Easy Go: A Novel

ScienceThrillers review: Easy Go is a new ebook release of a thriller written in 1968 by the late great Michael Crichton under the pseudonym John Lange. Easy Go is part of a series of ten ebook releases billed as "the Med School Years" written by Crichton under the Lange name as well as the names Jeffrey Hudson and Michael Douglas.

People often speak of an author's "first book." Usually they mean the first book written by the author that became well-known, more appropriately called the author's breakout novel. For Crichton, that book was The Andromeda Strain, published in 1969. But it was by no means his first book. Skilled novelists aren't made in a day, nor with rare exceptions do they reach high levels of skill on their first attempt. The true "first book" is a slippery concept: the first book for which the author writes through to an ending; the first full revision of a book; the first book she thinks is good enough to publish. Unless the author later reaches the heights of fame that Michael Crichton did, those early efforts are (deservedly) left in obscurity.

But we're talking about Michael Crichton here; everything he touched turns to gold, even his last novel Micro, written after he died by Richard Preston using notes Crichton left behind. Micro, an inferior work on many levels, was a bestseller. Thus it was inevitable that someone would bring out any other Crichton material in ebook form.

Easy Go is one of these books and it is surprisingly not bad. Crichton's gift for plotting is evident, as well as his remarkable ability to tell stories that do not feel dated even decades later. I could easily see Easy Go adapted into a movie screenplay. It has a classic heist story format, beginning with an idea for an audacious theft of Egyptian antiquities from an unopened tomb. A team of smart, colorful opportunists is assembled to pull it off. The stakes are high: life in an Egyptian prison, or even execution if they are caught. The settings are global and exotic.

But Easy Go is like a pencil sketch study of an oil painter's masterpiece. All the elements are there, but it feels rough. This novel reads like a decent/average indie/self-published thriller: nothing wrong with it but not a model of the genre, either. "John Lange" fails to establish the protagonist as soon and as soundly as he should. He is not entirely in control of point of view. In Crichton style he stuffs the book with fascinating information (primarily about Egypt and Egyptology) but it sometimes feels like showing off, or reading a travelogue. The book is more sexist than Michael Crichton's work. In a way that is impossible for me to pin down, Easy Go simply doesn't grab the reader the way Andromeda Strain, Sphere, Terminal Man, Jurassic Park do.

Like other heist stories (Ocean's Eleven, The Sting), Easy Go sets up a twist at the end. John Lange, plot master, delivers. Readers could do a lot worse than spend an afternoon reading this high-concept thriller by the young Michael Crichton.

I was terribly disappointed in this short novel by Michael Crichton, whose books have always been well written. Most surprising was the blatant misogyny. Female characters only existed as props to the male character's actions and personality, either as sex toys or madonnas. Crichton can do better than that.

Perhaps, this was acceptable when the novel was written, but today it gives the impression that the author was "going (very) easy" on himself, not bothering with the style, content, story line etc. Hard to believe it is Crichton.

Michael Crichton, who is now well-known for such work as the Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park, wrote ten earlier novels under pen names, eight of them were written as John Lange, one as Jeff Hudson, and one as Michael Douglas (combining his own name with that of his brother Doug). Easy Go was Crichton's third or fourth published novel and was published in 1968 as John Lange. Andromeda Strain released the previous year was published under his real name.

Crichton wrote Easy Go while enrolled at Harvard Medical School.

Easy Go is an adventure novel about a small band of conspirators who find information about the hiding place of the last tomb of the Pharos, secretly excavate the tomb, and make plans to abscond with the treasure from Egypt.

The book is clearly among Crichton's earlier works and suffers from a number of flaws both in terms of character development and in terms of the plot. The book is not a masterpiece and can sometimes seem flat but, once you get past the introductory parts, it is a worthwhile read.

Once the excavation got under way, the story flowed quite well and the discovery of the tombs is quite compelling.

Well I suppose all popular writers have to start somewhere.
This is one of Michael Crichton's earlier works written under the pseudonym of John Lange. His works are being re-released in ebook format.
It lacks the sophistication of his later work, some of which had a tendency to be drawn out. This is more like a dime novel.
Just quick easy reading without any complexity or real depth of character or plot.
Most readers will know what heights Crichton was elevated to in a literary sense but for me that does not detract from the fact that this book is amateurish, flighty and lacking Crichton's later finesse.
Thankfully the author went to on to fine-tune his craft as a scribe and create bestsellers.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.

John Lange is a pseudonym for Michael Crichton and was used by him for several books written during his tenure at Harvard Medical School. They are in the process of being reissued in order to help fans of the late Dr Crichton enjoy more of the full range of his talent. Many of the earmarks of later books are present in this early effort, such as an exotic setting, a well researched presentation of the details of the time and place of the action, and writing that keeps the reader engrossed in the goings on and problems presented.
Harold Barnaby, an active Egyptologist manages to translate a particularly difficult set of hieroglyphics which point to the tomb of an ancient pharaoh as yet undiscovered. The writings point to the existence of riches buried with the mummy beyond anything yet unearthed. He convinces three other men, one of whom has the financial ability to back the expedition to join him in looking for the tomb. Like other Crichton books, the descriptions of the areas where pyramids and pharaohs' tombs are located are as they probably appear are based on research, and the difficulties and finding of the tomb and it's subsequent unearthing bring the reader into the locale and difficulties involved. There is even a romance, neatly done, between the secretary of the financial backer and one of the men working to find the tomb.
I am looking forward to the reissue of the other books written by Crichton during this period and brought out for fans of his writings. Based on "Easy Go" these will provide all fans of Michael Crichton added pleasure in the additions to his repertoire.

Originally published in 1972 under the pseudonym John Lange, Easy Go is one of the late Michael Crichton's earliest novels. Easy Go is reminiscent of the Andromeda Strain in the sense that it's a straight forward novel that is not meandering in the least bit. Short, simple, and to the point, Easy Go includes a jack of all trades group who's interest in finding a long lost treasure. Cairo is the setting and robbing a Pharoahs tomb is the plan. Let the good times begin.

Easy Go opens with Harold Barnaby, an Egyptologist examining scrolls that he's convinced leads to a treasure that if found, will lead to millions of dollars. He pursues a familiar drunk in a hotel lobby named Robert Pierce. Pierce is a freelance writer who knows every type of person. He quickly takes on the role as the leader of this mission. Pierce then baits an eccentric millionaire, a noted smuggler, and a thief not unfamiliar with the art of murder. Together Pierce, Barnaby, Nikos Karagannis, Alan Conway, and Lord Grover plan an intelligent cover up dig in order to keep the Egyptian government from suspecting there is much more happening.

Although the characters are a little hokey and it seems like it was a little too convenient, Easy Go is still a good solid read. I imagine, under ideal circumstances, can read it in a few hours. There isn't the long windedness found in some of Crichton's later work but it's a fun ride. There's no need to whip out a thesaurus and the message is pretty transparent. I recommend this to die hard fans of Crichton and lovers of a good treasure hunt. Easy Go is timeless and that's why it ranks high on my list of favorites.

Another Michael Crichton! And here I thought we wouldn't see another one from the pen of one of the most talented adventure and speculative fiction writers of the past 50 years.

Easy Go is an early novel, but Crichton's gift for creating an exciting tale of adventure and intrigue is certainly here: a translator of Egyptian hieroglyphics discovers what well may be a lost tomb that could contain an immense fortune in relics and treasure.

Putting together a team with various talents, they begin the difficult work of finding this lost tomb. With a government inspector dropping in every now and then and the beginnings of a torrid love affair, we're kept on pins and needles till the very end.

Join this team of Egyptian tomb thieves in Michael Crichton's Easy Go!

This is the third John Lange (Michael Crichton) novel I have read and the most enjoyable yet. This seemed more like classic Crichton, with historical information sprinkled throughout a compelling plot line. In "Easy Go" all the ingredients were present in the right measure: exotic locales, suspense, quirky characters, romance, solid but not pedantic information, and a twisty plot. A great escapist read - perfect for the beach (if only - it's winter in Minnesota). Thanks again to Hard Case Crime for reprinting these novels in such an appealing format.

This is the first of the eight reissued "John Lange" thrillers written by Michael Crichton in the 60s and 70s I decided to read, and I selected it first specifically because it's a caper novel about locating and robbing the long-lost tomb of a little-known Pharaoh. For me that's a win-win, because I love capers, and I tend to love anything Egyptology-related in just about any genre. I also loved the Glen Orbik cover painting on the typically handsome Titan trade paperback enough that I'd frame and hang it, though it depicts a scene that never happens in the book. Of course Crichton would go on to write The Andromeda Strain, The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Rising Sun, Jurassic Park, and many more.

Harold Barnaby is a bored archeologist specializing in Egyptian hieroglyphics who believes he has discovered a secret message hidden in a routine bit of Egyptian invoicing. It appears a secret (robber-proof) tomb was built for a minor Pharaoh and the secret died with the builders and architect, all of whom were slain as payment for their efforts. Barnaby concocts a crazy idea – why not rob the tomb, rather than discover it and turn it over to the antiquities-savvy Egyptian government? The book was written in 1968, during the very days the Aswan Dam project was being completed and the temples at Abu Simbel had been cut apart into thousands of stone blocks and moved to save them from the imminent flooding (as an aside, I remember reading about this and being fascinated as a 9-year old, for it sounded highly adventurous… even then my own interests were solidifying). Barnaby meets Pierce, a burned-out and disillusioned American journalist-photographer on his way out of Egypt. Once he hears Barnaby's story, however, Pierce is energized by the idea of robbing the tomb and offers to plan it, as the archaeologist has no real idea how to do it. So Pierce hunts down members of an "impossible mission"-style team, including Nikos the thief, Conway the all-around driver and accomplice, and humorously decadent English Lord Grover to fund the legitimate expedition that will disguise the illicit search.

The plot plays out straight and true, with the team's hardships living in the Valley of the Kings, doing relatively minor photographic work by day and excavating farther away by night. An Egyptian antiquities official assigned to oversee their dig makes a nuisance of himself, providing some tension. Lord Grover's play-time girls (it was the mod 60s!) and his personal secretary make a colorful addition to the cast, and of course there are occasional hiccups in the plan and the execution once the lost tomb is found.

My assessment is mixed for complex reasons. I know Mr. Crichton's style had yet to evolve. The novel is beautifully written in a smart, nearly invisible straightforward style that avoids overwriting and over-the-top action. Unfortunately, it also avoids some of the suspense that should have been inherent in the plot. For instance there is almost no tension within the band of robbers – they get along too well! There is a decided lack of back-stabbing and jealousy, plotting and fighting, for a group of would-be criminals. This is a crime novel only in the sense that the driving force of the plot is itself a crime, but in actuality the characters (and Crichton) play it straight, which is all right except that sometimes it's too straight.

SPOILER ALERT: One specific chapter, in which Pierce is trapped in the tomb, could have provided breathtaking suspense and caused readers galloping claustrophobia (such as Giovanni Belzoni's famous account of a tunnel filled with disintegrating mummies he was forced to negotiate), but Crichton backs off the overt suspense and ends up aiming the camera at the wrong subject. It's still harrowing, but much less effective than it might have been. And I'm not thrilled when a novel telegraphs its (admittedly somewhat twisty) ending in the title, either.

While these nitpicks do annoy, I still enjoyed the novel for what it was – an early work by a writer who consciously featured facts and realism over drama and melodrama. There were instances where a bit more action and conflict (and therefore suspense) would have made this a home run. But it's a solid triple, and I'd give it four stars anyway for its fascinating and realistic background and setting, and the plot's enjoyable "Mission Impossible" caper feel. I look forward to dipping into all the early Crichton reissues, which are highly intriguing and made all the more special by the typical care with which Hard Case and Titan have handled them.

W.D. Gagliani, author of Savage Nights

This is a very interesting and fun read. If you are at all interested in archeology and Egyptian tombs, this is a must. Like Crichton's later books this appears to be very well researched. Even if you're not into archeology (I'm not) it is still interesting and suspenseful throughout, and the ending is very funny. Crichton shows that even at a young age he was a talented writer. I found this book (The Last Tomb aka "Easy Go") to be much better written and more enjoyable than his other John Lange books,"Zero Cool," "Grave Descend," and "Binary."

I can't believe nobody has reviewed this book yet - I just finished it and it was a great read! This book was published when Crichton (writing as John Lange) was only 26 years old. Considering his age, and the fact that it was published in 1968, this was an outstanding book!
The plot involves the discovery of an intact Egyptian tomb, and the efforts of an eclectic group of individuals to rob it.
The book obviously lacks the sophistication of Crichton's later novels, but if your tastes are simple, it's a fun read with a rather unexpected, though brief, ending.
Definitely recommended for any Crichton fan, as is Binary and other books written by "John Lange."

Crichton is one of my favorite authors, but this little novel is one of his earlier pieces that I haven't read before. It's a nice adventure crime story with some very interesting characters; Tomb Raider and the Mummy meet Ocean's 11 crew. Overall, the ending feels somewhat rushed, but I like being able to see what he was good at even in the earlier part of his writing career plus how he develops over the years. All Crichton fans should read this book.

Net Galley Feedback
[book:Easy Go: A Novel|18078738]
[author:Michael Crichton|5194]

What Fun! A Reissue of an early Michael Crichton work; written while he was in school and published under the name John Lange. It was a great read with an exotic setting, a little bit of history, a little bit of mystery, and a spot of romance. What more could a reader need? The pacing is good, the plot well drawn, and the characters strong.Is it as strong as his later works? Well, no, but definitely worth reading or adding to your Crichton library.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Michael Crichton is one of my favorite authors and I have read most of his books (at least those I managed to get my hands on). Easy Go is one of his earlier works and he uses a pseudonym -- John Lange. It is a very exciting story of an Egyptologist, Harold Barnaby who specializes in translating hieroglyphics.

During a stint in Egypt to work on translating receipts and other records -- meaning it was mundane work -- Barnaby came across a document which looked much like all the others until he tried to read it. The document was not making any sense and as Barnaby studied it, he discovered it was written in a very different manner -- it was in code. As he broke the code, he learns that there is a tomb out there that no one has discovered yet. This is his chance to make a name for himself as a discoverer of what is probably the last tomb.

Barnaby decides that he would have a brighter future if he went the unconventional route and "rob" the tomb. But he can't do it alone. He then makes contact with a writer named Robert Pierce. Robert decides to work with Barnaby and helps to build a "team" together. Lord Grover is their financier. Alan Conway is a very talented smuggler. Nikos Karagannis is a very high skilled thief. Together they look for the last undiscovered tomb of an Egyptian king.

John Lange (aka Michael Chrichton) writes a great tale. The story is exciting and is very entertaining as well.

I loved it! I had just finished reading "State of Fear" and wanted another book by this author and found this one. Clearly an earlier work, and his style wasn't as refined yet, but as always he lavishes the reader with rich details that must have come from great research or personal experience. Very accurate details. Did anyone else notice similarities to Raiders of the Lost Ark"? I can't help but wonder if Spielberg got a few ideas from Crichton's book. A good read all the same.

This book was written when the author was only26 years old. The storyline was about an Egyptian tomb that had never been found. The group of eclectic characters that were trying to rob it inserted some humor. This was a fun book with a strange ending.

***I received this book in return for an honest review***

If you are looking for a mind-expanding or view-altering book then you should look someplace else. But, if you are searching for a few hours of entertainment and you enjoy adventure novels in exotic places then you have found your book. Easy Go is a fast paced action packed read that is perfect for a weekend getaway or just a break from the rat race. This is my first Chrichton book and it has motivated me to read more from this author.

Of special enjoyment is the setting of 1960s Egypt. I found it helpful to keep on hand a reference map of Egypt so I could keep a grip on the geography and where characters were moving to and from. I'm disappointed this book never found its way to movie production in the 1970s, it would have been a perfect b-movie drive-in flick.

Some of the book was a bit too far fetched to be believable. Although the end was unexpected it was too brief and I felt somewhat dissatisfied with the sudden end. It felt as if the author turned the manuscript in before completing the last chapter.

This book written John Lange under the cover of Michael Crichton is a far cry from the excellent writing of Michael Crichton.
The plot has great potential but was poorly presented, the story was jumpy, little details and read like a fourth grade easy reader with a sudden stop at the end.

They came together in Cairo, each one driven by his own devil, but all propelled by a manic desire for the magnificent treasure of the Pharaohs...Harold Barnaby, Egyptologist, half-crazed by his own genius...Robert Pierce, writer, starved for action...Lord Grover fifth Earl of Wheatston, supremely jaded by his wealth...Alan Conway, smuggler, addicted to the game of survival...Nikos Karagannis, international thief, disciplined by his own brutality.