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ANONYMOUS REX
by Eric Garcia
Berkley, February 2003
350 pages
$6.99
ISBN: 0375503269


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

ANONYMOUS REX is the debut novel of Eric Garcia’s popular dinosaur series. According to Garcia, dinosaurs did not go extinct millions of years; they learned to adapt and coexist with humans by means of people suits. They can curve their bodies well enough to maintain their disguises and the conspiracy; hence, humans believe dinosaurs no longer exist. Vincent Rubio is a velociraptor, who once was a very capable detective, but his partner died and he lost control of his life. Now, he is a basil addict (dinosaurs have a genetic weakness for herbs) and his detective agency is crumbling around him. He is offered an arson investigation, which he gladly takes in order to maintain his office financially. This arson case turns out to be merely the beginning of a much larger situation, and Vincent goes to New York to continue his investigation (plus a side investigation into his partner’s death, which is at the heart of Vincent’s personal troubles). Vincent needs to continue his investigation in hopes of finding the salvation for which he is searching.

Eric Garcia has hit upon a gimmick that has not yet been developed by the mystery genre. The idea of dinosaurs still existing and wandering throughout modern society is something that normally confines itself to science fiction. The idea of creating a dinosaur detective is original. The most interesting element to this creation is that even though the majority of dinosaurs that survived extinction are carnivores, this book has very few hardboiled elements. This is most likely due to the hardboiled genre being closed-minded to the concept of dinosaur detectives. Such close-mindedness is understandable, especially since the book was cute but at times the narrator/ situation was grating. Even though the book lacks most hardboiled features, it does not contain the cloyingly sweet elements that characterize many cozies.

Through the use of dinosaurs, Garcia explores the importance reproduction, and sex, have in society. The book begins with Vincent snapping picture of a cheating husband (dinosaur) and ends with a look at dinosaur reproduction. He also looks at the role science plays when a couple is unable to have children. ANONYMOUS REX takes these situations to a slightly unrealistic level as well as ignores the depth normally associated with reproduction and reproductive rights.

ANONYMOUS REX is an amusing read. It is not a book that a hardboiled fan would normally enjoy; yet, it provides a humorous situation and story without being cloying sweet. ANONYMOUS REX would be a great beach read because it provides an enjoying non-threatening story.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, January 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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