Neanderthal by John Darton

Summary:

Not since Jurassic Park has a novel so enthralled readers everywhere. Now, enter the world of Neanderthal...
The expedition of the century...uncovers the find of the millennium...Neanderthal.
In the remote mountains of central Asia, an eminent Harvard archeologist discovers something extraordinary. He sends a cryptic message to two colleagues. But then, he disappears.
Matt Mattison and Susan Arnot-- once lovers, now academic rivals-- are going where few humans have ever walked, looking for a relic band of creatures that have existed for over 40,000 years, that possess powers man can only imagine, and that are about to change the face of civilization forever.

Summary taken from GoodReads.com

Length: 368 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: June 30th 1998

Many of you know that I am an avid history buff with an affinity for the prehistoric so when I accidentally stumbled upon a link to this book I was so excited to read it I put it on hold at the library right away.

I thought the story was unique and pretty damn near perfect. It's about Matt, Susan and their mentor Kellicut who discover two lost tribes of neanderthals living in a remote part of Asia.

What I really liked about the book was all the adventure that was packed into the 368 pages. While I was reading other peoples reviews about the book on Goodreads one of the things I noticed was that people were saying it was far fetched. IT'S FICTION PEOPLE. If people can right books where there are bat like alien species and not get told that it's unrealistic how can you judge this piece of FICTION and say it is unrealistic? Is it because it upsets your delicate sensibilities? Should the fictional writing of a lost prehistoric tribe really incite such anger and disbelief when people unquestioningly read books where vampires, werewolves and a whole other assortment of creatures run rampant? I believe that that's something worth mulling over. I for one LOVED that this book was published because I have a genuine interest in the prehistoric era.

I thought the writing in this was pretty good. Yes there were a few places where it seemed to jump around sporadically but that is not uncommon in a book. It happens whether we like it or hate it it will happen. There were also some places where I found the author repeating phrases a little too much but that too is nothing to fret over. However, I do wish that there was a wee bit more to the back stories of Matt and Susan and their relationship but I get the fact that it is not a romance novel but the romantic in me still wishes there was still something more.

I found the whole premise to be intriguing. I mean telepathic neanderthals living in a remote part of Asia...what more could I ask for?! This book mixed history and science fiction together in such a way that it left me wishing that this were a true story. I can't tell you how many times I've dreamt of making such a discovery. Silly I know but sometimes the dreams we had as children are still the best dreams of all. This book let one of my dreams come to life and let me feel like I was in the story with Matt and Susan fighting to survive and rescue each other when captured by the opposing tribe of neanderthals who just happen to like to eat the brains of their enemies. Yum!

All in all it was in my opinion a near perfect book for me and I recommend it to everyone!

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2