Jump to content

Raptor Red: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
rm redundancies, etc.
Upon to on and some redundancy
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 18: Line 18:
}}
}}


'''''Raptor Red''''' is a 1995 fiction [[novel]] by [[paleontologist]] [[Robert T. Bakker]]. The book is a [[third-person]] account of the world of [[dinosaur]]s during the [[Cretaceous Period]]. ''Raptor Red'' features many of Bakker’s theories regarding dinosaurs' social habits, intelligence, and the world in which they lived.
'''''Raptor Red''''' is a 1995 fiction [[novel]] by [[paleontologist]] [[Robert T. Bakker]]. The book is a [[third-person]] account of [[dinosaur]]s during the [[Cretaceous Period]]. ''Raptor Red'' features many of Bakker’s theories regarding dinosaurs' social habits, intelligence, and the world in which they lived.


The novel is told from the point of view of a female ''[[Utahraptor]]'', a large [[theropod]] dinosaur named "Raptor Red". The book follows a year of Raptor Red's life as she loses her mate, finds her family, and struggles to survive in a hostile environment. Bakker drew inspiration from [[Ernest Thompson Seton]]'s works looking at life through the eyes of predators, and stated that he found it "fun" to put himself in a [[top predator]]'s role in writing.<ref name="usatoday-jones"/> Bakker based his portrayals of dinosaurs and other prehistoric wildlife on fossil evidence, in addition to studies of modern animals.
The novel is told from the point of view of a female ''[[Utahraptor]]''; a large [[theropod]] dinosaur named "Raptor Red". The book follows a year in Raptor Red's life as she loses her mate, finds her family, and struggles to survive in a hostile environment. Bakker drew inspiration from [[Ernest Thompson Seton]]'s works that look at life through the eyes of predators, and said that he found it "fun" to put himself in a [[top predator]]'s role when writing.<ref name="usatoday-jones"/> Bakker based his portrayals of dinosaurs and other prehistoric wildlife on fossil evidence, and studies of modern animals.


Upon release, ''Raptor Red'' was generally praised. Bakker's anthropomorphism was seen as a unique and positive aspect of the book, and publications declared his writing as folksy and heartfelt. General criticism of the novel included a perceived lack of characterization and average writing. Scientists such as [[David B. Norman]] took issue with Bakker's scientific theories portrayed in the novel, fearing that the public would accept these representations as fact; Discovery Channel host [[Jay Ingram]] wrote a editorial defending Bakker's creative decisions.
On its release, ''Raptor Red'' was generally praised. Bakker's anthropomorphism was seen as a unique and positive aspect of the book, and his writing was described as folksy and heartfelt. Criticisms of the novel included a perceived lack of characterization and average writing. Scientists such as [[David B. Norman]] took issue with Bakker's scientific theories portrayed in the novel, fearing that the public would accept them as fact; Discovery Channel host [[Jay Ingram]] wrote a editorial that defended Bakker's creative decisions.


==Background==
==Background==
Paleontologist Robert T. Bakker originally suggested the genus name ''Utahraptor'' for a new dinosaur specimen that had been found by an amateur bone-hunter in Utah. Bakker was at the time consulting with the designers of the ''[[Jurassic Park (movie)|Jurassic Park]]'' film; by a coincidence, the newly found ''Utahraptor'' was the same size as the largest ''[[Velociraptor]]'' in the script, called the "big female".<ref>{{cite book | year=1995| author=Bakker, Robert|authorlink=Robert Bakker| title=Raptor Red | pages=4 | publisher=Bantam Books|isbn=0-553-57561-9}}</ref> Bakker was motivated to write the book by his interest in dinosaur behavior and by his desire to marry science and entertainment, stating "nature is a drama. It is the most ripping yarn ever written. You've got life and death and sex and betrayal and the best way to approach it is through individual animals."<ref name="usatoday-jones"/> According to Bakker, "It was fun to put myself in the mind of a raptor, especially since being a top predator is so challenging... much harder than (being) a herbivore."<ref name="usatoday-jones">{{cite news|author=Jones, Steve|date=1995-08-17|title=Robert Bakker digs the dinosaurs; Scientist has prehistoric tales to tell|work=[[USA Today]]|page=D1}}</ref> He credited the turn-of-the-century naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton's works that looked at life through the eyes of grizzly bears and wolves as the inspiration to write the novel from the dinosaur's point of view.<ref name="usatoday-jones"/>
Paleontologist Robert T. Bakker originally suggested the genus name ''Utahraptor'' for a new dinosaur specimen that had been found by an amateur bone-hunter in Utah. Bakker was at the time consulting with the designers of the ''[[Jurassic Park (movie)|Jurassic Park]]'' film; by a coincidence, the newly found ''Utahraptor'' was the same size as the largest ''[[Velociraptor]]'' in the script, called the "big female".<ref>{{cite book | year=1995| author=Bakker, Robert|authorlink=Robert Bakker| title=Raptor Red | pages=4 | publisher=Bantam Books|isbn=0-553-57561-9}}</ref> Bakker was motivated to write the book by his interest in dinosaur behavior and by his desire to marry science and entertainment, he said "nature is a drama. It is the most ripping yarn ever written. You've got life and death and sex and betrayal and the best way to approach it is through individual animals."<ref name="usatoday-jones"/> According to Bakker, "It was fun to put myself in the mind of a raptor, especially since being a top predator is so challenging... much harder than (being) a herbivore."<ref name="usatoday-jones">{{cite news|author=Jones, Steve|date=1995-08-17|title=Robert Bakker digs the dinosaurs; Scientist has prehistoric tales to tell|work=[[USA Today]]|page=D1}}</ref> He credited the turn-of-the-century naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton's works that looked at life through the eyes of grizzly bears and wolves as the inspiration to write the novel from the dinosaur's point of view.<ref name="usatoday-jones"/>


''Raptor Red'' was an attempt to introduce ''Utahraptor'' to the public and explain some of Bakker's theories regarding dinosaur behavior.<ref>Bakker, 6-8.</ref> Bakker's raptors are shown as monogamous, relatively intelligent and social creatures, an assertion Bakker defends, saying "the life of dinosaurian hunters was hard. Most skeletons we excavate have clear marks of old wounds. To survive and raise their young, the predators needed more than sharp teeth and strong claws. They needed social bonds."<ref name="thetimes-monster">{{cite news|author=Naughton, John|date=1995-09-05|title=At home with a Jurassic monster|work=[[The Times]]}}</ref> Bakker also advances his controversial theory that an asteroid impact did not kill the dinosaurs in the [[Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event]], but rather that disease spread through migration devastated dinosaur populations.<ref name="npr-bakker"/>
''Raptor Red'' was an attempt to introduce ''Utahraptor'' to the public and explain some of Bakker's theories regarding dinosaur behavior.<ref>Bakker, 6-8.</ref> Bakker's raptors are shown as monogamous, relatively intelligent and social creatures, an assertion Bakker defends, by saying "the life of dinosaurian hunters was hard. Most skeletons we excavate have clear marks of old wounds. To survive and raise their young, the predators needed more than sharp teeth and strong claws. They needed social bonds."<ref name="thetimes-monster">{{cite news|author=Naughton, John|date=1995-09-05|title=At home with a Jurassic monster|work=[[The Times]]}}</ref> Bakker also advances his controversial theory that an asteroid impact did not kill the dinosaurs in the [[Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event]], but rather that disease spread through migration devastated dinosaur populations.<ref name="npr-bakker"/>


Other goals of the novel were to dispel the common perception of predators as evil,<ref name="npr-bakker">{{cite news|author=Hansen, Laurie|date=1995-08-20|title=Paleontologist/Author Dr. Bakker on His New Dino Novel|work=[[National Public Radio]]}}</ref> and more as creatures to be admired and empathized with. "Being a top predator is difficult," Bakker stated, noting that fossils of big predators often show multiple broken and healed bones and signs of serious infections, evidence of a harsh lifestyle. "Most predators had some trauma, they had been beaten up—for a simple reason: Dinner fights back."<ref name="globe-alone">{{cite news|author=Chander, David|date=1995-11-13|title=In his field, Robert Bakker walks alone|work=[[Boston Globe]]|page=29}}</ref> The behavior of the raptors and other animals featured in the novel was based on a combination of fossil evidence and observations of modern animals such as [[chimpanzees]] and alligators.<ref name="globe-alone"/>
Other goals of the novel were to dispel the common perception of predators as evil,<ref name="npr-bakker">{{cite news|author=Hansen, Laurie|date=1995-08-20|title=Paleontologist/Author Dr. Bakker on His New Dino Novel|work=[[National Public Radio]]}}</ref> and more as creatures to be admired and empathized with. "Being a top predator is difficult," Bakker said and noted that fossils of big predators often show multiple broken and healed bones and signs of serious infections, evidence of a harsh lifestyle. "Most predators had some trauma, they had been beaten up—for a simple reason: Dinner fights back."<ref name="globe-alone">{{cite news|author=Chander, David|date=1995-11-13|title=In his field, Robert Bakker walks alone|work=[[Boston Globe]]|page=29}}</ref> The behavior of the raptors and other animals featured in the novel was based on a combination of fossil evidence and observations of modern animals such as [[chimpanzees]] and alligators.<ref name="globe-alone"/>


Bakker received a large advance for the novel, rumored to be in the six-figure range.<ref name="globe-alone"/> The book was prominently featured at the [[American Booksellers' Convention]] in Chicago, alongside [[Michael Chrichton]]'s ''[[The Lost World (novel)|The Lost World]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dale, David|date=1995-06-10|title=Inside the trend factory|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|page=13}}</ref> Coverage of the event noted that ''The Lost World'' and ''Raptor Red'' were on the trailing end of the dinosaur fad fueled by ''Jurassic Park'', as the new trend in American books was towards politics and the aftermath of the [[United States Senate elections, 1994|1994 US Senate elections]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Hainer, Cathy|date=1995-06-05|title=Politicos weigh in at book gathering|work=[[USA Today]]|page=D1}}</ref>
Bakker received a large advance for the novel, rumored to be in the six-figure range.<ref name="globe-alone"/> The book was prominently featured at the [[American Booksellers' Convention]] in Chicago, alongside [[Michael Chrichton]]'s ''[[The Lost World (novel)|The Lost World]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dale, David|date=1995-06-10|title=Inside the trend factory|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|page=13}}</ref> Coverage of the event noted that ''The Lost World'' and ''Raptor Red'' were on the trailing end of the dinosaur fad fueled by ''Jurassic Park'', as the new trend in American books was towards politics and the aftermath of the [[United States Senate elections, 1994|1994 US Senate elections]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Hainer, Cathy|date=1995-06-05|title=Politicos weigh in at book gathering|work=[[USA Today]]|page=D1}}</ref>


==Publication history==
==Publication history==
''Raptor Red'' was initially released as a mass-market paperback and hardcover book. The novel was also released as an [[audiobook]] by [[Simon & Schuster]] Audio, and read by Megan Gallagher.<ref name="billboard-audio">{{cite news|author=Staff|date=1995-10-14|title=Reviews; Audio Books|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=}}</ref> Bob Bakker's audiobook royalties—totalling at least $34,000 by November 1995<ref name="globe-alone"/>—were donated to the Tate Museum in [[Casper, Wyoming]],<ref name="billboard-audio"/> where Bakker was curator.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jones, Steve|date=1995-08-20|title=Bob's Rapt in Dinosaurs|work=[[Sunday Mail]]|page=55}}</ref>
''Raptor Red'' was initially released as a mass-market paperback and hardcover book. The novel was also released as an [[audiobook]] by [[Simon & Schuster]] Audio, and read by Megan Gallagher.<ref name="billboard-audio">{{cite news|author=Staff|date=1995-10-14|title=Reviews; Audio Books|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=}}</ref> Bob Bakker's audiobook royalties—at least $34,000 by November 1995<ref name="globe-alone"/>—were donated to the Tate Museum in [[Casper, Wyoming]],<ref name="billboard-audio"/> where Bakker was curator.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jones, Steve|date=1995-08-20|title=Bob's Rapt in Dinosaurs|work=[[Sunday Mail]]|page=55}}</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
===Setting and characters===
===Setting and characters===
''Raptor Red'' takes place approximately 120 million years ago, in the [[Early Cretaceous]] [[period (geology)|period]] of the [[Mesozoic]]. At the time, a land bridge had formed between Asia and the Americas, causing groups of foreign dinosaurs to invade present-day Utah; one of these foreign species is ''[[Utahraptor]]''. Raptor Red's name comes from the symbols the dinosaur learns as a hatchling to self-identify with.<ref>Bakker, 19.</ref> Bakker gives a individual view of each species of dinosaur or ancient creature; these include a baby ''[[Gastonia (dinosaur)|Gastonia]]'' who instinctively whacks what it doesn't understand with its clubbed tail, and a whip-tailed [[brontosaur]] who enjoys beating up predators.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jones, Steven|date=1995-08-27|title=Family Ties and Tensions 120 Million Years Old|work=[[Sunday Mail]]}}</ref> Bakker prominently features the adventures of a "fur-ball" mammal, ''[[Aegialodon]]''; according to the author, the emphasis was added because the ''Aegialodon'' is on the direct ancestral line to humans.<ref name="npr-bakker"/>
''Raptor Red'' takes place approximately 120 million years ago, in the [[Early Cretaceous]] [[period (geology)|period]] of the [[Mesozoic]]. At the time, a land bridge had formed between Asia and the Americas, this allowed groups of foreign dinosaurs to invade present-day Utah; one of these foreign species is ''[[Utahraptor]]''. Raptor Red's name comes from the symbols the dinosaur learns as a hatchling to self-identify with.<ref>Bakker, 19.</ref> Bakker gives a individual view of each species of dinosaur or ancient creature; these include a baby ''[[Gastonia (dinosaur)|Gastonia]]'' who instinctively whacks what it doesn't understand with its clubbed tail, and a whip-tailed [[brontosaur]] who enjoys beating up predators.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jones, Steven|date=1995-08-27|title=Family Ties and Tensions 120 Million Years Old|work=[[Sunday Mail]]}}</ref> Bakker prominently features the adventures of a "fur-ball" mammal, ''[[Aegialodon]]''; according to the author, the emphasis was added because the ''Aegialodon'' is on the direct ancestral line to humans.<ref name="npr-bakker"/>


===Plot===
===Plot===
The book opens with the title character and her mate ambushing a herd of ''[[Astrodon]]'', large herbivorous [[sauropod]]s. The ''Astrodon'' are surprised by the ''Utahraptor'', thinking that that their bulk makes them immune to attack. However, ''Utahraptor'' are much larger than any resident raptor, and proceed to take down an ''Astrodon'' with teamwork. When Raptor Red’s mate climbs onto the dead ''Astrodon'', the corpse rolls in the mud, trapping the male under the bulk of the animal. Despite Raptor Red’s best efforts, her mate [[suffocation|suffocates]]. Despondent, Raptor Red wanders around the [[floodplain]], nearly starving since as a lone ''Utahraptor'' she cannot execute attacks against big game.
The book opens with the title character and her mate ambushing a herd of ''[[Astrodon]]'', large herbivorous [[sauropod]]s. The ''Astrodon'' are surprised by the ''Utahraptor'', thinking that that their bulk makes them immune to attack. However, ''Utahraptor'' are much larger than any resident raptor, and proceed to take down an ''Astrodon'' with teamwork. When Raptor Red’s mate climbs onto the dead ''Astrodon'', the corpse rolls in the mud, trapping the male under the bulk of the animal. Despite Raptor Red’s best efforts, her mate [[suffocation|suffocates]]. Despondent, Raptor Red wanders around the [[floodplain]], nearly starving since as a lone ''Utahraptor'' she cannot execute attacks against big game.


A few weeks later, Raptor Red follows a familiar scent and is reunited with her sister, a single mother with three chicks. The two hunt together, bringing food back to the nest for the young. A white pterosaur, one Raptor Red has seen since she hatched, helps the two by finding carrion and prey in exchange for a helping of meat. On one hunting expedition, when the two adult ''Utahraptor'' are stalking a herd of ''[[Iguanodon]]'', Raptor Red spies a young male ''Utahraptor'' watching their prey. He begins a courtship dance for Raptor Red, but Red’s sister cuts him off, hissing. Her growls agitate the ''Iguanodon'', who [[stampede]]. The male leaves hastily. After climbing into a tree to escape a [[flash flood]], Raptor Red encounters the male raptor again, who performs a courtship dance while hanging onto the tree branches. Raptor Red’s sister begrudgingly allows the male to stay with them, provided he steers clear of her chicks.
A few weeks later, Raptor Red follows a familiar scent and is reunited with her sister, a single mother with three chicks. The two hunt together and bring food back to the nest for the young. A white pterosaur, one Raptor Red has seen since she hatched, helps the two by finding carrion and prey in exchange for a helping of meat. On one hunting expedition, when the two adult ''Utahraptor'' are stalking a herd of ''[[Iguanodon]]'', Raptor Red spies a young male ''Utahraptor'' that is watching their prey. He begins a courtship dance for Raptor Red, but Red’s sister cuts him off, hissing. Her growls agitate the ''Iguanodon'', who [[stampede]]. The male leaves hastily. After climbing into a tree to escape a [[flash flood]], Raptor Red encounters the male raptor again, who performs a courtship dance while hanging onto the tree branches. Raptor Red’s sister begrudgingly allows the male to stay with them, provided he steers clear of her chicks.


For a while, Raptor Red and her pack are happy, feeding off the plentiful [[carrion]] left with receding flood waters, but the bounty is distrupted by an invasion of large ''[[Acrocanthosaurus]]'', huge meat-eating dinosaurs. The added competition for food puts strain on the pack, as does the unexpected death of one of the chicks. When the male raptor and Raptor Red's sister begin fighting, Raptor Red tries to defuse the situation, torn between a prospective mate and her kin. Two ''Acrocanthosaurus'' watch the commotion and see an opportunity to attack the ''Utahraptor'', while a ''[[Kronosaurus]]'' ambushes one of the chicks. Raptor Red, seeing the danger, tricks the female ''Acrocanthosaurus'', luring her into deep water where she is dragged under by the ''Kronosaurus''. Raptor Red saves her family, but at a price—her consort is forced away.
For a while, Raptor Red and her pack are happy, feeding off the plentiful [[carrion]] left by receding flood waters, but the bounty is distrupted by an invasion of large ''[[Acrocanthosaurus]]'', huge meat-eating dinosaurs. The added competition for food puts strain on the pack, as does the unexpected death of one of the chicks. When the male raptor and Raptor Red's sister begin fighting, Raptor Red tries to defuse the situation, torn between a prospective mate and her kin. Two ''Acrocanthosaurus'' watch the commotion and see an opportunity to attack the ''Utahraptor'', while a ''[[Kronosaurus]]'' ambushes one of the chicks. Raptor Red, seeing the danger, tricks the female ''Acrocanthosaurus'', luring her into deep water where she is dragged under by the ''Kronosaurus''. Raptor Red saves her family, but at a price—her consort is forced away.


Facing continual threats from the ''[[Acrocanthosaurus]]'', Raptor Red, her sister and the chicks are forced up into the mountains. They encounter ice and snow for the first time, and kill a [[therizinosaur]] in a cave, turning the den into their nest. The oldest chick now accompanies the two adults on hunting expeditions. One day the raptors encounter a strange creature they have never seen—a whip-tailed [[diplodocid]] who inflicts wounds on both Raptor Red and her sister; the older chick is forced to find the pack's food. This calamity coincides with the arrival of a large pack of smaller raptors known as ''[[Deinonychus]]''. Sensing the weakness of the ''Utahraptor'' pack, they surround the nest.
Facing continual threats from the ''[[Acrocanthosaurus]]'', Raptor Red, her sister and the chicks are forced up into the mountains. They encounter ice and snow for the first time, and kill a [[therizinosaur]] in a cave, turning the den into their nest. The oldest chick now accompanies the two adults on hunting expeditions. One day the raptors encounter a strange creature they have never seen—a whip-tailed [[diplodocid]] who inflicts wounds on Raptor Red and her sister; the older chick is forced to find the pack's food. This calamity coincides with the arrival of a large pack of smaller raptors known as ''[[Deinonychus]]''. Sensing the weakness of the ''Utahraptor'' pack, they surround the nest.


Raptor Red’s sister dies, and Raptor Red is crippled and defenseless against the smaller dinosaurs. They close in, planning on waiting for Raptor Red to die, but are driven back by a sudden attack—Raptor Red’s consort returns, helping the ''Utahraptor'' chick to defend the nest. Some time later, the old white pterosaur circles over Raptor Red’s mountain stronghold, and finds the pack has grown considerably. Both Raptor Red and the older chick have mated and have chicks, who are amusing themselves rolling down a hill. The pterosaur, satisfied, heads off to parts unknown to find a mate of his own.
Raptor Red’s sister dies, and Raptor Red is crippled and defenseless against the smaller dinosaurs. They close in and plan to wait for Raptor Red to die, but are driven back by a sudden attack—Raptor Red’s consort returns, helping the ''Utahraptor'' chick to defend the nest. Some time later, the old white pterosaur circles over Raptor Red’s mountain stronghold, and finds the pack has grown considerably. Both Raptor Red and the older chick have mated and have chicks, who are amusing themselves rolling down a hill. The pterosaur, satisfied, heads off to parts unknown to find a mate of his own.


==Reception==
==Reception==
''Raptor Red'' was favorably received by critics, with the mainstream press responding positively to Bakker's work. Bakker's anthromorphism of the dinosaurs was praised,<ref name="thetimes-monster"/><ref name="globe-alone"/><ref>{{cite journal|author=Johnson, Eric|year=1995|month=September|title=Book Reviews: Fiction|journal=[[Library Journal]]|volume=120|issue=14|Pages=205}}</ref> with a reviewer for the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' stating that "''Raptor Red'' does for dinosaurs what some nature writing does for creatures alive today: it turns data into stories. And stories are what all of us need to make these animals—even dinosaurs—come alive."<ref name="torontostar-pan"/> Mark Nichols of ''[[Maclean's]]'' said that Bakker's success lay in making the reader hope that the dinosaurs were indeed creatures like Bakker portrayed.<ref name="mcleans-nichols">{{cite journal|author=Nichols, Mark|date=1995-10-25|title=Romantic Raptors|journal=[[Maclean's]]|volume=108|issue=40|pages=64}}</ref>
''Raptor Red'' was favorably received by critics, with the mainstream press responding positively to Bakker's work. Bakker's anthromorphism of the dinosaurs was praised,<ref name="thetimes-monster"/><ref name="globe-alone"/><ref>{{cite journal|author=Johnson, Eric|year=1995|month=September|title=Book Reviews: Fiction|journal=[[Library Journal]]|volume=120|issue=14|Pages=205}}</ref> with a reviewer for the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' saying that "''Raptor Red'' does for dinosaurs what some nature writing does for creatures alive today: it turns data into stories. And stories are what all of us need to make these animals—even dinosaurs—come alive."<ref name="torontostar-pan"/> Mark Nichols of ''[[Maclean's]]'' said that Bakker's success lay in making the reader hope that the dinosaurs were indeed creatures like Bakker portrayed.<ref name="mcleans-nichols">{{cite journal|author=Nichols, Mark|date=1995-10-25|title=Romantic Raptors|journal=[[Maclean's]]|volume=108|issue=40|pages=64}}</ref>


In contrast to postive reception of the dinosaurs, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' felt that the anthromorphism of the dinosaurs veered close to "a Disney cartoon".<ref name="ew">{{cite web|author=Staff|date=1996-08-16|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293723,00.html|title=Book Review: 'Raptor Red'|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref> Other criticisms from the press included the perceived lack of character needed for truly engrossing fiction.<ref name="nytimes-leaping">{{cite news|author=Udovitch, Mim|date=1995-10-01|title=Leapin' Lizards!|work=[[New York Times]]|page=9}}</ref> Reviewers described Bakker's work as "thoroughly heartfelt", despite flaws such as inconsistent writing;<ref name="mcleans-nichols"/><ref name=nh-gorman">{{cite journal|author=Gorman, James|year=1995|month=October|title=Crichton's Jurassic replay; Bakker's utahraptor romance|journal=[[Natural History (magazine)|Natural History]]|volume=104|issue=10|pages=22–24}}</ref> Family-values-oriented site [[Men's News Daily]] suggested that Bakker's raptors "possess a quaint, special appeal in today’s social climate."<ref name="mnd-review">{{cite web|author=Noe, Dennis|date=2008-02-06|url=http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/02/06/raptor-red-by-robert-t-bakker-a-novel-through-the-eyes-of-a-dinosaur/|title=Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker: A novel through the eyes of a dinosaur|publisher=[[Men's News Daily]]|accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref> Megan Gallagher's narration of the audiobook, combined with continuous sound effects and dramatic music to create an "aural picture", was also praised.<ref name="billboard-audio"/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave ''Raptor Red'' its "Best of Breed Award" for being a "captivating novel about animal life".<ref name="ew-lyons">{{cite journal|author=Lyons, Gene|year=1996|month=January|title=A Civil Action: 1995 Best and Worst|journal=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|volume=1|issue=307–308|pages=126–130}}</ref>
In contrast to postive reception of the dinosaurs, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' felt that the anthromorphism of the dinosaurs veered close to "a Disney cartoon".<ref name="ew">{{cite web|author=Staff|date=1996-08-16|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293723,00.html|title=Book Review: 'Raptor Red'|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref> Other criticisms from the press included the perceived lack of character needed for truly engrossing fiction.<ref name="nytimes-leaping">{{cite news|author=Udovitch, Mim|date=1995-10-01|title=Leapin' Lizards!|work=[[New York Times]]|page=9}}</ref> Reviewers described Bakker's work as "thoroughly heartfelt", despite flaws such as inconsistent writing;<ref name="mcleans-nichols"/><ref name=nh-gorman">{{cite journal|author=Gorman, James|year=1995|month=October|title=Crichton's Jurassic replay; Bakker's utahraptor romance|journal=[[Natural History (magazine)|Natural History]]|volume=104|issue=10|pages=22–24}}</ref> Family-values-oriented site [[Men's News Daily]] suggested that Bakker's raptors "possess a quaint, special appeal in today’s social climate."<ref name="mnd-review">{{cite web|author=Noe, Dennis|date=2008-02-06|url=http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/02/06/raptor-red-by-robert-t-bakker-a-novel-through-the-eyes-of-a-dinosaur/|title=Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker: A novel through the eyes of a dinosaur|publisher=[[Men's News Daily]]|accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref> Megan Gallagher's narration of the audiobook, combined with continuous sound effects and dramatic music to create an "aural picture", was also praised.<ref name="billboard-audio"/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave ''Raptor Red'' its "Best of Breed Award" for a "captivating novel about animal life".<ref name="ew-lyons">{{cite journal|author=Lyons, Gene|year=1996|month=January|title=A Civil Action: 1995 Best and Worst|journal=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|volume=1|issue=307–308|pages=126–130}}</ref>


Many critical reviews of the work came from scientists who objected to Bakker's looseness with scientific fact.<ref name="earth-kanipe">{{cite journal|author=Kanipe, Jeff|year=1996|month=February|title=Dino Redux|journal=Earth|volume=5|issue=1|pages=66–68}}</ref> Paleontologist Thomas Holtz, for example, noted that Bakker combined [[fauna]] in ways not directly supported by the [[fossil record]]; for example, some dinosaur species in the book may or may not have died out before the arrival of ''Utahraptor''.<ref>{{cite newsgroup | title = Raptor Red: a review (long) | author = Holtz, Thomas R. | date = 1995-09-12 | newsgroup = lepomis.psych.upenn.edu | id = 00258| url = http://dml.cmnh.org/1995Sep/msg00258.html | accessdate = 2008-08-31}}</ref> Michael Taylor, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the National Museums of Scotland, panned the book, saying that "''Raptor Red'' is an accurate portrayal only within the context of uncertainties over the reconstruction of fossil animals as living forms... Bakker's postscript never really admits these uncertainties."<ref name="torontostar-pan">{{cite news|author=Ingram, Jay|date=1995-10-15|title=Paleocrats pan heretic's vivid fiction|work=[[Toronto Star]]|page=F8}}</ref> [[David B. Norman]] criticized the book as "no more than a children's adventure story—and a rather poorly written one at that", and stated that "The merging of science and fantasy is at its worst in books like Raptor Red because none but the experts can disentangle fact from fiction; this type of nonsense turns an uninformed reader into a misinformed one."<ref name="sa-norman">{{cite journal|author=Norman, David|authorlink=David B. Norman|year=1996|month=April|title=Nature read in tooth and claw|journal=[[Scientific American]]|volume=274|issue=4|pages=108–110}}</ref> [[Discovery Channel]] host [[Jay Ingram]] published a rebuttal to these concerns, stating that "The most important point is that Bakker's portrayal of the dinosaurs in ''Raptor Red'' is vivid—vivid in a way few museum displays or factual accounts can be. And if it turns out in the long run that some of the speculation is unwarranted, who cares? Bob Bakker has given us a unique window onto the era of dinosaurs."<ref name="torontostar-pan"/> According to Bakker, the novel's success led to interest in a movie deal from Hollywood,<ref name="globe-alone"/> although no agreement was ever signed.
Many critical reviews of the work came from scientists who objected to Bakker's looseness with scientific fact.<ref name="earth-kanipe">{{cite journal|author=Kanipe, Jeff|year=1996|month=February|title=Dino Redux|journal=Earth|volume=5|issue=1|pages=66–68}}</ref> Paleontologist Thomas Holtz, for example, noted that Bakker combined [[fauna]] in ways not directly supported by the [[fossil record]]; for example, some dinosaur species in the book may or may not have died out before the arrival of ''Utahraptor''.<ref>{{cite newsgroup | title = Raptor Red: a review (long) | author = Holtz, Thomas R. | date = 1995-09-12 | newsgroup = lepomis.psych.upenn.edu | id = 00258| url = http://dml.cmnh.org/1995Sep/msg00258.html | accessdate = 2008-08-31}}</ref> Michael Taylor, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the National Museums of Scotland, panned the book, saying that "''Raptor Red'' is an accurate portrayal only within the context of uncertainties over the reconstruction of fossil animals as living forms... Bakker's postscript never really admits these uncertainties."<ref name="torontostar-pan">{{cite news|author=Ingram, Jay|date=1995-10-15|title=Paleocrats pan heretic's vivid fiction|work=[[Toronto Star]]|page=F8}}</ref> [[David B. Norman]] criticized the book as "no more than a children's adventure story—and a rather poorly written one at that", and stated that "The merging of science and fantasy is at its worst in books like Raptor Red because none but the experts can disentangle fact from fiction; this type of nonsense turns an uninformed reader into a misinformed one."<ref name="sa-norman">{{cite journal|author=Norman, David|authorlink=David B. Norman|year=1996|month=April|title=Nature read in tooth and claw|journal=[[Scientific American]]|volume=274|issue=4|pages=108–110}}</ref> [[Discovery Channel]] host [[Jay Ingram]] published a rebuttal to these concerns, and said that "The most important point is that Bakker's portrayal of the dinosaurs in ''Raptor Red'' is vivid—vivid in a way few museum displays or factual accounts can be. And if it turns out in the long run that some of the speculation is unwarranted, who cares? Bob Bakker has given us a unique window onto the era of dinosaurs."<ref name="torontostar-pan"/> According to Bakker, the novel's success led to interest in a movie deal from Hollywood,<ref name="globe-alone"/> although no agreement was ever signed.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 21:41, 18 September 2008

Raptor Red
Cover of Raptor Red.
AuthorRobert T. Bakker
GenreNovel
PublisherBantam Books
Publication date
1995
Publication placeUnited States
Media typeHardcover
Paperback
Audiobook
ISBNISBN 0-553-57561-9 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character

Raptor Red is a 1995 fiction novel by paleontologist Robert T. Bakker. The book is a third-person account of dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period. Raptor Red features many of Bakker’s theories regarding dinosaurs' social habits, intelligence, and the world in which they lived.

The novel is told from the point of view of a female Utahraptor; a large theropod dinosaur named "Raptor Red". The book follows a year in Raptor Red's life as she loses her mate, finds her family, and struggles to survive in a hostile environment. Bakker drew inspiration from Ernest Thompson Seton's works that look at life through the eyes of predators, and said that he found it "fun" to put himself in a top predator's role when writing.[1] Bakker based his portrayals of dinosaurs and other prehistoric wildlife on fossil evidence, and studies of modern animals.

On its release, Raptor Red was generally praised. Bakker's anthropomorphism was seen as a unique and positive aspect of the book, and his writing was described as folksy and heartfelt. Criticisms of the novel included a perceived lack of characterization and average writing. Scientists such as David B. Norman took issue with Bakker's scientific theories portrayed in the novel, fearing that the public would accept them as fact; Discovery Channel host Jay Ingram wrote a editorial that defended Bakker's creative decisions.

Background

Paleontologist Robert T. Bakker originally suggested the genus name Utahraptor for a new dinosaur specimen that had been found by an amateur bone-hunter in Utah. Bakker was at the time consulting with the designers of the Jurassic Park film; by a coincidence, the newly found Utahraptor was the same size as the largest Velociraptor in the script, called the "big female".[2] Bakker was motivated to write the book by his interest in dinosaur behavior and by his desire to marry science and entertainment, he said "nature is a drama. It is the most ripping yarn ever written. You've got life and death and sex and betrayal and the best way to approach it is through individual animals."[1] According to Bakker, "It was fun to put myself in the mind of a raptor, especially since being a top predator is so challenging... much harder than (being) a herbivore."[1] He credited the turn-of-the-century naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton's works that looked at life through the eyes of grizzly bears and wolves as the inspiration to write the novel from the dinosaur's point of view.[1]

Raptor Red was an attempt to introduce Utahraptor to the public and explain some of Bakker's theories regarding dinosaur behavior.[3] Bakker's raptors are shown as monogamous, relatively intelligent and social creatures, an assertion Bakker defends, by saying "the life of dinosaurian hunters was hard. Most skeletons we excavate have clear marks of old wounds. To survive and raise their young, the predators needed more than sharp teeth and strong claws. They needed social bonds."[4] Bakker also advances his controversial theory that an asteroid impact did not kill the dinosaurs in the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, but rather that disease spread through migration devastated dinosaur populations.[5]

Other goals of the novel were to dispel the common perception of predators as evil,[5] and more as creatures to be admired and empathized with. "Being a top predator is difficult," Bakker said and noted that fossils of big predators often show multiple broken and healed bones and signs of serious infections, evidence of a harsh lifestyle. "Most predators had some trauma, they had been beaten up—for a simple reason: Dinner fights back."[6] The behavior of the raptors and other animals featured in the novel was based on a combination of fossil evidence and observations of modern animals such as chimpanzees and alligators.[6]

Bakker received a large advance for the novel, rumored to be in the six-figure range.[6] The book was prominently featured at the American Booksellers' Convention in Chicago, alongside Michael Chrichton's The Lost World.[7] Coverage of the event noted that The Lost World and Raptor Red were on the trailing end of the dinosaur fad fueled by Jurassic Park, as the new trend in American books was towards politics and the aftermath of the 1994 US Senate elections.[8]

Publication history

Raptor Red was initially released as a mass-market paperback and hardcover book. The novel was also released as an audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio, and read by Megan Gallagher.[9] Bob Bakker's audiobook royalties—at least $34,000 by November 1995[6]—were donated to the Tate Museum in Casper, Wyoming,[9] where Bakker was curator.[10]

Synopsis

Setting and characters

Raptor Red takes place approximately 120 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic. At the time, a land bridge had formed between Asia and the Americas, this allowed groups of foreign dinosaurs to invade present-day Utah; one of these foreign species is Utahraptor. Raptor Red's name comes from the symbols the dinosaur learns as a hatchling to self-identify with.[11] Bakker gives a individual view of each species of dinosaur or ancient creature; these include a baby Gastonia who instinctively whacks what it doesn't understand with its clubbed tail, and a whip-tailed brontosaur who enjoys beating up predators.[12] Bakker prominently features the adventures of a "fur-ball" mammal, Aegialodon; according to the author, the emphasis was added because the Aegialodon is on the direct ancestral line to humans.[5]

Plot

The book opens with the title character and her mate ambushing a herd of Astrodon, large herbivorous sauropods. The Astrodon are surprised by the Utahraptor, thinking that that their bulk makes them immune to attack. However, Utahraptor are much larger than any resident raptor, and proceed to take down an Astrodon with teamwork. When Raptor Red’s mate climbs onto the dead Astrodon, the corpse rolls in the mud, trapping the male under the bulk of the animal. Despite Raptor Red’s best efforts, her mate suffocates. Despondent, Raptor Red wanders around the floodplain, nearly starving since as a lone Utahraptor she cannot execute attacks against big game.

A few weeks later, Raptor Red follows a familiar scent and is reunited with her sister, a single mother with three chicks. The two hunt together and bring food back to the nest for the young. A white pterosaur, one Raptor Red has seen since she hatched, helps the two by finding carrion and prey in exchange for a helping of meat. On one hunting expedition, when the two adult Utahraptor are stalking a herd of Iguanodon, Raptor Red spies a young male Utahraptor that is watching their prey. He begins a courtship dance for Raptor Red, but Red’s sister cuts him off, hissing. Her growls agitate the Iguanodon, who stampede. The male leaves hastily. After climbing into a tree to escape a flash flood, Raptor Red encounters the male raptor again, who performs a courtship dance while hanging onto the tree branches. Raptor Red’s sister begrudgingly allows the male to stay with them, provided he steers clear of her chicks.

For a while, Raptor Red and her pack are happy, feeding off the plentiful carrion left by receding flood waters, but the bounty is distrupted by an invasion of large Acrocanthosaurus, huge meat-eating dinosaurs. The added competition for food puts strain on the pack, as does the unexpected death of one of the chicks. When the male raptor and Raptor Red's sister begin fighting, Raptor Red tries to defuse the situation, torn between a prospective mate and her kin. Two Acrocanthosaurus watch the commotion and see an opportunity to attack the Utahraptor, while a Kronosaurus ambushes one of the chicks. Raptor Red, seeing the danger, tricks the female Acrocanthosaurus, luring her into deep water where she is dragged under by the Kronosaurus. Raptor Red saves her family, but at a price—her consort is forced away.

Facing continual threats from the Acrocanthosaurus, Raptor Red, her sister and the chicks are forced up into the mountains. They encounter ice and snow for the first time, and kill a therizinosaur in a cave, turning the den into their nest. The oldest chick now accompanies the two adults on hunting expeditions. One day the raptors encounter a strange creature they have never seen—a whip-tailed diplodocid who inflicts wounds on Raptor Red and her sister; the older chick is forced to find the pack's food. This calamity coincides with the arrival of a large pack of smaller raptors known as Deinonychus. Sensing the weakness of the Utahraptor pack, they surround the nest.

Raptor Red’s sister dies, and Raptor Red is crippled and defenseless against the smaller dinosaurs. They close in and plan to wait for Raptor Red to die, but are driven back by a sudden attack—Raptor Red’s consort returns, helping the Utahraptor chick to defend the nest. Some time later, the old white pterosaur circles over Raptor Red’s mountain stronghold, and finds the pack has grown considerably. Both Raptor Red and the older chick have mated and have chicks, who are amusing themselves rolling down a hill. The pterosaur, satisfied, heads off to parts unknown to find a mate of his own.

Reception

Raptor Red was favorably received by critics, with the mainstream press responding positively to Bakker's work. Bakker's anthromorphism of the dinosaurs was praised,[4][6][13] with a reviewer for the Toronto Star saying that "Raptor Red does for dinosaurs what some nature writing does for creatures alive today: it turns data into stories. And stories are what all of us need to make these animals—even dinosaurs—come alive."[14] Mark Nichols of Maclean's said that Bakker's success lay in making the reader hope that the dinosaurs were indeed creatures like Bakker portrayed.[15]

In contrast to postive reception of the dinosaurs, Entertainment Weekly felt that the anthromorphism of the dinosaurs veered close to "a Disney cartoon".[16] Other criticisms from the press included the perceived lack of character needed for truly engrossing fiction.[17] Reviewers described Bakker's work as "thoroughly heartfelt", despite flaws such as inconsistent writing;[15][18] Family-values-oriented site Men's News Daily suggested that Bakker's raptors "possess a quaint, special appeal in today’s social climate."[19] Megan Gallagher's narration of the audiobook, combined with continuous sound effects and dramatic music to create an "aural picture", was also praised.[9] Entertainment Weekly gave Raptor Red its "Best of Breed Award" for a "captivating novel about animal life".[20]

Many critical reviews of the work came from scientists who objected to Bakker's looseness with scientific fact.[21] Paleontologist Thomas Holtz, for example, noted that Bakker combined fauna in ways not directly supported by the fossil record; for example, some dinosaur species in the book may or may not have died out before the arrival of Utahraptor.[22] Michael Taylor, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the National Museums of Scotland, panned the book, saying that "Raptor Red is an accurate portrayal only within the context of uncertainties over the reconstruction of fossil animals as living forms... Bakker's postscript never really admits these uncertainties."[14] David B. Norman criticized the book as "no more than a children's adventure story—and a rather poorly written one at that", and stated that "The merging of science and fantasy is at its worst in books like Raptor Red because none but the experts can disentangle fact from fiction; this type of nonsense turns an uninformed reader into a misinformed one."[23] Discovery Channel host Jay Ingram published a rebuttal to these concerns, and said that "The most important point is that Bakker's portrayal of the dinosaurs in Raptor Red is vivid—vivid in a way few museum displays or factual accounts can be. And if it turns out in the long run that some of the speculation is unwarranted, who cares? Bob Bakker has given us a unique window onto the era of dinosaurs."[14] According to Bakker, the novel's success led to interest in a movie deal from Hollywood,[6] although no agreement was ever signed.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jones, Steve (1995-08-17). "Robert Bakker digs the dinosaurs; Scientist has prehistoric tales to tell". USA Today. p. D1.
  2. ^ Bakker, Robert (1995). Raptor Red. Bantam Books. p. 4. ISBN 0-553-57561-9.
  3. ^ Bakker, 6-8.
  4. ^ a b Naughton, John (1995-09-05). "At home with a Jurassic monster". The Times.
  5. ^ a b c Hansen, Laurie (1995-08-20). "Paleontologist/Author Dr. Bakker on His New Dino Novel". National Public Radio.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Chander, David (1995-11-13). "In his field, Robert Bakker walks alone". Boston Globe. p. 29.
  7. ^ Dale, David (1995-06-10). "Inside the trend factory". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 13.
  8. ^ Hainer, Cathy (1995-06-05). "Politicos weigh in at book gathering". USA Today. p. D1.
  9. ^ a b c Staff (1995-10-14). "Reviews; Audio Books". Billboard.
  10. ^ Jones, Steve (1995-08-20). "Bob's Rapt in Dinosaurs". Sunday Mail. p. 55.
  11. ^ Bakker, 19.
  12. ^ Jones, Steven (1995-08-27). "Family Ties and Tensions 120 Million Years Old". Sunday Mail.
  13. ^ Johnson, Eric (1995). "Book Reviews: Fiction". Library Journal. 120 (14). {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |Pages= ignored (|pages= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c Ingram, Jay (1995-10-15). "Paleocrats pan heretic's vivid fiction". Toronto Star. p. F8.
  15. ^ a b Nichols, Mark (1995-10-25). "Romantic Raptors". Maclean's. 108 (40): 64.
  16. ^ Staff (1996-08-16). "Book Review: 'Raptor Red'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  17. ^ Udovitch, Mim (1995-10-01). "Leapin' Lizards!". New York Times. p. 9.
  18. ^ Gorman, James (1995). "Crichton's Jurassic replay; Bakker's utahraptor romance". Natural History. 104 (10): 22–24. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  19. ^ Noe, Dennis (2008-02-06). "Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker: A novel through the eyes of a dinosaur". Men's News Daily. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  20. ^ Lyons, Gene (1996). "A Civil Action: 1995 Best and Worst". Entertainment Weekly. 1 (307–308): 126–130. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  21. ^ Kanipe, Jeff (1996). "Dino Redux". Earth. 5 (1): 66–68. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ Holtz, Thomas R. (1995-09-12). "Raptor Red: a review (long)". Newsgroup: lepomis.psych.upenn.edu. 00258. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  23. ^ Norman, David (1996). "Nature read in tooth and claw". Scientific American. 274 (4): 108–110. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raptor_Red&oldid=239383984"