Predator: Concrete Jungle [Paperback]

Nathan Archer (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: PB-21 Bantam Science fiction 1989 very good (1989)
• ASIN: B000LEJ21S
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better then the Comic Book, July 28, 2002

By 

Inspector Gadget "Go Go Gadget Reviews" (On the trail of Doctor Claw) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concrete Jungle (Predator) (Mass Market Paperback)

Obviously the book goes into way more detail and description than the graphic novel. Nathan Archer even goes as far as adding some scenes that give Schaefer's partner Rasche a bit more character and few more things to do.

The plot is what Predator 2 was originally supposed to be. Arnie's character was supposed to be helping the NYPD with a drugs war in an unbelievably hot summer. But when Arnie couldn't schedual in between Total Recall and Terminator 2 the role was re-written for Danny Glover. So the story here is pretty much as much a decent continuation of the first movie as the film sequel is. But with one big difference...

The role of Dutch Schaefer is changed to Detective Schaefer, Dutch's brother. He's just as big, bad and burly. And guess what...he goes by his own rules. If there was ever a REAL inspiration for 'McBain' from The Simpsons...it's probably Detective Schaefer. While reading the book I couldn't help but think of a Rainer Wolfcastle-type hero.

I've never read many action-based novels and I never knew how they'd work. But Predator: Concrete Jungle does manage to be exciting and is a real page turner. It's a pretty thick book but I managed to finish it in about 3 days. I know this isn't particulary fast but I'm not the kind of guy who can spend all day reading.

Not unless what I am reading is interesting or has a reason keep me reading to the end. And this book is definitely all that. The follow-up, Predator-Cold War, is even better. But I do recommend that if you like the Predator movies and comic books that you check out the novels. There are quite few of them and they are well worth it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An action-packed story that true Pred fans will love!, May 31, 2001

By 

Michael Pappalardo (Ronkonkoma, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Concrete Jungle (Predator) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is a novelazation of the original Dark Horse comic. It is far more descriptive and offers more background. Can be considered the prequel to Predator 2. It stars Detective Schaefer, Dutch's brother, a New York city homicide detective, who suddenly finds himself clashing head to head with a vicious alien hunter. He recalls a story that his brother told him of a failed rescue mission in Central America where he lost his entire team. He described a heavily armed creature that he battled, which the government covered up. Could this be that same one? There are many, many questions that are raised in this book, primarily the whereabouts of Detective Schaefer's brother Dutch, who disappeared shortly after battling the first Predator(see the first movie). The story offers insight as to the habits of the Predators and possible solutions as to why they come here to Earth.

There are a few gripes with the book. There is fairly poor grammar usage throughout and there are far too many questions asked, which detract from the story and will sidetrack the reader. Detective Schaefer is also never named. He is referred to throughout the entire book as 'Schaef' or 'Schaefer'. Not a very big deal, but may annoy some readers. It is also difficult to picture a blonde haired, blue-eyed Dutch(Arnold Schwarenegger)!!! Other than that, there is not much else to say anything bad about that book. The habits and behavior of the Predator are illustrated perfectly. PRedator fans WILL enjoy this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Predator: Concrete Jungle - A great read!, October 20, 2005

By 

Camren (Kennewick, WA, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Concrete Jungle (Predator) (Mass Market Paperback)

Well, I just finished this book, and man was it a page turner! From the beginning to the end, it was action, with Detective Schaefer and Detective Raesche going up against the deadly hunters, and managing to take out more than Arnold did in the first movie. From what I understand, this story was originally set to be the sequel to the first Predator movie, but was rewritten into the Predator 2 that we all know, due to Schwarznegger's scheduling conflicts. Too bad, because it would've made a great movie. Nevertheless, with the character of Schaefer rewritten into Schwarznegger's brother, it becomes a personal quest for the protagonist to teach the Predators a lesson as a large safari group of them hunt through the streets of New York City.

Yes, I did notice the similarities between the book and the movie Predator 2, but so what? I enjoyed both and so should you. Besides, the timeline makes both the book and movie feasible. The book takes place 8 years after the original "Predator", while "Predator 2" takes place 10 years later.

Enjoy the book, I did!