This.... was disappointing to say the least. Of the four Indy novels I've read (Hollow Earth, Philosopher's Stone, Genesis Deluge, and this), the two by MacGregor haven't really felt like an Indy adventure. I'm still trying to collect and read them all, though, so maybe they'll get better. Looking forward to the other two by Max McCoy
It isn't the best of MacGregor's Indy novels, I liked "Dance of the Giants" better as well as "the Seven Veils" although that one got a little too wacky by the second half of the book.
You are correct though, Max Mccoy was the best Indy author. Some of MacGregor's books were pretty good but on the whole Mccoy's felt the most like the movies, and they were set closer in time period to the movies as well so that helped.
I havent read this book since it first came out, 92maybe? I think I need to dig these books out and give them another read, its been so long that I've forgotten what they were like.
It appears a lot of people here are randomly jumping around from one to another. I definitely recommend that if one's going to read any of these at all, one do so in order, since there are threads of continuity and character progressions and so on that go from one book to the next (even between authors, though mostly within any given author's run). They're more interconnected than the movies.
For those unaware, the order goes like this:
Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants Indiana Jones and the Seven Veils Indiana Jones and the Genesis Deluge Indiana Jones and the Unicorn's Legacy Indiana Jones and the Interior World Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates Indiana Jones and the White Witch Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs Indiana Jones and the Hollow Earth Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx
Is Sky Pirates and White Witch generally considered the two worst? They sound pretty ridiculous. And I have been reading them out of order, but I think they wrote them so they could stand alone and one could still understand what was happening.
Is Sky Pirates and White Witch generally considered the two worst? They sound pretty ridiculous. And I have been reading them out of order, but I think they wrote them so they could stand alone and one could still understand what was happening.
Just wait till you read Caidin's two books, it will make the refridgerator and tarzan scene from KotKS seem less ridiculous.
Yes, I think Sky Pirates and White Witch (the two by Martin Caidin) are widely regarded as the least good of the novels; most Indy fans familiar with the novels in general are probably glad Caidin did only two of them.
I must say, it's been an awfully long time since I read any of the '90s Bantam novels. I should reread them soon...
I would agree with your take on the Indy novels. Seven Veils I would sort of put in the middle. Awsome first half, weak second half. Got way to over the top as well.
See, I always pictured Sean Patrick Flannery in this book, because it takes place in 1922, two years after the YIJ show, so that was easy for me. I can't see this as a show or movie, but it was a good start for him.
I also didn't like how it was switching to different POVs, it should have stayed with Indy. I just go into the Dance of the Giants and it's pretty good so far...
Location: The sun is shining a little stronger. Time to hit the road and drift southbound.
Posts: 3,966
I've recently started reading through the whole 'series'. I'm on Genesis Deluge now.
I enjoyed Peril at Delphi. We see Indy young and naive regarding his own professor. I think the book done a great job showing his inexperience with love and lust.
The adventure itself was okay. I think the book played out more like a sleuth novel instead of an action/adventure one.
You know, I am going to get a lot of slack for this, but I always thought MacGregor's books never lived up to their potential. I always felt they were decent, but just not quite good enough. Then Caiden almost destroyed the series with his two novels. When McCoy took over, I finally felt like someone had captured the feel of Indy and written some pretty good adventures as well. McCoy's weren't perfect, but IMO they were the best of the Indy novels and came pretty close. the only gripe I have about his was a rather forced sequence in Philosopher's Stone where Indy bullwhipped a balloon to catch a ride, and Secret of the Sphinx, which had some major editing problems due to a last minute removal of a time travel plotline. Other than that, Great series. I wish McCoy would return to Indy, but I would be happy with a new MacGregor Indy novel set in the 30s or 40s. I won't even mention the dreck that was Army of the Dead, which I could not even finish.
Location: The sun is shining a little stronger. Time to hit the road and drift southbound.
Posts: 3,966
I have never even read the Max McCoy titles yet. I have read that his books are some of the best, but I can't cast my opinion yet (even though I have had them for a few years). I hope that I am in for some good adventures that span beyond the movies?
I have never even read the Max McCoy titles yet. I have read that his books are some of the best, but I can't cast my opinion yet (even though I have had them for a few years). I hope that I am in for some good adventures that span beyond the movies?
In what way? McCoy's novels can be said to be the ones that lean on the movies' conventions the most, but MacGregor's the guy for Indy's character development.
Lao Che is correct. MacGregor's books did develop the character, sort of in tandem with the Young Indiana Jones series (although I don't recall one ever really borrowing from the other). I was disappointed MacGs were set in the 20s vs 30s like McCoys. I figured Lucasfilm wanted to keep the Indy Expanded Universe grounded in Young Indy era at the time. MacG did a good job of introducing us to some memorable characters, although I felt like the whole Deidre/marriage thing was forced and never really went anywhere.
I figured Lucasfilm wanted to keep the Indy Expanded Universe grounded in Young Indy era at the time.
The adult and Young Indy novels were given the pre-movie era and the comics and German books were given the time after(ish) if I'm remembering interview comments right.
I have never even read the Max McCoy titles yet. I have read that his books are some of the best.....I hope that I am in for some good adventures that span beyond the movies?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lao_Che
In what way? McCoy's novels can be said to be the ones that lean on the movies' conventions the most, but MacGregor's the guy for Indy's character development.
When I first read the novels, I also thought (as seems to be the consensus around here) that the McCoy books best represented Indy as we've always known him.
However, I've been reading them again this year and now find myself enjoying the MacGregor books more. They seem to be more about story & character and less like an Indiana Jones Movie Novelization.
I like both a great deal, but I suppose it's whatever I'm in the mood for. If I want to read an Indiana Jones movie, I'll go for the McCoy books. If I want a more cerebral Indiana Jones story, I'll go for the MacGregor books.
The adult and Young Indy novels were given the pre-movie era and the comics and German books were given the time after(ish) if I'm remembering interview comments right.
I read at one time the German Indy books were never licensed by Lucasfilm. That could be why they treaded in the territory after Temple and Raiders.
