Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
W.H. Freeman & Company (2000), Hardcover, 248 pages
Description
Over 65 million years ago in what is now Cheyenne River Sioux territory in South Dakota, a Tyrannosaurus rex matriarch locked in a ferocious battle fell mortally wounded. In 1990, her skeleton was found, virtually complete, in what many call the most spectacular dinosaur fossil discovery to date. And then another battle began--a free-for-all involving commercial dinosaur hunters, gun-toting law officers, an ambitious federal prosecutor, a Native American tribe, jealous academics, an enterprising auction house, major museums, and corporate giants. At stake: not just Sue's wealth of scientific riches, but her grant-drawing power and vast commercial potential as well. Sue is not just another dinosaur, and this is not just another dinosaur book. It is an introduction to the centuries-old history of commercial fossil hunting, a legal thriller, and a provocative look at academic versus commercial science and the chase for the money that fuels both.--From publisher description.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member imaginontech
This is a great example of the folly principle as explained by Barbara Tuchman, that I have found. Our government proves once again that they can't let go when they taek the wrong tack on something.
LibraryThing member Nodosaurus
The book tells the story of Sue, from unearthing, preparing, and through the legal battle that determined her ownership.
The book got off to a slow start. It felt like a science text with too much information and too little story. Throughout the book, the author told historical stories of famous
About half-way through the book, it improved. This started with the seizure of the fossils. Leading into the court case, the book improved as it detailed the different positions and justifications for actions and ownership, although many seemed only motivated by profit. Even outside of the scope of the court case, many paleontologists, and even the SVP (The Society for Vertebrate Paleontology) voiced in with their opinions.
The government was portrayed mostly in a poor light. They seized Sue, yet never used her in the actual case. One felt they were attacking Larson more to make an example of him than a just pursuit of a criminal. The reader feels his is guilty, but his actions were reasonable and justified. He didn't deserve any prison time.
The book got off to a slow start. It felt like a science text with too much information and too little story. Throughout the book, the author told historical stories of famous
Show More
paleontologists, like Marsh and Andrews. Although the stories are interesting, they are not new to people familiar with the histories, and only lied loosely to the main plot. I felt they were more filler than information. About half-way through the book, it improved. This started with the seizure of the fossils. Leading into the court case, the book improved as it detailed the different positions and justifications for actions and ownership, although many seemed only motivated by profit. Even outside of the scope of the court case, many paleontologists, and even the SVP (The Society for Vertebrate Paleontology) voiced in with their opinions.
The government was portrayed mostly in a poor light. They seized Sue, yet never used her in the actual case. One felt they were attacking Larson more to make an example of him than a just pursuit of a criminal. The reader feels his is guilty, but his actions were reasonable and justified. He didn't deserve any prison time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
An entertaining tale about Sue and her history. This book delves into the paleontology's origins and more distant past as well as the specific struggles regarding Sue. This context was entertaining and enlightening.
Keeping all the players and the timing for this story straight was a bit difficult
Altogether, though, this is an enjoyable book about an interesting subject.
Keeping all the players and the timing for this story straight was a bit difficult
Show More
and I think it could have used a timeline and a "cast of characters" to help keep things straightforward. Another improvement would be to have waited until Sue was actually on display in the Field museum to publish the book - I was shocked to get to the end of the book and realize it was speaking in future tense about Sue's unveiling. Given that it was only supposed to be a few months away, what was the rush? (I imagine the author and/or publisher wanted the book out in time to be bought during the publicity surrounding her unveiling, or perhaps this was even published in conjunction with it, but either way - it felt off to me.)Altogether, though, this is an enjoyable book about an interesting subject.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
What an interesting book!!! Sue is the largest complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Named Sue after the paleontologist who found her in the South Dakota bad lands.
She is quoted as saying that the dinosaur called to her. She walked seven miles and found the bones embedded in the soil.
This is a
A friend and fellow lover of discovery, was jailed for two years because he fought over the right of ownership.
In the end, Sue was placed on auction by Sotheby's in New York City. With the financial support of McDonalds and Disney, when the gavel was finally hit, the total for this incredible discovery was 8.3 million dollars.
Sue is displayed at the Field Museum in Chicago. The journey of 65 million years from when Sue rested in the cretaceous earth, discovered, battled over viciously, she now is housed in a museum where millions can discover her history, this was a fascinating story.
She is quoted as saying that the dinosaur called to her. She walked seven miles and found the bones embedded in the soil.
This is a
Show More
story of not only finding the mega fossil, but the major happenings that occurred as a result of fighting mainly with the federal government over ownership, as well as Native Americans, and a man who owned the land. A friend and fellow lover of discovery, was jailed for two years because he fought over the right of ownership.
In the end, Sue was placed on auction by Sotheby's in New York City. With the financial support of McDonalds and Disney, when the gavel was finally hit, the total for this incredible discovery was 8.3 million dollars.
Sue is displayed at the Field Museum in Chicago. The journey of 65 million years from when Sue rested in the cretaceous earth, discovered, battled over viciously, she now is housed in a museum where millions can discover her history, this was a fascinating story.
Show Less
Subjects
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
248 p.; 9.6 inches
ISBN
0716740176 / 9780716740179
Similar in this library
Dinosaur Hunters: A True Story of Scientific Rivalry and the Discovery of the Prehistoric by Deborah Cadbury
Rex Appeal: The Amazing Story of Sue, the Dinosaur That Changed Science, the Law, and My Life by Peter Larson