The Relic

by Douglas Preston

1996

Status

Available

Publication

St Martins Press (1996)

Description

Relic, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's thriller that introduces FBI Special Agent Pendergast. Just days before a massive exhibition opens at the popular New York Museum of Natural History, visitors are being savagely murdered in the museum's dark hallways and secret rooms. Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human...But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition, in spite of the murders. Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who or what is doing the killing. But can she do it in time to stop the massacre?

Media reviews

Lecturalia

En 1986, en plena selva amazónica, un grupo de científicos encuentra la talla de un enigmático dios adorado por una tribu de salvajes. El extraño ídolo es enviado a Nueva York, donde queda arrumbado en los sótanos de un enorme y antiguo museo. Poco después, los científicos son masacrados

por los indígenas y todo el proyecto cae en el olvido. Sin embargo, con ocasión de una importante exposición, las sinuosas galerías y los vetustos subsuelos del museo se convierten en escenario de varios asesinatos horrendos e inexplicables... Un mundo de maldiciones y pesadillas ancestrales instalado en el corazón del Nueva York actual. The Relic ha sido adaptado al cine en una película del productor de Alien y del creador de los efectos especiales de Parque Jurásico.

Show Less

User reviews

LibraryThing member JennieLeigh

First off, if you haven't seen the movie, PLEASE don't! I, unfortunately have. I saw it at the insistence of my husband, who'd read the book and loved it. He was so aghast at the butcher job done to the story by the movie that to this day (9 years after it's release) he will begin a rant every time

he sees it in a store.
I didn't actually read the book myself until last year. After I did, I understood his point. The movie took a truly creative and engrossing thriller and turned it on its head. The fact that they entirely omitted the Perdergast (upon which an entire series of stories has been based, now) should be enough to warn you to stay far, far away from the movie.
The book is very interesting, though somewhat dated now. It was written when DNA testing and mapping was in its very infancy. Still, the premise was interesting and the monster appropriately horrifying. (Honestly, I cannot imagine why the screen writer thought the movie ending was somehow better than the original!)
If you enjoy sci fi/horror/thriller books, then by all means read this one. It is well worth your time.

Show Less

24 more

LibraryThing member chinquapin

Something is stalking the halls of the Museum of Natural History in New York City and leaving behind a wake of mutilated corpses. Museum officals, concerned about a spectacular exhibition that is about to open, try to stifle all rumors, speculation and discussion that there is a monster in the

museum. However grad student Margo Green believes that there is a monster and she finds a clue connecting the murders with a failed expedition to the Amazon years earlier. An FBI Detective named Aloysius Pendergast from New Orleans arrives to help in the investigation because he believes the murders are connected to some similar murders in his part of the world. They begin to unravel the veil of secrecy that the museum's officials have laid over the disastrous Amazon expedition and discover the true origins of the monster that has made the museum its home.

I found this to be a fast-paced, very exciting story full of action and edge-of-your-seat type suspense. The characters could have been a little more developed, especially Pendergast. The Museum of Natural History with its warrens of underground storage rooms and unmapped subterranean levels and rooms full of spooky artifacts was a perfect setting for this story. The plot was far-fetched and stretched believability at several points, but well developed anyway, and once you accept the premise, it was terrifying.

Show Less

LibraryThing member jewelryladypam

Would've given this 2 stars had it not been for a twist at the very end that makes the story more believable. Overall, though, I was a bit disappointed; after reading Cabinet of Curiosities (and thoroughly enjoying it), I had higher hopes for this one.

LibraryThing member RogueBelle

Thrilling and chilling. P&C don't pull punches -- this book is unabashedly gruesome, without being trashy. The invented science is just crazy enough to work, and the mystery element rips along throughout the entire novel. A truly gripping read.

LibraryThing member MsBeautiful

Child & Preston almost always deliver with an almost unbeliveable thriller to keep you up at night, or driving around a parking lot while listening to tap/cd.

LibraryThing member israfel13

I don't remember reading this one it was so long ago and all my memories are tied up with scenes from the movie. I will say that between the two I was converted into an instant Pendergast fan and have since committed to reading the entire series.

LibraryThing member Mendoza

I love to explore old mansions with endless rooms and history galore - and that is what it feels like when we make our way through New York City's American Museum of Natural History. Beyond that I find the characters are sharply drawn and the suspense kept me going until the end. Preston / Child

are a good combination.

Show Less

LibraryThing member istoria

Do NOT watch the movie. Judging this book based on that horrible waste of film is a loss. The book is wonderful, with engaging characters and a main character, who gets omitted from the movie, but makes this and the other books in this series.

LibraryThing member rocalisa

I enjoyed about the first 2/3, then it turned into "monster rampages" and I got bored. I read the end to check how it finished, felt cheated by the fact the "answer" to the mystery got turned around right at the end and was glad I stopped reading.

LibraryThing member hannahbond

Relic is an enjoyable story to use as an escape, but Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have done better work. The characters don't have much more depth than cardboard cutouts, and the infallibility of Special Agent Pendergast grows old because such perfection is not really human. I liked the

premise of the plot a lot -- a creature deep in the bowels of a huge museum filled with everything under the sun. However, the plot lacks the substance required to make it a great book -- no clear motive is explained for the "bad guys" in mueseum administration, and the final relevation about the identity of the monster is not credible at all so that the end is a bit of a let-down.

Show Less

LibraryThing member oldsetbuilder

I almost put it down after reading the first few pages. Not my type of book. But after reading several reviews on this site, I decided to finish it. It was slow at first, but I guess it took a while to set up the premise. Anyway, I am glad I stuck with it. Good story. It would have been fine

without the last chapter, however. Way too confusing of a way to end a book.

I did learn a lot about the way a museum is run. I didn't know it was so academic. (Probably should have.)

Show Less

LibraryThing member odamae

I loved this book! I stayed up all night long to finish it. Great premise, great story.

LibraryThing member pharrm

Pendergast, Smithback -1
Adventure from S. America's Amazon turns up in NYC's Natural History Museum.

LibraryThing member Tommie1

Whast a great book. I have one more of his books to read. Agent Pendergast anh his cohorts are extremely entertaining.

LibraryThing member shawnaryan

I enjoyed Relic because is was smart, exciting, and well written. From Relic I went on to read other Preston/Child books, and they have become my favorite authors, inspiring me to write thriller novels of my own. (Destiny's Damned & Satan's Scat.)

LibraryThing member NickKnight

This book is about a series of murders that take place in the New York Museum of Natural History and the FBI agent called in to investigate them. This is the first Agent Pendergast and first novel that Lincoln and Child wrote together.

I love this book. It's my second fave book ever.

I had gotten a

copy of the Relic movie and liked it. The second time I watched it I noticed that is was based on a book. I of course went and tracked said book down. I read and loved the book. I have been a huge fan of thses guys ever since.

They write these huge action/adventure stories mixed with archeology, science and supernatural forces and one of the most memorable characters in american fiction.
I highly recommend any of the books they have written but especially this one.

Show Less

LibraryThing member rosomalley

This book is one of my favorites "Monster" stories. I loved the museum setting as well as the feisty protagonist. It was fast paced and kept me interested until the end. I became a fan of these authors after reading this book.

LibraryThing member crazybatcow

The characters are fairly realistic and fleshed out but the story itself is pretty lame. I read sci-fi and thrillers/detective stories and thought this would be a blend of the two but it doesn't really hit the mark as either.

You have to accept the existence of a monster, which is fine. But you also

have to accept that a museum would not shut down as soon as there were a series of atrocious and unexplainable murders inside it. Then you have to accept that a graduate student would be the "detective" and the "real" detectives more interested in... I'm not sure what they were doing, but they weren't doing any detecting.

Thr3e and any of the Harry Bosch stories are better thrillers. Altered Carbon is a better blend of sci-fi and detective. Artifact is a better "monster" story. In fact, I can't think of a book less interesting - and still finishable - than this one.

Show Less

LibraryThing member averitasm

I like Preston and child very much, I first read the cabinet of curiosities and was hooked, it does have an element of horror to it but I was hooked. I like pendergast, I enjoy him a lot while I am reading, I like how he can rile people while being a gentleman. So I went back and got all the books

and started from the beginning , here. this one was a little slow for me so I am hoping that anyone reading this will give them a chance past this book, I am not saying I didn't like it, I enjoyed it but it was a little slower than the other books and I kind of guessed it out about half way through. It was thrilling and I enjoy all the series so read these books you won't be disappointed.

Show Less

LibraryThing member miyurose

This is a series I’ve been curious about, so I decided to take the plunge. This was pretty good, especially in the action parts. I did find myself skimming some of the drier sciencey parts. It kept me interested enough that I’ll continue on with the series.

LibraryThing member readingrat

Effectively uses a formula very similar to Jurassic Park with a different locale and cast of characters.

LibraryThing member debbie.menzel

Crazy monsters stalking the basement of the NYC library - great fun!

LibraryThing member lastengland

A must read - really gets your imagination of what the museum beast looks like.

LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C

I was predisposed to like this book. It's set in New York City's Museum of Natural History. I'm a New York City native who lives within walking distance of the museum; its been a favorite place since childhood--so I got a kick out of the descriptions of the museums rooms and of the neighborhood.

This one is also as much science fiction as horror. It doesn't have the mind-blowing or thought-provoking quality of the best of that genre, and I have no idea how plausible is the science in the book, but I did like that the underpinnings of the "museum beast" wasn't supernatural. The book ended with a good twist too. Don't look for depth here--the style and characters aren't anything special--I can't see this as a keeper I'd ever want to read again. But it was very entertaining and if you need to pass some hours on a plane or train this would make a good pick. I particularly liked the Sherlock Holmes-like Agent Pendergast who is a recurring character in other books by this author. There is a direct sequel to this book as well--Reliquary.

Show Less

LibraryThing member marcejewels

From my blog

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child did a great job of keeping you wondering what is next, you wanted to know what or who is killing in the museum. Everyone is thinking what the hell is going on. I don't enjoy pages of description so it was perfect how the authors gave me a visual chill

with direct gruesome description and action.

There is a ton of scientific language and conversation but I feel like it was needed, maybe only a touch to much. The science part added to the mystery of the story and the dynamic versatile personalities of all the museum staff. There was a great amount of characters that was developed well and they were all a part of the puzzle. The before, during, after and epilogue. And the police detectives were my favourites, especially Detecitve D'Agosta. There was an overall feel of i'm better than you, right from the Executives of the Museum, Scientists and Police Detectives.

This book was executed very well, a little long for my preference but great stuff. It wasn't scary to me, I love and look forward to the 'scary' parts but I can tell you that the characters were scared out of their minds.

Show Less

Fewer