Carnosaur (novel)

Carnosaur is a 1984 science fiction horror novel written by Harry Adam Knight, a pseudonym used by the British writing duo Guy N. Smith and Shaun Hutson. The novel revolves around a rancher named Doc Holiday (not the historical figure) who genetically engineers dinosaurs from chicken DNA. His goal is to replace cattle with these rapidly-breeding, low-maintenance carnivores, believing it to be a more efficient source of meat. However, the dinosaurs quickly escape, begin breeding out of control, and wreak havoc, resulting in numerous deaths and widespread destruction.

The story is known for its graphic violence and gore, characteristic of much of the horror fiction published during the 1980s. The novel's themes explore the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition, genetic engineering, and the potential for ecological disaster.

Carnosaur served as the basis for a low-budget film series of the same name, beginning with Carnosaur in 1993, produced by Roger Corman. While the film adaptations share the basic premise of genetically engineered dinosaurs running amok, they diverge significantly from the plot and characters of the original novel. The films are generally considered to be B-movie schlock and were released in direct competition with Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, which had a much larger budget and a more sophisticated approach to the dinosaur theme.