LOST ON VENUS -- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Ace Books -- pb
New York -- ©1933, 1935 -- 224pp
0-441-49506-4

Second in the Venus series. Carson Napier begins this episode in the Room of the Seven Doors. He can leave any time he wants, but six of the seven doors lead to hideous deaths; only one is the door of life.

After navigating his way out of this logic puzzle, Carson continues his quest to rescue the planet's fairest princess. He pursues this with singlemindedness, even though more terrible dangers lie ahead; even though the princess wishes neither his help or his affection; even though her people will execute him if he enters their country! Such is the honor of an Earthman's pledge. [from Goodread.com]

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While I'm familiar with Burroughs' Tarzan and 'Mars' series', I'd never read any of the Carson/Venus books.

Perhaps this wasn't the right one to begin with as it starts right in the middle of some other action (and I see now that this is book #2 in the series), but it doesn't take much to pick up on the plot and the back story.

What surprised me was how easy it was to read. For whatever reason, I was expecting more flowery prose and plodding story-telling. This was fast action scene after fast action scene.

I did think the 'zombies' where a bit over the top, but the Nazi-like country was frighteningly prophetic.

This makes me want to go back and read the Mars book.

DINOVERSE -- Scott Ciencin

Random House -- hc
New York -- ©1999 -- 282pp
ISBN: 0-679-88842-X

Four junior high students get transported to the Cretaceous Period and inside the bodies of dinosaurs. They have to work together and with the instincts of their hosts' bodies if they are going to have a chance to return to their own time!

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It's sad that there aren't more reviews for this book, because this is really a great book!

I will admit that this has been on my bookshelf for the last decade, and I was never really looking forward to it -- something about the title, and the cover, and the description seemed just a bit less that exciting. But once you crack it open and read a chapter or two, it's totally enthralling.

This book is geared toward the middle school reader. It's four main characters are junior high students [two boys, two girls:] who are transported back in time through a miraculous accident by a machine made by the brainy student of the bunch -- but there's a twist to this time-travel tale ... the students are in the bodies of dinosaurs!

Being written for the student, there are some lessons to be learned, but Ciencin does a fantastic job of weaving the lessons nicely into the plot.

Ciencin is a wonderful writer for youth. I bought this book based on how much I enjoyed his books in the "Dinotopia" series.

When I finished the book, I handed it to my 12 year old son who might be labeled a 'reluctant reader.' He read it through and absolutely loved it. He said that it was "Fantastic!" and that he learned a lot, too! He said, the only bad thing is..."He didn't write a sequel! How can anybody who writes this good NOT write a sequel to it!" He's so upset about there not being a sequel that he's decided to read it again.