The First Witness

A Companion Prequel and The Lost World (Annotated): A Maple White Prequel Novella and the Original Classic Novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Walker

Narrated by: Jason Dempsey

The classic adventure that inspired Jurassic Park—now with an original prequel novella that tells the untold story of the man who discovered the lost world.

Before Professor Challenger. Before the expedition. There was Maple White.

In 1897, an American artist ventured into the Amazon jungle seeking something to paint. What he found was impossible: a hidden plateau where prehistoric creatures still lived, where pterodactyls soared above ancient forests, and where dinosaurs drank from primeval lakes.

He was the first human to witness this lost world. He would also be the last to leave it alive.

THE FIRST WITNESS — A Prequel Novella by Robert Walker

Follow Maple White from his San Francisco studio to the heart of the Amazon. Experience his wonder as he documents creatures dead for sixty million years. Share his terror as he fights to survive. And understand why he chose to spend his final days ensuring his discovery would not die with him.

THE LOST WORLD — The Complete Novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The immortal classic that launched a genre. Professor Challenger leads a team of explorers to verify White's incredible claims—and finds a prehistoric world more dangerous and wondrous than anyone imagined.

This Special Annotated Edition Includes:

• The First Witness — An original 15,000-word prequel novella
• The Lost World — Doyle's complete novel, unabridged
• Introduction with literary and historical context
• The untold story of Maple White, the man Doyle created but never explored

Listen to The First Witness, then experience The Lost World with new eyes. You will never forget the man who saw it first.

©2026 Robert Walker (P)2026 Robert Walker

crushing, humid atmosphere of the jungle,

The story is incredibly gripping. White’s transition from a breathless witness documenting impossible creatures like pterodactyls and a terrifying apex predator he names "Rex" to literally becoming prey is so well-written. The survival elements feel brutally realistic, especially his interactions with a tribe of highly intelligent hominids that inhabit the plateau.

This was awesome!

Honestly, this was such a cool surprise. I’ve always loved The Lost World, but Maple White was always just that random skeleton the team finds in the cave, basically a plot device to show how dangerous the plateau is. The First Witness totally flips that on its head and actually makes you care about him. Seeing him go from a struggling artist in San Francisco to losing everything in the Amazon adds this crazy layer of heartbreak to the whole story.

Thrilling Journey into Maple White’s Lost World

In a nutshell, The First Witness: A Companion Prequel and The Lost World offers listeners a fascinating blend of original adventure and imaginative backstory, creating a richer experience for fans of classic exploration tales. With a total listening time of just over ten hours, this audiobook combines a prequel novella centered on Maple White with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless adventure novel, giving both new and longtime listeners something to enjoy.
The prequel adds depth to the mysterious figure of Maple White, helping listeners better understand the discoveries and events that set the stage for the legendary expedition. It seamlessly connects to the classic story while maintaining an adventurous spirit of its own. The transition into *The Lost World* feels natural, making the entire experience feel like one epic journey.