Customer Reviews

Tyrannosaurus Sue: The Extraordinary Saga of the Largest, Most Fought Over T-Rex Ever Found

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4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book told the dramatic events leading up to and including the purchase of Sue, the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil found in South Dakota in 1990. The book details how the fossil was found, excavated, then confiscated by the government in the years preceding its auction. The drama unfolds as the auction proceeds in the book, and the glimpses into the lives of persons and groups who hunt and buy fossils is fascinating. Intrigue, suspense, and courtroom drama--it has it all. I hope they make a movie out of this book.

A fairly short (288 pages) narrative that almost reads like a spy novel.

A quick summary: Peter Larson, a dinosaur hunter in charge of the Black Hills Institute has a paleontological study in South Dakota. It is near Cheyenne River Sioux territory. Sue Hendrickson, a field paleontologist, finds bones sticking out of a wall (cliff). She and Peter recognize them as T-Rex bones, from some 65,000,000 years ago. They contact the Native Indian who supposedly owns the land and "buy" the skeleton for $5000.

This skeleton turns out to be almost 95% full (unheard of) as well as the largest T-Rex to date. Within a very short time Sue (named after the field paleontologist) was claimed by Black Hills Institute, Maurice Williams (the Native American), Sioux tribe, as well as the U.S. Government who had the FBI raid Black Hills Institute to take the skeleton.

There are claims, counterclaims, criminal claims, prosecutions and prison terms. it all leads to an auction at Sotheby's for an unheard of $8,360,000.

The bulk of the book is told from Peter Larson's point of view and is definitely more sympathetic towards him than any of the other claimants.

If you have even the slightest interest in dinosaurs, conspiracy books, or legal thrillers, this should be added to your bedside table.

In the summer of 1990, a team of fossil hunters representing the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, led by Peter Larson, unearthed the nearly complete skeleton of a mighty darn large Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur buried on South Dakota land owned by one Maurice Williams. Larson paid Williams $5,000 for the skeleton, named it "Sue", and then moved it to the Institute's facility at Hill City for preservation and restoration. In May 1992, the Bandini hit the fan with an FBI raid and confiscation, and TYRANNOSAURUS SUE is the story of the 7-year legal mess that resulted. A mess that could only happen in America, the Land of the Free and the Home of Eternal Litigation.

Steve Fiffer, a Windy City journalist, has ably reconstructed Sue's saga, from the time her bones were spotted by Sue Hendrickson in a sandstone cliff, to their auction years later to an unlikely consortium comprised of the Field Museum of Natural History, Disney Corporation, and McDonald's. Most of the narrative details the protracted and acerbic civil and criminal litigation that surrounded custody of the fragmented skeleton, the chief contestants being Larson, Williams, the Cheyenne River Sioux, and the U.S. Justice Department. If the reader is a paleontologist, or just otherwise fascinated by big, toothy lizards, then this book is a must read. However, my interest was only mildly inquisitive, so I found parts of it dry going. First of all, there are no photos - not a single one. I find this hard to fathom, since Sue's excavation site was extensively photographed, the various court sessions heavily (if only locally) covered, and the reconstructed skeleton was put on permanent display before the book was published. I mean, c'mon Steve! Secondly, that part of the account describing historical aspects of dinosaur hunting in the U.S. was pretty much irrelevant to the central story, and Chapter 10, which contained too much of the criminal trial's verbatim testimony, was cause for Droopy Eyelids Syndrome. Lastly, I couldn't muster much sympathy for any one or more of the principal courtroom adversaries. Peter Larson, indicted with others from the Institute by the Feds for illegally removing artifacts from government land, was, at best, a naïve fossil-hunting nerd, or, at worst, a cunning and disingenuous outlaw. The government's chief prosecutor, Kevin Schieffer, came across as unreasonable and intransigent. Maurice Williams, who denied he was selling Sue when given that $5K, was the quintessence of greed. And how about those the Cheyenne River Sioux? A bunch of opportunists! Patrick Duffy, Larson's lawyer, conducted himself like a certifiable idiot. The only likable person in the entire tale seemed to be Sue Hendrickson, but, with no picture, it's hard to say for sure.

The value of TYRANNOSAURUS SUE was, to me, learning something about the world around me that I didn't know before. For the average reader, it's a fine exposé of what happens when a government prosecutor has way too much time on his hands.

This true story plays out as if John Grisham wrote a documentary. It has all of the elements of a good legal drama: The big bad antagonist, the picked on little guys trying to prove their innocence, the unnecessarily harsh judge, the sympathetic jury, and of course the shear stupidity of people in power. The only difference is that this book is not a work of fiction, which just goes to reinforce the old adage "Fact is stranger than fiction". I was appalled at how the government handled the case and shocked that things like this can happen in our society. The story was written from a sympathetic perspective of the Larson brothers and the Black Hills Institute, but it still presented the facts in a fairly unbiased way. I appreciate how in-depth the story was, although it seemed to drag on at times. It kind of had the same feel as Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story, in that it was a true court case that unfolded like a murder mystery or a spy novel.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. I'm a Dinosaur nut and this book is about my favorite Dino the T-Rex so it was an obvious attraction to me to read. What I read only proved to me that our Government is pathetic to say the least. To do what they did to Peter Larson was a crime. Not only do they steal the find of the century but they lay bogus charges on him that ultimatly sent him to jail and nearly ruined his life! How can the US Government do what they did? They have been doing it to people for years and Mr Larson was only one more person who has suffered at the hands of our government. It's terrible when Dinosaur hunters cant even dig up bones for fear that they might be prosecuted for stealing so called Government property. When I first read this book I was thinking I was going to be reading about the find of the century but what I found out was that the US Government is nothing but a bunch of theif's who took the low road to try and ruin a good man who was doing his job. The story of Sue and the events that surrounded her is very very good and a must read for Dino lovers of all ages and it will show just how ruthless our Government can be.

A great book that not only helps you understand paleontology and the fossil money game, but also the twists and turns of legal prosecution. The story unfolds like a novel, a tragic tale of greed whose only flaw may be that it is too sympathetic toward the fossil hunters, who, it seems to me tried to pay way too little for Sue.

Steve Fiffer does a spendid job detailing the sad state of affairs that exists in the world of paleontology. Until recently, paleontology had been a science that depended upon (and valued) the participation of amateurs and even the "profiteers". To this day, the vast majority of important fossil discoveries have been unearthed by non-academics and subsequently donated or (heaven forbid) sold to scientific institutions. The halls of natural history museums were once filled with cases of fossil trilobites, crinoids and paleozoic fishes for all to see. Sadly, nearly all of them have been packed away to make room for more flashy, interactive displays that pull in large crowds and generate the higher returns on investment which curators seek. Huge storerooms filled with significant fossils remain hidden, gathering dust, while research collections are off-limits to all but a handful of academics.
Tyrannosaurus "Sue" was one fossil everyone wanted, since any huge dinosaur is certain to become a popular attraction and this giant, meat-eating fossil was a "star" attraction - one capable of packing 'em in at any institution and predestined for mass mechandising at the gift shop. Steve Fiffer gives readers a disturbing picture of the greed, political and legal nonsense behind the ownership battles that followed the discovery of "Sue". Someone once described most legislation as "the influence of public policy for private gain" - the case of Tyrannosaurus Sue provides able evidence. Careers are made, money and property changes hands, justice is hardly served, powerful institutions and large corporations triumph and the taxpayer foots the bill.
Which brings us to the present state of affairs, and the ongoing battles over Paleontological Resource Preservation - legislation that starts with the false premise that "all vertebrate fossils are rare" and that private ownership of fossils deprives the public access to their "national treasures".
As detailed in the book, government, if given a chance, will waste millions of tax dollars in an attempt to protect our "vital fossil heritage" from ourselves. Some members of academia, like certain leaders in the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, are eager to encourage government restrictions in the misguided belief that fossils locked away in their institutions somehow serves "public knowledge" Most do not have the time, interest or resources to maintain these collections for the benefit of the public. There are classes to teach and personal research projects to persue. I believe that overly restrictive collecting regulations will be a Pyrrhic victory for the paleontology community in that public knowledge will not be served. Interest in the subject will gradually diminish and, ultimately, funding will be reduced. All the while, fantastic fossils continue to weather into dust and orphaned collections are boxed up, tucked away and forgotten. I encourage anyone interested in "fossil collecting" or "rock hounding" to read this saga. Finally, go out and find your own "legal" fossil while you still can.

When one envisions fossil hunting, especially of dinosaurs, it is often seen as a simple search, proceeded by a discovery, and finally a claim to fame for unearthing a valuable piece of our world's history. One would usually not even consider the conflicts and political questions raised in the discovery of new fossils. However, Steve Fiffer's Tyrannosaurus Sue: The Extraordinary Saga of the Largest, Most Fought over T. Rex Ever Found exposes the modern day reality of the trials and tribulations facing those looking to excavate fossils. The book centers on the story of Peter Larson and his merry band of paleontologists as they take on the evil forces of the U.S. government and a greedy landowner in a dispute over the ownership of the theropod fossil Tyrannosaurus sue. The account of the battle for Sue, from the initial and improbable discovery of the fossil to the final outcome, shows the common reader there is more to the collecting and studying of fossils than meets the eye. With the different aspects involved, from science to politics to even conspiracy, Fiffer's book is a must read for everyone from professionals in the scientific field to those interested in politics or to just an inquiring mind in search of a wild and amazing story. Fiffer is successful in portraying the opinions of all involved. The testimony and insight of the various players in this legal tug-of-war provide the reader a complete picture of what is going on. The point of view seems to favor Peter Larson, but all are given a chance to voice their view and Fiffer avoids portraying any of the parties involved as the "villain". This style allows the reader to form his own opinion regarding the matter being fought over. He also raises many questions regarding modern day fossil collection and study. The fate of Sue shows that a new era has arrived in paleontology, one that is based on money and politics rather than science. Some of the questions he raises include the rights given to commercial fossil collectors vs. academic paleontologists, the effects on scientist of the selling fossils for profit, and the clarity of federal law regarding and regulating the collection of fossils. These issues are ones that, for the sake of future scientific advancement, need solutions. This novel is able to capture the reader's mind from the outset. Fiffer's clear style of writing allows the reader to understand exactly what is occurring. While closely following the events that ensue from Sue's discovery to her arrival at her final home at the Field Museum of Natural History, the reader is also educated in some of the basics of paleontology, from the stories of great scientists of the past to the most elementary of the work involved in studying fossils, the reader is able to witness a great drama unfold while simultaneously being educated in the realm of science. The story of Sue is both thought provoking and entertaining.

I have been wanting to read this book since it was published. I finally saw Sue at the Chicago Field Museum and decided it was time to read it. I am very diappointed in this work. The author is not an impartial journalist at all. He may have interviewed several people involved, but he didn't consider the other viewpoints. I expected an unbiased look at the fossil of Sue and the court drama that followed. Instead, I read a book that stars Peter Larson as the hero against the system. Very poor writing.

Discovered by Sue Hendrickson and Peter Larson (president of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research) in the wastelands of South Dakota, the largest T-Rex had survived millions of years, Sue's last meal was some kind of platypus. She was also the subject of multiple lawsuits and a Sotherby's auction. (She sold for millions and Larson could only participate from his house where he was under house arrest.) Larson wound up in prison, Sioux Indians claimed ownership, the government claimed ownership. Larson had paid the land owner on which Sue was found about $5,000. It was a mess.

Henrickson is a field paleontologist (she's also the world's leading procurer of amber) who was searching near Faith, South Dakota. She's somewhat of an Indianette Jones and has a real knack for finding things. Of the six butterflies in amber in the world, she found 3 of them.

Larson's problems began soon after the world learned of the discovery and monetary valuations were proposed, many ranging as high as $1 million. The Sioux claimed the skeleton had been stolen from their land, Williams, the land owner, insisted the $5,000 was only for the right to dig, not for anything found, Hill City, South Dakota was building its hopes for economic revival on the presence of a museum in their little town, famous mostly for a large drug store. Because the owner, Maurice Williams, had put his land into a federal trust, the feds got involved. Soon after Williams claimed ownership, the FBI showed up with a warrant to seize all the bones. (I can just imagine the care with which a couple of black shirts treated the bones.) That really pissed off Hill City, an area in which most of the federal government is treated with more than a little suspicion.

Soon there was a battle royale among the academicians, the feds, and commercial fossil hunters. The academics argued that the commercial hunters were interested only in money, not science, should never be allowed on federal land, and didn't know what they were doing. The commercial types pointed out that most of the great finds were found by those wanting to profit from their finds and that if it were left to the professoriate, most of the great finds of the past two hundred years would never have been retrieved. Not to mention that many well-known paleontologists lauded the fossil hunters for the care and expertise they showed in handling rare fossils. Cynics took the position that each side just wanted to retain all the rights for themselves. Throw in a D.A. who was thinking of running for office and needed the publicity and you have all the ingredients for a nasty fight.

Larson was eventually convicted of custom's violations (on the intake form the charge is formally listed as -- "failing to fill out forms" -- and served two years in federal prison in what has to be one of the great travesties and wastage of money. The trial itself was the longest in South Dakota history. Williams was awarded ownership (screwing the Indians again) and he sold Sue to the Field Museum in Chicago for $8.5 million. One interesting, if perhaps depressing element, of the trial was that according to a Supreme Court decision, judges could use evidence presented at trial in sentencing even if the defendant had been acquitted on charges related to that evidence That's spooky. So Larson was convicted only on failing to report travelers' checks in excess of $10,000 when he returned from Peru into the United States, a misdemeanor. But because the judge was able to use all the evidence presented, he decided that Larson was part of a largely criminal conspiracy to steal fossils and therefore could be subject to much harsher sentencing. **

Feiffer relates a substantial number of stories and events related to the history of palaeontology. Including some famous hoaxes. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Cardiff Giant. Feiffer identifies the culprit as an agnostic farmer (the Wikipaedia says it was George Hull, a NY atheist tobacconist) who was infuriated by local Methodist revivals claiming giants once walked the earth as noted in Genesis. He build a giant man, let it age for a year, then had it buried on his cousin's farm and later arranged to have it "discovered" while digging a well. He set up an exhibit and started charging admission. Christian preachers declared its validity and a validation of the Bible. Most scholars declared it a fake but that did not detract from its curiosity and Hull sold his interest in the statue for $23,000. P.T. Barnum wanted in on it and offered the new owners $50,000, a huge sum at the time. They turned him down so he created a replica and declared it the "real" Cardiff Giant. Soon Barnum and the Cardiff syndicate accused each other of having fakes. Hull revealed his hoax and a judge ruled that each could not be sued for calling a fake a fake. The two fakes are now in small town museums, each accusing the other of having the wrong (fake?) fake. Priceless.

**I believe the case referred to but not cited is United States v Watts: "the Court held that a jury's verdict of acquittal does not prevent a sentencing court from considering a defendant's conduct underlying the acquitted charge, so long as that conduct has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence. Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen G. Breyer concurred. Dissenting, Justice John Paul Stevens argued that the additional offense should have been required to have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt for sentencing purposes, where a defendant's sentence was lengthened. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, also dissenting, expressed the view that the cases should have been set for full briefing and consideration." (see [....])

This, of course, gives a great deal of power to the judge, but I suspect we wold all have applauded such power if used to reverse jury acquittal verdicts in lynching cases decades ago.

Some reviewers thought the legal details to be boring. I thought the book was a nice mixture of science, law and mystery.