[3][4] Horner's idea for the "Chickenosaurus" project came from "a pretty good script" that was written for Jurassic Park IV early in its development.

[7] Gorman was deputy science editor for The New York Times, and had previously co-written Horner's 1990 book, Digging Dinosaurs.

[4] Horner and his publisher planned for the book to come out at the same time as Jurassic Park IV, to serve as a scientific companion volume;[6][8] however, the film was delayed.

Horner digresses about skinheads, Ted Kaczynski and chicken carcasses, but his main idea is reverse evolutionary engineering.

"[4] Gilbert Taylor of Booklist wrote, "Straight from the scientific frontier, Horner's work should excite anyone who's dreamed of walking with dinosaurs.