turn than in its movie adaptation. On the Carribean island of Ilsa Nublar, a new theme park is being developed, where the attractions truly come to life. Hired by millionaire John Hammond as advisors, paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant and paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler are flown to the dinosaur inhabited island. Things quickly devolve into mayhem, and they soon find out that living in the past can, and will consume you.

Dinosaur Thunder, by James F. David, is another story where past meets the present. When a disruption in space and time occurs, Cretaceous period dinosaurs suddenly start appearing in modern society, bringing their environment with them. Cities are turned into prehistoric forests, and humans must learn to adapt to their new environment and how to face the dangers that come with it.

Robert J. Sawyer’s Far-Seer takes readers to a world where the Quintaglio, a race of intellectually evolved dinosaurs, live. Abducted from Earth by aliens sixty-five million years ago, the dinosaurs were brought to the habitable moon of a gas-giant planet. Follow the journey of Afsan, an astologer’s assistant, as he embarks on a pilgrimage to witness a heavenly body known as the Face of God, only to discover that their world is in grave danger. Will he be able to convince the rest of the Quintaglio of their possible extinction?

Grave Secrets of the Dinosaurs: Soft Tissues and Hard Science by Phillip Lars Manning tells the true story of a high school student, Tyler Lyson, and his fantastic discovery: a mummified dinosaur! Along with Tyler Lyson’s discovery, Manning discusses other significant dinosaur finds spanning the last century, as well as the techniques involved in their unearthing, and the science involved in their analysis.

And for you crafty types out there, Knitted Dinosaurs: 15 Prehistoric Pals to Knit from Scratch by Tina Barrett is the book for you. With its easy to follow instructions, you’ll be knitting dinosaurs in no time!