Rating: 
Summary: Fun, fun, fun. Formulaic but the authors get it right.
Review: Too many stock characters, but the star is a fun monster. A fun read. One of the best epilogues ever
Rating: 
Summary: "A very, very, frightening book..."
Review: I, like so many other people, absolutely adore a good horror/thriller novel. Unfortunately, though, most novels of the genre that come out are of mediocre quality. Then, in 1995, a terror filled tale was published that tapped into our innermost fears- superstition:the feeling of being trapped in dark, claustrophobic areas: being hunted by something very large, powerful and truly terrifying, and probably one of the most feared thoughts of any human: being confined against one's will in a museum overnight. The novel that possessed all of these traits was simply entitled "RELIC", by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Ever since I can remember, a question would always cross my mind, but I could never come up with an answer:what would I do if I was locked in a museum overnight? Of course I thought this would be a great idea for a horror novel, but, alas, that had never really been a major subject in a book, until "RELIC" was introduced...
"RELIC", in my opinion, is probably one of the best horror books ever written. It is written in an intelligent way that sets it apart from other "slasher" tales. It has characters and situations that we can relate to, and it is a TRULY "scary" piece of literature, not just gory.
The story is very unique- An expedition (from New York Museum Of Natural History) stumbles upon an ancient curse of a lost tribe from the Xingu River region of the Amazon rainforest regarding a figurine of a savage, demonic, half primate half reptile creature known as "Mbwun", or "He Who Walks On All Fours". The team sends back the figurine, as well as other artifacts packed in fibers of an native plant. The crates are then sent to Belem to be transported by cargo ship back to the USA. Before the crates are sent though, all of the team members are killed, possibly because of the curse. When the crates finally get sent to NYMNH a string of brutal killings start occurring. Museum tourists are being found savagely eviscerated and decapitated, their skulls crushed in and their hypothalamuses( a part or the brain) gone.
Of course, the police think the murders are just random acts of some lunatic possibly hiding in the Museum's sub-basement. FBI Special Agent Pendergast thinks it's some kind of ritualistic murder connected to the crates. But when museum researcher Margo Green, reporter Bill Smithback, and Dr. Frock research the savage murders,the failed South America expedition, the figurine of Mbwun, the packing fibers and the upcoming "Superstition" exhibition, they find a connection so startling and so frightening, that I'm not even going to explain it. You'll just have to read the story for yourself (don't forget to read the epilogue!) Also, DO NOT read this book in a museum! With it's galvanizing effect, your imagination might run away, causing you to see the sinuous shadow of the Mbwun falling over the dusty exhibits, or even possibly hear his footsteps in the dark, deserted museum halls... The quality and pure adrenaline terror in "RELIC" will probaly never be topped by any other author(s). It is truly a very,very frightening book that will keep you up many hours in the night and will also have you asking yourself " what would I do if I was trapped in a museum? " After reading this book, I still can't answer that question. But I can tell you one thing- I definitely would want to stay in a very well lit area.
Rating:
Summary: Just when you think you've gotten over crapping in you pants
Review: This book delivers great characters, an amusing premise, trampling scene out of you worst nightmares, and don't forget a monster that's worth losing you bodily functions over.
P.S. Don't forget to read the epilogu
Rating:
Summary: This book will scare you!
Review: I read Relic over three months ago, and it is still fresh in mymind. This book is great! Preston and Child show themselves to be apowerful emerging force in the thriller/sci-fi field. The setting for the story (the American Museum of Natural History in New York City) is realistic and frightening at the same time. Several scenes make good use of the museum's dark corridors and lonely exhibitions. The character development throughout the story is superb, and you actually find yourself cheering for some characters, and heckling others. My personal favorite is the ever-so-cool (almost Holmesian) Special Agent Pendergast. The plot is interesting, and yet equally as terrifying. It is not the gore that will scare you, but Mbwun, the creature itself. This thing is something out of a nightmare! The descriptions of this thing are so detailed that, in the darkness, you will find yourself listening to hear the tread of those stealthly feet, smelling the air to detect that pungent, goatish odor, and straining your eyes to see that looming shadow against shadows and those feral red eyes that announce its presence. Perhaps the greatest surprise of the entire book comes in the epilogue when..., well, if you want to find out, you are going to have to read the book yourself. Truly, this book has everything a person could hope for in a novel. So read Relic, and you will never look at a museum the same way again.
Rating:
Summary: The Book is much better than the movie
Review: If any of you saw the movie, it is time to read this book. Thebook goes into much more detail, and gives you more insight into thecharacters. The book takes you to a museum that would scare anyone, no matter how brave. You might think the plot will drag because you did not like the movie's pace. However, the suspense is kept up throughout as this intricate plot unfolds. If you are into horror or mystery you will love this book. You will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Taut, gripping horror suspenser
Review: Horror from the depths of the Amazon jungle turns up in the cellars of the American Museum of Natural History - perhaps linked to certain artifacts being prepared for a big exhibit opening
Rating:
Summary: JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO INTO THE MUSEAM
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. Good becauseit is blended with mystery, terror, and a hypothalumas (nothippopotumas) eating monster, killing people trapped in the museam at the opening of the Superstition Exhibition. Bad because that they cut away just when some exciting thing is about to happen, like at the end when the creature is about to get them, then it cuts into another part. Another bad thing is the very good manners, there's a monster running around the museam that's eating people's brains, and the characters are saying "please," "thank you," and "I'm very much obliged." I'm not saying that this is a bad book, it has lots of action and excitement. I've read this book in less than three days, and I'm only 12 years old. But don't let museam guards read this one, they might see shadows, things moving, and strange goatish smells
Rating:
Summary: AL()EN MEETS JURASSIC PARK
Review: This was one GREAT book! It was incredible, the action, thesuspense, never have I ever seen this much suspense before sincereading the "jurassic" sagas, and watchong the alien trilogy! The ending was incredible, and I think this book was great! It is a LITTLE, better in some ways as it sequel(reliquary) but a little worse in others (compared to Reliquary).The science I found somewhat disapointing , Chrichton IS the master for that, but still If you want to quote , unquote "Go for a Ride" read this book!
Rating:
Summary: BUY IT NOW!!!!!
Review: If you like page turners this one is for you. It is like a NewYork Jurassic Park plus some.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Darn Good
Review: I liked this book. It had cool killings and plenty of scary moments, but it was also very wordy and boring in the middle. I also didn't like the very ending. Still, read it
|
