The Evolution of Claire is a 2018 young adult novel set in the Jurassic Park universe written by Tess Sharpe and published by Penguin Random House which is a prequel to Jurassic World. The novel follows Claire Dearing (portrayed in the films by Bryce Dallas Howard) eleven years prior to the breakout of the Indominus rex in her first year as an intern for Masrani Global in 2004, one year before the official opening of Jurassic World.
The novel was released prior to the debut of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and expands on Claire's backstory as a science-minded college student serving to explain why she takes the position she does in Fallen Kingdom. It is noteworthy for being the first Jurassic Park full-length novel (not counting the film novelizations and Jurassic Park Adventures children's chapter-books that were released to coincide with Jurassic Park III) since The Lost World (1995), as well as the only one not written by Michael Crichton.
The Evolution of Claire contains examples of:
- Backstory: The novel serves to expand on Claire Dearing’s character before the events of Jurassic World and why she became a cold and distant businesswoman who only saw the dinosaurs as “Assets”.
- Corporate Conspiracy: Claire believes she has come across one when she discovers a notebook hidden underneath her bed belonging to a previous intern whose death appears to have been covered up.
- Distant Prologue: The opening prologue takes place after the events of Jurassic World.
- Fluffy the Terrible: The Tyrannosaurus is referred to as “Rexy” for the first time in the official canon.
- Gentle Giant Sauropod: The park has a herd of Brachiosaurus which consists of an older trio named Agnes, Olive and Dot and a teenaged brachiosaur named Pearl.
- The Hero: Claire Dearing.
- Heroes Love Dogs: Claire adopted a one-eyed rescue dog she named Earhart after Amelia Earhart, she also had a pet Skink named Sally named after Sally Ride the NASA astronaut.
- Midquel: The novel takes place between the events of Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World.
- Music Soothes the Savage Beast: Tanya sings “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone to help calm down an injured triceratops trapped in a gully.
- Prequel: It takes place eleven years prior to the events of Jurassic World.
- Raptor Attack: Claire and Justin are attacked by an escaped Velociraptor that Masrani transported from Isla Sorna.
- Shout-Out: Claire and Justin play “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Born to Be Wild” while driving a jeep around the island.
