It's been over 10 years since an Indiana Jones film was last on the big screen, and it looks to be a few more years till Indy 4 comes along. You'd think that there wouldn't be much out there for Indiana Jones fans to get their daily dose of. But guess what? Indy's been pretty busy in that time. He's been in video games, comic books, and more. But you may have missed some of his best adventures.

All through the 90's Bantam Books published twelve Indiana Jones novels. They each had covers by the incredible Drew Struzan and they featured Indy going after Noah's Ark, a Unicorn's Horn, Dinosaur Eggs in China, the Staff of Aaron, and more. The books also featured more of Belloq, Sallah, and they even featured Indy getting married. However, Bantam never marketed them very well and many people never knew they existed. In fact, I personally only discovered them accidentally when I passed one on a shelf in a book store. In an interview for TheForce.Net, I once asked former Bantam editor Tom Dupree why there hadn't been an Indy hardback (which would seem to draw more attention):

"Indiana Jones? I edit those books too. My opinion is, they're filling the pulp-adventure gap that used to be filled by Doc Savage. In fact, Indy is just a better educated, more erudite, more human, Doc. Who wants to pay $22 for an adventure novel? Keep them at the paperback price, then if INDY 4 gets closer to reality, maybe we might rethink."

I always thought that Indiana Jones was more then just an adventure novel and that if it was marketed properly, they would have been a big hit. After all, the Indiana Jones movies are some of the highest grossing movies of all time. Surely there's an audience for them.

In any case, they are still available at your local bookstore or Amazon.Com. I've put together a little summary of the novels for you so you can decide if they interest you. Also, if you hear rumors about an Indy 4 movie, you can be sure it's fake if it's already been covered in a book. Unfortunately it's been a year or more since I've read these, so I couldn't tell you all the details off the top of my head. That may be good, though, because I remember the good ones better and can direct you to them easier. But I've copied the story descriptions from the backs of the novels for you, then added my own comments. Check it out!

By the way, I e-mailed Lucasfilm asking what the status of future Indiana Jones novels was, however I got no response. If we hear anything, we'll post it immediately!

TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi

AUTHOR: Rob MacGregor

PUBLISH DATE:February 1991

TIME PERIOD: 1922

THE PRIZE: A sacred stone and the Oracle of Delphi



STORY:For sixteen centuries the Order of Pythia has awaited the reappearance of the ancient oracle of sacred knowledge of Delphi. An earthquake, rending the earth beneath the ruins, has now heralded her return. Dorian Belecamus, a beautiful and bewitching archaeology professor, sees an opportunity to do more than dig into the past: This is her chance to seize control of her country's future--by becoming the Oracle of Delphi! And she's found just the man to help her consummate her scheme. He's brash, he's reckless, and he's fallen under her spell. His name: Indiana Jones.

The adventure spans the globe from Chicago to Paris to Greece where, bullwhip in hand, Indy descends into the bottomless pit of the serpent god and finds a sacred stone that holds the key to the oracle's prophecies. But Dorian has designed on even more sinister fate for young Indy: She means to make him her lover, her priest, her pawn in a plot to kill the king. Will Indy find the source of Pythia's powers--or find himself sacrificed at Dorian's altar, a victim of her deadly ambition and desire?



COMMENTS: This is the first of the Indy novels. The author, Rob MacGregor, wrote the first six novels in the series and they follow each other in continuity. So if you plan to read all of these books, this is the place to start. Otherwise the later books spoil what happened in the earlier ones. This wasn't my favorite of the books, but it is still a good Indy adventure.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants

AUTHOR: Rob MacGregor

PUBLISH DATE:June 1991

TIME PERIOD: Summer 1925

THE PRIZE: Merlin's scroll at Stonehenge



STORY:Young Indiana Jones has landed his first teaching post, in the archaeology department at London University. His brightest--and prettiest--student is a twenty-year-old Scottish girl, Deirdre Campbell, who claims she's uncovered a golden scroll, proof of the true existence of Merlin, sorcerer of myth and legend. Indy's intrigued by the thesis...and by Deirdre. So, too, is Parliament member Adrian Powell. He's seeking to resurrect the ancient order of the Druids, whose secrets of power could pave his way to world conquest. But first he needs the scroll...and he's willing to kill to get it.

Where there's magic, mystery, and murder, Indiana Jones goes to the head of the class. Dropping his books and picking up his bullwhip, Indy joins Deirdre on an action-packed chase across Britain, from the peril-filled caves of Scotland to the savage dance of the giants at Stonehenge--where Merlin's secret will finally be revealed. But not before Indy gets a lesson in love from Deirdre--and a lesson in hate from a maniac who means to rule mankind.



COMMENTS: This book is interesting because it shows Indy at his first teaching job. I don't know how this fits in with the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, but it's a good read. Stonehenge is a perfect location for an Indy adventure!



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Seven Veils

AUTHOR: Rob MacGregor

PUBLISH DATE: December 1991

TIME PERIOD: August 1925

THE PRIZE: Celtic Druids living in the Amazon



STORY:Having barely survived a hair-raising archaeological dig in Tikal, Guatemala, Indiana Jones has returned to New York just in time to get caught up in a controversy. The mysterious writings of Colonel Percy Fawcett, a missing British explorer, have turned up, and what they describe could revolutionize history--and make or break several scientific reputations. For Percy paints a tantalizing picture of a lost city in the Brazilian jungle and a mythical red-headed race who may be the descendants of ancient Celtic Druids....

No one loves mystery or adventure more than Indiana Jones. So with his trusty bullwhip in hand and the lovely Deirdre Campbell firmly in tow, he sets out for the wilds of the Amazon. But Indy has more enemies than he knows, including a bunch of hard-nosed thugs and a cannibalistic Indian tribe who are out to make him instant history. And if he survives what they throw his way, there's still the fabled city itself...where the inhabitants practice the magic of the "seven veils" and no one leaves alive!



COMMENTS: I found it hard to believe, but I never read this book. I guess the reason is that I read Genesis Deluge first and it spoiled this book for me. And believe it or not, Indiana Jones gets married in this one.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Genesis Deluge

AUTHOR: Rob MacGregor

PUBLISH DATE: February 1992

TIME PERIOD: Spring 1927

THE PRIZE: The OTHER ark



STORY: London, 1927. Since losing his beloved Deirdre in the Amazon a year ago, Indiana Jones has settled down with his Ph.D. and taught Celtic archaeology, thinking he left adventure behind. Yet Indy is rather tempted when a wild-eyed Russian doctor, Vladimir Zobolotsky, tries to recruit him for an expedition to search for Noah's Ark...and then finally takes up the dangerous quest after meeting Vladimir's alluring daughter, Katrina.

They set out for Istanbul and then Mount Ararat, fabled location of Noah's Ark, when trouble erupts. Kremlin agents, Sicilian "enforcers," and Turkish bandits all attempt to bar Vladimir, Katrina, and Indiana Jones from the archaeological find of the century...and a certain 950-year-old boat-builder...



COMMENTS: This was the first book I picked up and read. I thought it would be great fun to see Indiana Jones go after the other ark....Noah's Ark. What's interesting about this is that people today still look for the Ark in the mountains of Turkey. It seems to be a real life adventure still waiting to happen, and this book takes full advantage of it. It was one of my favorite in the series.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Unicorn's Legacy

AUTHOR: Rob MacGregor

PUBLISH DATE: September 1992

TIME PERIOD: 1924

THE PRIZE: A Unicorn horn



STORY: Lost in the labyrinth of a Paleolithic cavern complex, Indy Jones encounters references to a mythological beast that may have existed twenty thousand years ago--and five years later Dr. Jones confronts the legend again, and the woman who is hoping to find the fabled unicorn's horn. But so is someone else from Indy's past, a man who will stop at nothing to obtain the ancient relic.

Some say the unicorn's horn came from an animal made extinct by the Great Flood. Others say the horn is an effective antidote to poison and a mystical relic. Indy discovers that the horn's power is less than benevolent, and the same could be said about the intentions of a certain beautiful art historian.



COMMENTS: This is a treasure of a different sort....a unicorn's horn. It's an interesting prize because you begin to wonder if unicorns really were an extinct species!



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Interior World

AUTHOR: Rob MacGregor

PUBLISH DATE: December 1992

TIME PERIOD: September 1928

THE PRIZE: An underground world in Easter Island



STORY: A strange mystery connects the whispering moai statues of Easter Island to the eerie ghost ship of Chilo¿ Island, leading Indiana Jones on a dangerous quest into a hidden interior world. Earlier Indy accidentally caused an imbalance between the two worlds when he disposed of a fabled but dangerous relic. Now, the leader of an unstoppable army uses this artifact to enter our world and form a deadly alliance with an even darker force...

For centuries man has told tales of a hollow earth, or an underworld, populated by a mysterious race and strange characters. Sometimes describing an underworld of death, sometimes another dimension, these stories tell of mermaids, ghost ships...and a cosmic balance that must be restored lest the powers within march to conquer the outside world--and only Indiana Jones holds the key!



COMMENTS: Easter Island is a perfect setting for an Indy novel, and here it is!



TITLE:Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates

AUTHOR: Martin Caidin

PUBLISH DATE: December 1993

TIME PERIOD:Not stated

THE PRIZE: Sky Pirates, mistaken for UFOs, flying early jet airplanes



STORY: In London, Indy Jones is called to an emergency meeting. Mysterious sky craft have been ravaging the shipping lanes, making off with a fortune in diamonds, bonds, and raw materials. Unable to detect how the craft are powered, experts come up with a frightening hypothesis--involving the use of psychokinetic levitation.

To get to the truth, Indy must search through a labyrinth of archaeological information reaching back four thousand years. But as he and his team move from Africa to Tibet to the American Southwest, they discover something even more astounding. A clandestine organization is fast becoming an evil, world-dominating power--and the only way to stop it is in a high-tech, no-holds-barred battle on land...and in the air!



COMMENTS: This is a bit of a departure from the Indy formula. There's no particular prize being won here, but it is a fun adventure anyway. Very "pulp fiction" or Rocketeer in format. I liked this one because Indy assembles a rag-tag band to help on this mission, including a female Indy-type character. This book and the next one were written by Martin Caidin. You probably don't know it, but he wrote 'Cyborg', the book the Six Million Dollar Man was based on. He's got an extensive aerospace background and he makes full use of it here.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the White Witch

AUTHOR: Martin Caidin

PUBLISH DATE:April 1994

TIME PERIOD: Not stated

THE PRIZE: Merlin's Sword and Christian coins



STORY: England, 1930. It begins when a gang of hooded thugs breaks into the secluded home of a modern-day witch deep in the mysterious New Forest. Stolen is a map that will lead Indiana Jones and fiery fellow archaeologist Gale Parker to an incredible discovery. Somewhere in the world is hidden an enormous hoard of gold, including ancient coins from the time of Christ...coins meant to spread Christianity.

With the aid of a young mistress of Wicca, the age-old religion of white witchcraft, Indy and Gale risk their lives on a round-the-world quest for the long-lost treasure. Racing them to find it is a cunning and ruthless criminal mastermind who has set his sights on world domination. But Indy and Gale have formidable weapons: the powers of Wicca, the sword of the legendary Merlin, and Indy's own adventurous brand of magic.



COMMENTS: I don't remember much of anything about this book, and that probably says a lot. The Martin Caidin books were my least favorite of the lot.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone

AUTHOR: Max McCoy

PUBLISH DATE: May 1995

TIME PERIOD: March 1933

THE PRIZE: The Voynich Manuscript and the Crystal Skull



STORY:For centuries the lust for wealth and immortality has driven men mad. Now Indiana Jones is called to London to recover an ancient alchemist's manuscript rumored to contain the formula both for turning lead into gold and granting its owner eternal life. Certain that a missing British alchemist and an insane Renaissance scholar are involved in the theft, Indy - along with the alchemist's beautiful sister - travels to Rome, and straight into the hands of Mussolini's fascists.

The mad scholar Sarducci has stolen the Voynich Manuscript, all right. But that's only half the story. The manuscript is really a map, leading into the desert and the most ancient and magnificent crypt in the world, where Indiana Jones will either witness an astounding miracle of alchemy - or become the tomb's next inhabitant.



COMMENTS: This book is neat for several reasons. First of all, it brings back Sallah, a much missed character from the films. It also follows the Indy formula by having an side adventure start the novel. Indy finds the cursed Crystal Skull, and the pursuit of it opens up the next few novels. Max McCoy did some of the best Indy novels in my opinion.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs

AUTHOR: Max McCoy

PUBLISH DATE:March 1996

TIME PERIOD: Late 1933

THE PRIZE: A dinosaur egg and a live dinosaur



STORY: Fresh from a ride on a Nazi submarine, Indiana Jones is persuaded by a beautiful missionary to search for her missing father in Mongolia. Professor Angus Starbuck has discovered a dinosaur bone in the Gobi Desert. But unlike other such discoveries, this bone isn't ancient!

As Indy crosses from China through a treacherous mountain pass to Outer Mongolia, he runs afoul of the region's fiercest warlords. Meanwhile the world's last innocent people, dwelling in a Stone Age paradise, are poised on the brink of destruction. Suddenly Indiana Jones is dueling wild dogs and bloodthirsty killers in a desperate effort to save the most historic discovery of the twentieth century: the last living triceratops!



COMMENTS: Now this was one of the best ones. It features Lao Che from the Temple of Doom movie and Belloq from Raiders. In this book, Indy ventures into China in search of a dinosaur egg. And not the fossilized kind. Apparently there is a legend of a dinosaur-like creature in the Mongolian deserts, and Indy goes after them. There's also a great dog Indy picks up along the way. He becomes a cool sidekick for Indy for a while. (And as you see on the cover, he has one ear.) Good stuff!



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Hollow Earth

AUTHOR: Max McCoy

PUBLISH DATE: March 1997

TIME PERIOD: Early 1934

THE PRIZE: An underground civilization in the Arctic



STORY: A violent storm, a dying Arctic explorer, and a curious wooden box make Indy the target of fanatical Nazi agents. Inside the box are a slice of Icelandic stone with mythological powers and a journal hinting at the existence of an underground civilization near the top of the world. Indy and Ulla Tornaes,a beautiful Danish scientist, set out into the Arctic wastes, racing against Nazi explorers, to search for the lost city. Their quest will lead them to a massive cavern beneath the snow, portal to the legendary Ultima Thule -- the key to Hitler's mad plan for world domination.



COMMENTS: This book truly goes back to the basics by having Indy battle those Nazis again.



TITLE: Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx

AUTHOR: Max McCoy

PUBLISH DATE: February 1999

TIME PERIOD: 1934

THE PRIZE: The Omega Book held within the Sphinx and the Staff of Aaron



STORY: It is the most coveted of all ancient artifacts. In it is written the history -- and the fate -- of every human being. And he who owns it writes his own destiny. Now Indiana Jones follows a trail of danger, magic, and archaeological mystery through the war-torn Orient, from Rangoon to the Egyptian desert, searching for the secret underground hiding place of the all-powerful Omega Book. But with a beautiful woman seeking her missing magician husband, and a vengeance-crazed Japanese spymaster hot on his heels, Indy is running out of time. If the Omega Book falls into the wrong hands, not only his own fate but the fate of the world will be at the mercy of a madman bent on writing humanity's final chapter!



COMMENTS: I found the prize in this book to be one of the dumbest, but it is still one of my favorite Indy novels. It features Sallah again and starts out with an incredible chase through a Chinese Emperor's tomb. Really great stuff and classic Indy. It also features the Sphinx which is such a natural location for Indy to be at that I'm surprised it hasn't been used before. And I guess any time there's a Bible artifact involved (in this case the Staff of Aaron), I feel like it's a true classic Indy adventure. Possibly that's because Raiders and Crusade were the best Indy films, IMO. Also, for once, Indy doesn't battle Nazis. He battles their allies, the Japanese.

