Tyrannosaurus Sue: The Extraordinary Saga of the Largest, Most Fought Over T-Rex Ever Found

by Steve Fiffer

Book Overview

Over 65 million years ago in what is now South Dakota, a battle-scarred Tyrannosaurus rex matriarch--perhaps mortally wounded in a ferocious fight--fell into the riverbed and died. In 1990 her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0716740176
• ISBN13: 9780716740179
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: W.H. Freeman & Company
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

This Book Tell's You How Pathetic Our Government Really Is

I have really enjoyed reading this book. I'm a Dinosaur nut and this book is about my favorite Dino the T-Rex so it was an obvious attraction to me to read. What I read only proved to me that our Government is pathetic to say the least. To do what they did to Peter Larson was a crime. Not only do they steal the find of the century but they lay bogus charges on him that ultimatly sent him to jail and nearly ruined his life! How can the US Government do what they did? They have been doing it to people for years and Mr Larson was only one more person who has suffered at the hands of our government. It's terrible when Dinosaur hunters cant even dig up bones for fear that they might be prosecuted for stealing so called Government property. When I first read this book I was thinking I was going to be reading about the find of the century but what I found out was that the US Government is nothing but a bunch of theif's who took the low road to try and ruin a good man who was doing his job. The story of Sue and the events that surrounded her is very very good and a must read for Dino lovers of all ages and it will show just how ruthless our Government can be.

Perfect Balance between Science and Law

A great book that not only helps you understand paleontology and the fossil money game, but also the twists and turns of legal prosecution. The story unfolds like a novel, a tragic tale of greed whose only flaw may be that it is too sympathetic toward the fossil hunters, who, it seems to me tried to pay way too little for Sue.

A thought provoking chonicle of government excess.

Steve Fiffer does a spendid job detailing the sad state of affairs that exists in the world of paleontology. Until recently, paleontology had been a science that depended upon (and valued) the participation of amateurs and even the "profiteers". To this day, the vast majority of important fossil discoveries have been unearthed by non-academics and subsequently donated or (heaven forbid) sold to scientific institutions. The halls of natural history museums were once filled with cases of fossil trilobites, crinoids and paleozoic fishes for all to see. Sadly, nearly all of them have been packed away to make room for more flashy, interactive displays that pull in large crowds and generate the higher returns on investment which curators seek. Huge storerooms filled with significant fossils remain hidden, gathering dust, while research collections are off-limits to all but a handful of academics. Tyrannosaurus "Sue" was one fossil everyone wanted, since any huge dinosaur is certain to become a popular attraction and this giant, meat-eating fossil was a "star" attraction - one capable of packing 'em in at any institution and predestined for mass mechandising at the gift shop. Steve Fiffer gives readers a disturbing picture of the greed, political and legal nonsense behind the ownership battles that followed the discovery of "Sue". Someone once described most legislation as "the influence of public policy for private gain" - the case of Tyrannosaurus Sue provides able evidence. Careers are made, money and property changes hands, justice is hardly served, powerful institutions and large corporations triumph and the taxpayer foots the bill. Which brings us to the present state of affairs, and the ongoing battles over Paleontological Resource Preservation - legislation that starts with the false premise that "all vertebrate fossils are rare" and that private ownership of fossils deprives the public access to their "national treasures". As detailed in the book, government, if given a chance, will waste millions of tax dollars in an attempt to protect our "vital fossil heritage" from ourselves. Some members of academia, like certain leaders in the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, are eager to encourage government restrictions in the misguided belief that fossils locked away in their institutions somehow serves "public knowledge" Most do not have the time, interest or resources to maintain these collections for the benefit of the public. There are classes to teach and personal research projects to persue. I believe that overly restrictive collecting regulations will be a Pyrrhic victory for the paleontology community in that public knowledge will not be served. Interest in the subject will gradually diminish and, ultimately, funding will be reduced. All the while, fantastic fossils continue to weather into dust and orphaned collections are boxed up, tucked away and forgotten. I encourage anyone interested in "fossil collecting" or "rock hounding" to

Paleontology vs. Politics

When one envisions fossil hunting, especially of dinosaurs, it is often seen as a simple search, proceeded by a discovery, and finally a claim to fame for unearthing a valuable piece of our world's history. One would usually not even consider the conflicts and political questions raised in the discovery of new fossils. However, Steve Fiffer's Tyrannosaurus Sue: The Extraordinary Saga of the Largest, Most Fought over T. Rex Ever Found exposes the modern day reality of the trials and tribulations facing those looking to excavate fossils. The book centers on the story of Peter Larson and his merry band of paleontologists as they take on the evil forces of the U.S. government and a greedy landowner in a dispute over the ownership of the theropod fossil Tyrannosaurus sue. The account of the battle for Sue, from the initial and improbable discovery of the fossil to the final outcome, shows the common reader there is more to the collecting and studying of fossils than meets the eye. With the different aspects involved, from science to politics to even conspiracy, Fiffer's book is a must read for everyone from professionals in the scientific field to those interested in politics or to just an inquiring mind in search of a wild and amazing story. Fiffer is successful in portraying the opinions of all involved. The testimony and insight of the various players in this legal tug-of-war provide the reader a complete picture of what is going on. The point of view seems to favor Peter Larson, but all are given a chance to voice their view and Fiffer avoids portraying any of the parties involved as the "villain". This style allows the reader to form his own opinion regarding the matter being fought over. He also raises many questions regarding modern day fossil collection and study. The fate of Sue shows that a new era has arrived in paleontology, one that is based on money and politics rather than science. Some of the questions he raises include the rights given to commercial fossil collectors vs. academic paleontologists, the effects on scientist of the selling fossils for profit, and the clarity of federal law regarding and regulating the collection of fossils. These issues are ones that, for the sake of future scientific advancement, need solutions. This novel is able to capture the reader's mind from the outset. Fiffer's clear style of writing allows the reader to understand exactly what is occurring. While closely following the events that ensue from Sue's discovery to her arrival at her final home at the Field Museum of Natural History, the reader is also educated in some of the basics of paleontology, from the stories of great scientists of the past to the most elementary of the work involved in studying fossils, the reader is able to witness a great drama unfold while simultaneously being educated in the realm of science. The story of Sue is both thought provoking and entertaining.

The Real Story of T-Rex Sue.

This book told the dramatic events leading up to and including the purchase of Sue, the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil found in South Dakota in 1990. The book details how the fossil was found, excavated, then confiscated by the government in the years preceding its auction. The drama unfolds as the auction proceeds in the book, and the glimpses into the lives of persons and groups who hunt and buy fossils is fascinating. Intrigue, suspense, and courtroom drama--it has it all. I hope they make a movie out of this book.