Banjo and Swift review

Some time ago, I purchased and got a new book, alongside another one. I don't need to tell you the title based off the book image above and the title of this blog post.

Banjo and Swift follows the lives of the titular two male Australovenators of the same clutch as they struggle to survive in Mid-Cretaceous Australia, especially after they are forced to go their separate ways when Banjo takes the mate Swift wanted. Swift in particular is the main focus when he moves to the coast, and has to adapt to conditions the pursuit predator isn't used to.

In many ways, the best comparison I have for the book is Dinosaur Planet: both are fictional narratives that follow individual dinosaurs over a period of time. There are even two science chapters adding context to the story, much like Scott Sampson's talking heads in DP. Another is Robert Bakker's Raptor Red, also a prose narrative. The fact that I've never read it does not help though, so I won't compare it (but if I do get a hold of it... stayed tuned!).

The book's line up is primarily based upon fossils from the Winton Formation. Obviously, you have dinosaurs like sauropods Diamantinasaurus, Savannasaurus, the pterosaur Ferrodraco, and of course, megaraptoran Australovenator, but you also have dinosaurs based off scant, unnamed remains, like small ornithopods and even raptor dinosaurs, which are known from scant remains in Australia, but are justified as how both Australia and South America shared same kinds of fauna. There are a few exceptions, most notably the pliosaur Kronosaurus; the youngest known are so far dated to 100 mya, although its not out of the question a large pliosaur like it existed at the time. The book does research on the plants of the ecosystem. I admit I'm not much of a palaeobotanist fan, but I'm glad Iacovos did and showed it.

The prose of the book is very simple and easy to comprehend, while the text itself is bigger then the norm, so it helps with that too. Likewise, the story is simple and straightforward yet easy to map. The book's ending (which I shall not spoil) is quite tragic and makes me legitimately tear up.

I like a bit where its noted how the coastal environment's differs from those inland, such as Savannasaurus' wider body allowing for stability would suit it well on the coastal plains and sans dunes. as well as how the coastal region's dense forests have different fauna due to the dense forest and dunes, like the raptors instead of ornithopods due to how small they are. In particular, it leads a moment of speculative behaviour where Swift tries catching fish with his meathook claws instead of the usual fast-running prey he's used to since they're absent on the coast. It fits in with the story and reflect dietary flexibility in just about every animal ever.

There are a few illustrations depicting some of the fauna and flora at the very very start before the story proper that help familise you with the appearance and size of each of them, which are fairly great if nothing special. The illustration on the cover is also good. (There are also silhouettes of each animal in each chapter title page, but they're not worth discussing)

Accuracy-wise, I find none, as all of the info holds up. The closest would be speculative feathers on the Auatralovenators, though given a mix of how uncertain what kind of theropod it was, and the apparent cold climate of the region, I don't fault it. Behaviour-wise, all of the animals act as you'd expect: as animals, not monsters. Granted they do make dumb decisions at times, but its in a realistic, plausible way.

One last thing of praise of note I have is that early on during a fight between Banjo and Swift, there's a bit where he leaps and kicks out. I think this is a homage to Charles. R. Knight's seminal work Leaping Laelaps. Not only is it a neat one, its actually supported by how long Australovenator's middle toe was versus the others, and how fossils of it shows sign of trauma as if it had struck many things. Very interesting. This is actually written in the science chapter.

If there's any criticisms I have of the book, I have a few minor ones.

1. The book is short, only 114 pages' worth of actual story across three parts. I could do with an additional fourth one focusing on Banjo and his mate, one rhat could give more context.
2. There's way too much focus on Swift and his coastal living, and it does drag in a few places.
3. I wish we got a third science chapter like the first two had. They are nice and I like them.
4. Why no big ornithopod like Muttaburrasaurus in the book? I know that mutt came eight million years before the book's time, but there are fossils assigned to it from a contemporary formation, and the well-known Lark Quarry trackway from it does have the ichnotaxon Amblydactylus. Plus, Muttaburra is the most famous australian dinosaur. If Kronosaurus can be in this, why not a creature that might actually be in the Winton like it too?
5. The ending might be a bit too much of a downer for some, including me. It actually put me off reading it for a while.
6. I'd like a few more illustrations here and there.

Otherwise, its very good! Overall, I do recommend the book as both a brilliant short story with much going for it for many ages and a nice intro to australian dinosaurs. You can purchase it here if you want to get it!

https://www.amazon.com/Banjo-Swift-Iacovos-Du/dp/B0982S7BQ7

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58325206-banjo-and-swift

Accuracy - 9/10

Aging - 9/10

Presentation 8/10

Storytelling 8/10

Rereadability - 8/10

Until next time! Goodbye and stay safe!

See Also

• Cameron and his Dinosaur Book Review