Eccentric mathematician Ian Malcolm, who survived the events of the
first novel, and material engineer Jack 'Doc' Thorne get a satellite
call for help from another paleontologist, Richard Levine, saying he is
trapped on an island called Site B. They organize a rescue operation
with help from mechanic Eddie Carr and head to Isla Sorna after determining the location of Site B. The island is the now bankrupt InGen's
secret, where they kept dinosaurs before transferring them to Jurassic
Park. Also stowed away with them are R.B. "Arby" Benton, an
eleven-year-old boy genius who can operate a computer better than the
adults, and Kelly Curtis, Arby's thirteen-year-old friend .
At the same time, Lewis Dodgson, geneticist at Biosyn - InGen's
archrival -, and two colleagues head to Isla Sorna with the intention
to steal dinosaur eggs. Sarah Harding, a wildlife observer, also takes
a ride to the island with them and meets up with the rescue team. The
operation turns into a disaster when his associates are killed and
Dodgson is left stranded on the island.
Later, Eddie brings an injured
tyrannosaur infant back to the trailers, where Malcolm and Harding work on fixing its broken leg. Late at night, the two adult
tyrannosaurs attack the trailer, once again injuring Malcolm and destroying one of the two trailers. Later, a pack of
velociraptors ambushes them, trapping them in an abandoned store for the remainder of the night.
As with the first book, the characters have to fend off attacks from
T. rexes and
Velociraptors, as well as
carnotaurs, which are described as having chameleon-like abilities. Throughout the novel, Malcolm and Levine talk about various evolutionary and extinction
theories, as well as the nature of modern science and the homogenizing
and destructive nature of humanity. The book also discusses the role of
prions in brain diseases, which has been at the root of concerns over Mad Cow Disease.
