Another fine Indy adventure from Max McCoy. Along with Philosopher's Stone (not the Harry Potter one), these two seem to be considered as the best of the Indiana Jones tie-in books, and I've certainly not been disappointed. Perhaps inevitably, they are not a patch on the films but they're very quick to read and are engaging in a pulpy sort of way. Hollow Earth draws on interesting occult mythology (of the sort that fed Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe) and the setting allows the opportunity for Nazis to return as Indy's nemeses – a much better decision than the low-rent Mussolini goons of Philosopher's Stone.

It does share some of that other novel's plot holes, with the Crystal Skull curse again becoming an unnecessary plot divergence, and some of the lines can be clunky and exposition-heavy. And yet again, Indy finds himself mostly doing grunt work (the only real puzzle, towards the end of the book, is explicitly delegated by Indy to another character). The book feels less like an "Indiana Jones" adventure because of these drawbacks, especially in comparison to Philosopher's Stone. But these hiccups are more than counterbalanced by a lot of humour (that actually works) and some surprisingly adept writing from McCoy.

Now that I've read the two Indiana Jones books with the best reputation, I can recommend them both for different reasons. If you want a nostalgia trip, something that really feels like Indiana Jones, go for Philosopher's Stone. But if you want the stronger, more cohesive story, delve into Hollow Earth. ( )

It has to be difficult taking on a character created by someone else and getting everything right.

It is obviously a little difficult for Max McCoy.

There was just something off about Jones' characterization in Hollow Earth. I can't quite put my finger on it. There were moments when it felt like Dr. Jones, and others where it felt like someone trying his hardest to be Indy and not quite hitting the mark.

Then there is the story itself, which feels more like three stories mashed into one globe-hopping extravaganza (the crystal skull storyline especially felt forced and extremely out of place in the rest of the adventure). It's almost like McCoy wasn't sure what story he really wanted to tell, so he told them all. The cameo by Belloq was a nice touch, though.

Now don't get me wrong, this is certainly an enjoyable read full of Indiana Jones style action and adventure, but it feels more like Rick O'Connell or other later Jones-like characters instead of Dr. Jones himself.

Also, several of the crystal skull elements of the story rang a little familiar to Indy 4, and considering this book was written at least ten years before it, I'm left with some perplexing questions about the origins of George Lucas' concept. ( )