Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (TM) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: colonel doctor, jungle cutter, crystal skull, Jones Junior, General Ross, Irina Spalko (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Everyone’s favorite globe-trotting, wisecracking archaeologist is hurtling headfirst into high adventure and relying on his wits, his fists, and his trusty bullwhip to get him out of deep trouble.

It’s 1957, and the Cold War is heating up. A ruthless squad of Russian soldiers crashes Indiana Jones’s latest expedition and forces the unwilling Indy along as they brazenly invade American soil, massacre U.S. soldiers, and plunder a top-secret government warehouse. Commanded by a sword-wielding colonel who’s as sinister as she is stunning, the menacing Reds have one objective: a relic even more precious–and powerful–than the mythic Ark of the Covenant, capable of unlocking secrets beyond human comprehension.

Quick thinking and some high-speed maneuvers help Indy narrowly escape certain death. But the Russians are unrelenting, and their next move leads Indy into the depths of the Amazon on a desperate rescue mission. With a hotheaded teenage biker as his unlikely wing man and his vengeful new Russian nemesis waiting for a rematch, Indy’s back in the game–playing for a prize all the wonders of the world could never rival.

About the Author

James Rollins is the bestselling author of nine previous novels: Subterranean, Excavation, Deep Fathom, Amazonia, Ice Hunt, Sandstorm, Map of Bones, Black Order and The Judas Strain. He has a doctorate in veterinary medicine and his own practice in Sacramento, California. An amateur spelunker and a certified scuba enthusiast, he can often be found either underground or underwater.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; Reprint edition (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345502884
• ISBN-13: 978-0345502889
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,305 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!, May 25, 2008

By	ellen "ellen in atlanta" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (TM) (Hardcover)

Indiana Jones has become a larger than life hero in terms of American films. He's been missed for a long time. I know they were waiting for just the right version of the script, and then when announcements were made about the film, most of us couldn't wait -
When I saw that the novelization of the movie was being co-launched at the time of movie opening, I did a WOW - when I saw it was James Rollins, I knew it was going to be great, and in my opinion, this book delivers everything an Indy fan could ask for.
I am going to see the movie tomorrow, but the book was written in such detail it was like a movie in your mind. James Rollins, whose Sigma Force is a wonderful book series, knows how to make magic and adventure. George Lucas selected well by Rollins.
The reunion between Indiana and Marian from the 1st and the best of the series was great and believeably handled...as far as a situation dealing with Indiana Jones is concerned. Mutt, a young man, Marian's son, soon proves himself to be quite the adventurer.
They deal with Communists who are trying to control ancient crystal skulls, and the plot deals with the conflict and mistrust of persons in the 1950's where Communists were being looked for all over - even in the entertainment industry, and all walks of life.
I found this novelization to be a wonderful addition to the Indiana Jones legend. I look forward to the next Sigma Force book, as one of my favorite character's life is up in the air -
There are some folks who are not into Indiana Jones, and don't like that he has aged - but the fact that a lot of us care for the character and will have a lot of fun with this installment.
Well written and I put the cart before the horse and read the book before seeing the movie, but feel it will be a great accompanyment to the experience.
James Rollins did a great job. Think you will enjoy the book too.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well..., May 25, 2008

By	B. Kerven (Fort Meade, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (TM) (Hardcover)

I guess I can say that I'm glad this book was able to explain for me some of the finer details in the overly-obtuse plot that plagued the movie. I recommend seeing the movie first, and then reading this book. I went into the movie with low expectations and was still slightly disappointed, but I suspect that if the movie had played out exactly as this book is written, it would have been a lost less painful to watch.

All said, I'm more satisfied with the book than the movie.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT adaptation of the film, June 26, 2008

By	Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (TM) (Hardcover)

I was unbelievably excited when I heard that the 4th Indy movie was going to happen--this time for sure...but like many, I was a bit worried due to what the Star Wars prequels turned out to be like, that somehow, someway George Lucas would manage to screw this one up, too. I am happy to say that Crystal Skull is in every way a fantastic yarn every bit in the vein of the original trilogy.

I was equally excited when I found out (from James Rollins himself) that he had been tapped to novelize the screenplay. James is if nothing else an accomplished author who you can tell simply LOVES adventure tales and Indiana Jones in particular--reading any number of his books will tell you that. He even has a VERY Indiana Jones-like character in 'Sandstorm' named Omaha Dunn, which sounds a bit like Indy, don't ya think? Call it James' way of a tribute to one of the big screen's greatest action heroes. I seriously doubt when James wrote 'Sandstorm' that this opportunity to write an Indiana Jones novel would EVER come to pass, and yet it did and we are all fortunate as a result.

There are roughly 4-5 additional scenes in the novel that were not in the movie, and a couple major scenes are in the opening chapters of the book. James gives us the background for HOW Indy and his partner end up in the hands of Soviet agents at Area 51. I like the entire tie-in with Area 51 to be honest...it seems to fit in perfectly with the whole Indiana Jones history quite well, and of course Rollin's rides this wave as far as it'll take him and us, and lucky for us we go FAR.

While I missed Henry Jones Senior, Marcus Brody and of course his intrepid sidekick from Raiders and Crusade, Sallah played by John Rhys-Davies, I DID like the addition of Mutt, the character played by Shia LeBeouf, and I won't spoil anything by telling you who he is--read or see the movie to find out for yourself. The action, whether it be outlandish or believable, in the hands of Rollins' capable hands, always played out a little easier to swallow than on the big screen, and I don't know exactly why...but it WORKED.

With that said, I MUST admit that while 98% of the book and movie were absolutely WONDERFUL, the last part--and for those who have read the book and seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about--well it was a bit OUT there, even for me...and to give you an idea, I am quite a sci-fi fan. I felt that ultimately the whole idea of aliens would have been better served if the story had seen less of that rather than more. Keep the mystery going--but I certainly don't fault James Rollins for how Lucas wrote the story and how he HAD to write the novel in concert with the movie. On the contrary, I feel that given what he had to work with, I really enjoyed how it was written.

In a nutshell the best word to describe how I felt about reading this book and seeing the movie was this: FUN. And isn't that all we really want out of an action/adventure tale in the first place? Kudo's to James for yet another great example of his talented ability to write.