What is Relic by Douglas Preston about?

Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a techno-thriller about a series of brutal murders at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. When a mysterious creature begins killing people inside the museum just days before a major exhibition opening, FBI Special Agent Pendergast and museum researcher Margo Green must uncover the truth behind the deadly "Museum Beast" before it strikes again.

Who wrote Relic and when was it published?

Relic was co-authored by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and published in 1995. The collaboration began when Preston, who worked at the American Museum of Natural History, gave his editor Lincoln Child a midnight museum tour. Under a looming T. Rex skeleton, Child suggested the museum would make the perfect setting for a thriller, which became the foundation for Relic.

Is Relic by Douglas Preston worth reading?

Relic by Douglas Preston is worth reading for fans of intelligent, science-based thrillers that blend horror with forensic detail. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and launched the successful Pendergast series. Its unique museum setting, credible scientific elements drawn from Preston's eight years at the American Museum of Natural History, and fast-paced plot make it a compelling read for thriller enthusiasts.

Who should read Relic by Douglas Preston?

Relic by Douglas Preston appeals to readers who enjoy science-driven thrillers, forensic mysteries, and horror elements combined with intellectual depth. Fans of Michael Crichton's techno-thrillers, museum enthusiasts, and readers interested in anthropology and natural history will particularly appreciate the authentic museum atmosphere. It's ideal for those seeking suspenseful page-turners grounded in real scientific concepts rather than pure supernatural fiction.

What makes Relic by Douglas Preston unique as a thriller?

Relic by Douglas Preston stands out through its authentic American Museum of Natural History setting, drawing from Preston's eight years working there as editor and writer. The novel combines real museum operations, scientific research, and institutional politics with supernatural horror elements. Preston's insider knowledge creates unprecedented realism in depicting the museum's hidden spaces, collection artifacts, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that most thrillers cannot replicate.

Is Relic by Douglas Preston part of a series?

Relic is the first book in the Special Agent Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The novel introduces FBI Special Agent Pendergast, who appears in many subsequent novels including The Cabinet of Curiosities, Brimstone, and White Fire. Preston and Child have continued the Pendergast series alongside other collaborative works like the Gideon Crew series and standalone thrillers.

What is the Museum Beast in Relic?

The Museum Beast in Relic is a terrifying creature that stalks the American Museum of Natural History, brutally killing victims by removing specific parts of their bodies. The mystery surrounding the creature's origins, nature, and motivations drives the novel's suspense. Without spoiling the reveal, the beast represents a fusion of anthropology, evolutionary biology, and horror that reflects both ancient practices and modern scientific experimentation.

Where does Relic by Douglas Preston take place?

Relic by Douglas Preston takes place primarily within the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The museum's labyrinthine corridors, storage rooms, exhibition halls, and hidden underground spaces create a claustrophobic atmosphere perfect for suspense. Preston's firsthand experience working at the actual museum from 1978 to 1985 allowed him to recreate authentic details of the institution's layout and operations throughout the thriller.

レリック

ダグラス・プレストン

4.05(116876 Reviews)

Fiction

『レリック』の概要

博物館の薄暗いホールで、古の獣が狩りをする。NPR（ナショナル・パブリック・ラジオ）の「史上最高のミステリー・スリラー100選」に名を連ねる『レリック』は、数百万人を魅了した伝説のペンダーガスト警部シリーズの幕開けとなった作品である。科学的な精密さの裏に潜むのは、純粋で原始的な恐怖。そして読者は、そこから目を逸らすことができない。

語り方を選ぶ

1冊の本。さまざまな聴き方。

レリックの同じアイデアを、あなたに合う声・深さ・ペースで学べます。いつでも切り替えられます。

第1章

When Ancient Evil Awakens: The Museum's Deadly Secret

In the heart of New York City's prestigious Museum of Natural History lurks a secret that has captivated millions of readers since Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child published "Relic" in 1995. This scientific thriller, which spent weeks on bestseller lists and inspired a major Hollywood film, combines elements of horror, mystery, and evolutionary science in a way that makes even Stephen King's skin crawl-he called it "an out-and-out scary read." What makes this tale particularly chilling is Preston's insider knowledge; he worked at the American Museum of Natural History before writing the novel, lending authenticity to the labyrinthine setting where most readers will never venture: the forgotten basements, abandoned tunnels, and restricted areas behind the museum's polished public facade.

第2章

Into the Heart of Darkness: The Expedition That Started It All

Deep in the Amazon Basin, amid the suffocating heat and impenetrable vegetation, anthropologist Dr. Julian Whittlesey makes a discovery that will change everything. While searching for evidence of the mysterious Kothoga tribe - a people spoken of only in whispers by local villagers - he uncovers strange artifacts in a series of previously unexplored caves. The most significant find is a grotesque figurine called "Mbwun" ("He Who Walks On All Fours"), crafted from an unknown black stone that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it. The expedition is already troubled from the start. His Botocudo guides, typically fearless men who know the jungle intimately, have fled after muttering about an ancient curse. Their departure follows weeks of increasingly strange occurrences: unexplained noises in the night, discoveries of mutilated animals, and eerie silence where jungle sounds should be. When his colleague Crocker disappears during a routine survey, Whittlesey's scientific skepticism begins to waver. Following an ancient trail toward Cerro Gordo - a mountain shrouded in local legends - Whittlesey discovers Crocker's mutilated corpse. The body lies splayed across moss-covered stones, the back of his skull torn away with surgical precision. As horror washes over him, Whittlesey notices something even more terrifying: the rainforest has fallen completely silent, as if every living creature is holding its breath. In the dense undergrowth, he glimpses slitted eyes "the color of liquid fire" watching him from the brush, accompanied by a low, guttural sound unlike any known predator. The artifacts eventually make their way to New York, but the expedition ends in tragedy. Multiple crates from Whittlesey's final expedition sit forgotten in a Brazilian warehouse for months, gathering dust and humidity before finally reaching the Museum of Natural History. What no one realizes is that something deadly has made the journey with them - a presence that will remain dormant until disturbed years later in the museum's subbasements. The first signs of trouble appear when two young brothers, Billy and his younger sibling Henry, venture into the museum's restricted areas one rainy afternoon. Curious and adventurous, they discover a spiral staircase behind a barricade marked with faded "No Entry" signs. Their descent into the museum's depths - past corroded pipes, through corridors thick with decades of dust - becomes the catalyst for a series of horrific events that will transform the prestigious institution into a hunting ground. What makes this opening sequence so effective is how it plays on our primal fears of the unknown while grounding them in familiar settings. We've all experienced that moment of dread when we venture somewhere we shouldn't, that instinctive feeling that something is watching from the shadows. Preston and Child masterfully establish the contrast between the museum's public face - a place of learning and wonder, filled with schoolchildren and tourists - and its hidden underbelly where ancient dangers lurk in forgotten corners, waiting to be awakened. The museum itself becomes a character, its nineteenth-century architecture concealing layers of secrets beneath its polished marble facades.

聴きながら、すべての言葉を目で追えます

『レリック』の一語一語が音声に合わせてリアルタイムでハイライトされ、自然に読み進められます。

第3章

The First Bodies Fall: Panic in the Halls of Science

When Margo Green, a graduate student working on her dissertation, arrives at the museum one morning, she finds police vehicles and emergency services outside. Two young boys have been found dead in the basement-not just dead, but "literally shredded" according to journalist Bill Smithback, who's researching a book about the museum's upcoming "Superstition" exhibition. The murders create immediate tension between science and superstition. Museum Director Winston Wright denies rumors about wild animals in the museum while appearing visibly stressed. Dr. Frock, Margo's mentor who studies evolutionary patterns, cryptically warns that "the force used was... of a nonnormal nature" and advises Margo to "be watchful." The investigation brings Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta and Special Agent Pendergast together-a partnership that would continue through many subsequent novels. Pendergast, described as moving "like a cat" with pale eyes and almost-white hair, reveals that similar murders occurred in New Orleans years ago with the same signature: skull removal and brain extraction. What follows is a masterclass in building tension. The museum's complex structure-with five miles of air ducts, abandoned tunnels, and vast unelectrified subbasements-becomes a character in itself. Museum staff whisper about a "Museum Beast" glimpsed in shadows. When tracker Jonathan Hamm brings hunting dogs to follow the scent, one dog breaks free and is found torn nearly in half, establishing that whatever is stalking the museum is powerful enough to overcome natural predators. The museum setting is perfect for this kind of horror. It's a place where the past is preserved, where ancient creatures and forgotten civilizations are displayed behind glass. But what happens when something from the past escapes confinement? The juxtaposition of scientific rationality against primal terror creates cognitive dissonance that heightens the reader's unease. We want to believe there's a logical explanation, just as the characters do, but the evidence increasingly points to something beyond conventional understanding.

第4章

The Creature Revealed: Science Confronts the Impossible

As the body count rises, including a security guard found disemboweled in a stairwell, the investigation intensifies. Dr. Matilda Ziewicz performs an autopsy on one of the boys, discovering the back of his skull punched through and the brain partially missing-specifically the thalamus and hypothalamus regions. Most significantly, she finds a claw embedded in the victim's chest. This physical evidence forces the characters to confront an uncomfortable reality: they're dealing with something that defies conventional classification. When the claw is analyzed, DNA results show a bizarre mixture of species-part reptile, part primate, with many unidentifiable sequences. Margo and Dr. Frock begin piecing together the connection between the murders and the Whittlesey expedition. They discover that the crates from the Amazon contained not just artifacts but also strange plant fibers used as packing material. These fibers, when analyzed, prove to be neither fully plant nor animal, containing human hormones-particularly from the hypothalamus gland. The revelation comes in stages: the creature that escaped from the crates had been feeding on these hormone-rich fibers. When the crates were moved to the Secure Area, cutting off its food supply, it began killing humans to extract their hypothalamus glands as a substitute. This biological imperative drives the creature's behavior-it's not killing out of malice but necessity, like an addict desperate for a fix. What makes this scientific detective work compelling is how it grounds the horror in plausible biology. The creature isn't simply a monster; it's an evolutionary aberration with specific biological needs and adaptations. Dr. Frock's "Callisto Effect" theory-that every 60-70 million years, a new predatory species emerges when life becomes too well-adapted-provides a framework for understanding the creature's existence. The scientific approach to horror elevates "Relic" above typical monster stories. The characters use DNA analysis, evolutionary theory, and anatomical knowledge to understand their adversary. This grounding in real science makes the impossible seem possible, creating a more sophisticated kind of fear than simple shock value could achieve.

『レリック』をもっと深く楽しむ

毎日の新しい気づきを10万件以上のレッスンから
言葉をハイライトして音声と同期
ライブラリを保存して、どの端末からでも利用

第5章

The Museum Politics: Human Monsters Among Us

While a literal monster stalks the museum's dark corridors, equally dangerous human "monsters" operate in the administrative offices, wielding bureaucratic power with calculated precision. The American Museum of Natural History's internal politics and labyrinthine bureaucracy create obstacles that prove as treacherous as the creature itself - perhaps more so, given their ability to hamper those trying to prevent disaster. Public Relations Director Lavinia Rickman emerges as a formidable gatekeeper, wielding her red pen like a weapon against journalist Bill Smithback's manuscript about the exhibition. Her censorship goes beyond mere editorial oversight - she demands the systematic removal of anything that might raise eyebrows or question the museum's authority. When Smithback presents compelling arguments about how failure and controversy have historically driven scientific progress, citing examples like continental drift theory and the resistance to Darwin's work, Rickman remains unmoved. Her requirements are unambiguous and revealing of institutional priorities: nothing controversial, nothing that might offend ethnic groups, and absolutely nothing that could tarnish the Museum's carefully cultivated image of academic excellence. The conspiracy of silence extends to the highest levels of museum leadership. Deputy Director Ian Cuthbert and Director Winston Wright orchestrate a sophisticated cover-up of disturbing incidents. Most notably, they've buried all evidence regarding the disappearance of Gregory Montague, a promising young curator who vanished near the Whittlesey crates years earlier. Their internal memos, discovered later by Margo Green, reveal a pattern of deliberately misleading statements and strategic omissions. Their singular focus on protecting the museum's reputation and ensuring the Superstition exhibition - with its wealthy donors and international media attention - opens on schedule reveals a chilling indifference to human cost. The political maneuvering extends beyond museum walls into federal law enforcement. When FBI Special Agent Pendergast implements necessary but disruptive security protocols, Wright leverages his connections in Washington to have him replaced. His chosen replacement, Special Agent Coffey, proves more pliable to administrative pressures, prioritizing the exhibition's timeline over thorough security measures. Pendergast's response to his removal reveals both his insight and adaptability: "While Coffey has final authority, I now have freedom to follow my own instincts without direct responsibility" - a statement that proves prophetic as events unfold. These human antagonists represent institutional horror at its most insidious - the kind that operates through memos, meetings, and carefully worded press releases. They embody a systemic failure that prioritizes institutional preservation over human safety, valuing reputation and revenue above all else. Their actions force the protagonists to operate in the shadows, creating a parallel conflict that runs alongside the monster hunt - one where paperwork and politics prove as deadly as claws and fangs. This layer of human corruption adds sophisticated depth to what could have been a simple monster story. It suggests that true monsters come in many forms, and sometimes the most dangerous ones don't lurk in basement corridors but sit in corner offices, making decisions that cascade into tragedy. Their weapons are not teeth or claws, but rather policies and procedures that, wielded carelessly or maliciously, can cause devastation far beyond what any single predator could achieve.

第6章

The Exhibition Opens: Disaster Unfolds

Despite the mounting evidence of danger, the Superstition Exhibition opens as scheduled. The Museum's Great Rotunda and Hall of the Heavens fill with thousands of New York's elite, mingling amid tropical decorations, champagne, and music, completely unaware of the danger lurking nearby. Margo and Dr. Frock desperately try to warn officials about the creature, armed with their scientific analysis that reveals it to be a formidable predator weighing 240-260kg, capable of speeds up to 70kph, with a brain capacity approaching human range. Most alarmingly, it possesses specialized adaptations for hunting by smell rather than sight-making the crowded exhibition, with its concentrated human hormonal scent, the perfect hunting ground. Their warnings go unheeded. During the opening ceremony, D'Agosta discovers a mutilated corpse hidden atop a display case-the headless body of Officer Beauregard, who has been dead for days. Before he can safely evacuate the guests, the body falls into the crowd, triggering mass panic as people stampede toward the exit. The situation deteriorates rapidly. The museum's sophisticated security system fails, plunging everything into darkness and automatically sealing the building into five isolated cells. The massive metal security doors descend, trapping people inside with the creature. Director Wright, Cuthbert, and Rickman take refuge in Wright's old laboratory, while D'Agosta leads a group including the Mayor through flooded subbasement tunnels seeking escape. This sequence demonstrates masterful pacing. After the slow build of scientific discovery and political maneuvering, the action explodes into chaos. The exhibition opening becomes a perfect storm-hundreds of potential victims trapped in darkness with a predator that hunts by scent, navigates easily without light, and knows the museum's hidden passages better than those trying to escape. The flooding tunnels add another layer of danger, creating a ticking clock as water levels rise. The characters must choose between drowning or facing the creature, with no good options available. This combination of threats-monster, darkness, rising water, failing technology-creates a perfect pressure cooker of tension.

聴きながら、すべての言葉を目で追えます

『レリック』の一語一語が音声に合わせてリアルタイムでハイライトされ、自然に読み進められます。

第7章

The Final Hunt: Intelligence vs. Instinct

As the situation in the museum reaches its crisis point, Special Agent Pendergast emerges as the hero uniquely qualified to face the creature. His unconventional background - particularly his extensive experience hunting dangerous game in Africa's most treacherous territories - provides crucial insights that conventional law enforcement lacks. Drawing from lessons learned tracking wounded lions through the Serengeti, Pendergast understands that when facing a superior predator, the most effective strategy isn't attempting kill shots but rather "breaking down" the animal by targeting its mobility - specifically shattering leg bones to immobilize it. Pendergast and Margo develop an elaborate strategy based on their combined knowledge. They initially attempt to exploit the creature's biological drives, using carefully placed caches of the plant fibers it desperately craves as bait. This plan reveals an unexpected sophistication - the beast demonstrates tactical awareness and problem-solving abilities far beyond their initial estimates, avoiding their carefully laid traps and even setting counter-ambushes of its own. This forces them to adopt a far riskier approach: using themselves as living bait in a carefully chosen narrow corridor where Pendergast can maximize his shooting angles. The futility of conventional military tactics becomes brutally apparent when an elite SWAT team attempts a simultaneous assault from the museum's roof. Despite their state-of-the-art weapons and tactical training, they're systematically destroyed by the creature. Their night vision equipment proves useless against its natural adaptations, and their body armor offers no protection against its unprecedented strength. The massacre demonstrates how thoroughly outmatched traditional armed response is against this evolutionary anomaly. The climactic confrontation unfolds in the museum's mineralogy wing, where Pendergast and Margo successfully maneuver the creature into their trap. Margo's scientific expertise proves decisive - her detailed understanding of primate anatomy allows her to identify a crucial vulnerability. She realizes the creature's forward-facing eyes, similar to great apes, create a direct channel to its brain cavity. This insight enables Pendergast to place his shot precisely where it will have maximum effect, using the creature's thick skull to their advantage as the bullet ricochets internally, causing catastrophic damage. This resolution masterfully synthesizes the novel's twin themes of scientific knowledge and primal combat. The creature - itself a product of both evolution and human interference - is ultimately defeated not by overwhelming force but through the combination of Pendergast's refined hunting instincts and Margo's scientific acumen. It demonstrates how human intelligence, when properly applied, can overcome even the most formidable biological weapons nature - or science - can produce. The victory comes not from superior firepower but from understanding both the creature's strengths and its inherent vulnerabilities.

第8章

The Aftermath: Science Vindicated and Secrets Revealed

Four weeks after the devastating Museum disaster, the survivors convene in Dr. Frock's sunlit office, where morning light streams through tall windows overlooking Central Park. The media circus that had descended upon the Museum of Natural History has largely dispersed, their attention drawn to newer sensations. The government's swift and secretive removal of the creature's remains - conducted under the cover of darkness by unmarked vehicles - helped quell public hysteria and prevented detailed scientific examination of the specimen. In this moment of relative calm, the truth about the creature emerges through careful analysis of the limited samples they managed to preserve. The beast represented an unprecedented evolutionary combination: part reptile, contributing its extraordinary strength, lightning-fast reflexes, and remarkable endurance; part primate, explaining its problem-solving abilities and tactical intelligence. DNA analysis suggests it was likely the last of its kind, an evolutionary dead end whose habitat had been irreversibly destroyed. The tepui where it originated now bears deep scars from aggressive mining operations, its unique ecosystem decimated. The plant species it depended on - a rare specimen with properties unlike anything known to modern botany - has vanished entirely from the plateau. Smithback, ever the opportunist but with a newfound conscience, has secured a lucrative book contract with Random House. His decision to donate half the royalties to Officer Bailey's family reflects how the events have changed him. Lieutenant D'Agosta's handling of the crisis has earned him a well-deserved promotion to Captain, though he remains haunted by the officers lost under his command. Margo, whose theoretical knowledge proved crucial during the crisis, accepts a tenure-track position at Columbia University's Department of Evolutionary Biology, where she plans to continue her research into extreme adaptation in isolated species. During their gathering, the group reconstructs a timeline of the creature's victims - a grim accounting that includes not just the recent deaths of homeless people in the Museum's subbasement, but also a German tourist who vanished near Riverside Park, the shocking murder of George Moriarty, and finally the long-mysterious disappearance of Ian Montague, whose fate had puzzled Museum staff for years. However, what seems like closure proves to be merely prologue to an even darker revelation. Six months later, in a development that sends shockwaves through the scientific community, Greg Kawakita - the brilliant but unstable researcher who developed the genetic program crucial to identifying the creature - is discovered to have been conducting unauthorized experiments in a makeshift laboratory. He has successfully reconstructed the extinct plant from a single preserved fiber and, more disturbingly, has been synthesizing and selling its powerful narcotic derivative on the street as "glaze." The most chilling revelation comes from Kawakita's detailed notes: the Museum Beast was actually Dr. John Whittlesey, transformed by an ancient reovirus preserved within the plant for 65 million years. The Kothoga tribe, in a desperate bid to protect their way of life from encroaching civilization, had force-fed Whittlesey the plant, turning him into what they called Mbwun - the guardian beast. But like all previous attempts to create such creatures, Whittlesey proved impossible to control, either escaping his creators or being abandoned to wander far from his original habitat. This final disclosure transforms the entire narrative from a monster story into a tragedy of human hubris. Whittlesey, driven by scientific curiosity, had crossed boundaries that ancient wisdom had marked as forbidden. His transformation suggests that the line between humanity and monstrosity is far more fragile than modern science would have us believe - that perhaps the capacity for becoming "other" lies dormant within human DNA, waiting only for the right catalyst to emerge.

『レリック』をもっと深く楽しむ

毎日の新しい気づきを10万件以上のレッスンから
言葉をハイライトして音声と同期
ライブラリを保存して、どの端末からでも利用

第9章

The Legacy of Relic: Where Science Meets Horror

"Relic" succeeds because it understands that the most effective horror comes not from the supernatural but from the natural world pushed to extremes. The creature at its heart isn't a demon or ghost but an evolutionary possibility - something that could exist if certain biological principles were stretched just beyond their normal limits. Drawing from real scientific concepts like convergent evolution and adaptive radiation, the novel creates a monster that feels disturbingly plausible within our understanding of natural history. The novel's setting contributes enormously to its impact. Museums are repositories of the past, places where we contain and categorize the natural world through careful curation and scientific methodology. The American Museum of Natural History, with its vast collection of over 33 million specimens and artifacts, represents humanity's attempt to understand and control nature through scientific classification. When something escapes that classification - something that shouldn't exist according to conventional taxonomy - it threatens not just individual lives but our entire framework for understanding reality. The museum's labyrinthine basement levels, storage facilities, and forgotten sub-basements create a perfect hunting ground where modern civilization literally sits atop layers of evolutionary history. The characters' scientific backgrounds make their confrontation with the impossible more compelling. These aren't superstitious people prone to seeing monsters in shadows; they're rational scientists forced to expand their understanding when faced with evidence that challenges their worldview. Dr. Margo Green's expertise in evolutionary biology and Dr. Frock's deep knowledge of genetics provide a scientific lens through which the horror unfolds. This cognitive dissonance - the struggle to reconcile scientific training with impossible reality - creates a more sophisticated kind of horror than simple fear. Their analytical approach to understanding the creature makes the terror more acute when science fails to provide answers. Preston and Child's collaboration produced a perfect blend of scientific plausibility and pulse-pounding action. Their backgrounds - Preston's experience as a former editor at the American Museum of Natural History and Child's editorial expertise - created a novel that feels authentic in both its scientific details and narrative structure. The authors' meticulous research into museum operations, evolutionary biology, and forensic science grounds the fantastic elements in reality. "Relic" launched not just a successful film adaptation but an entire series featuring Agent Pendergast, whose unusual methods and encyclopedic knowledge would guide readers through many more encounters with the unexplained. The character became an icon of intellectual detective work, combining scientific methodology with an openness to extreme possibilities. The novel's legacy lives on in how it forever changed our perception of museums - reminding us that behind every orderly exhibition lies a labyrinth of storage rooms, forgotten specimens, and perhaps things that science has not yet found names for. Its influence can be seen in countless subsequent works that blend scientific expertise with horror, creating a subgenre that explores the terrifying possibilities lurking at the edges of human knowledge.

★★★★★

『レリック』を最後まで読み終えました

100万人以上の学習者に愛用されています

“23日間、毎日使い続けています。今では日課の一部です。”

jayallen

『レリック』の主要テーマ

evolutionary mutation
museum subbasements
ancient tribal curses
predatory biology
scientific expedition tragedy

『レリック』の名言

"Be watchful."
The force used was... of a nonnormal nature.
The rainforest has fallen completely silent.
The body lies splayed across moss-covered stones.
An out-and-out scary read.

『レリック』の登場人物

Aloysius PendergastFBI Special Agent with pale eyes and white hair
Margo GreenGraduate student working at the museum
Vincent D'AgostaPolice Lieutenant investigating the murders
Dr. Julian WhittleseyAnthropologist who led the Amazon expedition
Bill SmithbackJournalist researching the museum's exhibition

著者について

ダグラス・ジェローム・プレストンは、『レリック』のベストセラー著者であり、博物館の陰謀、考古学、そして超自然的なサスペンスを融合させた科学スリラーの巨匠です。1956年にマサチューセッツ州ケンブリッジで生まれたプレストンは、ニューヨークのアメリカ自然史博物館でライター、編集者、出版マネージャーとして8年間を過ごしました。その経験が、『レリック』に本物のインサイダーならではの詳細と、独特の緊張感をもたらしています。

博物館の隠されたコレクションや迷宮のような回廊に関する彼の深い知識は、この手に汗握るスリラーの完璧な基盤となりました。編集者から執筆パートナーとなったリンカーン・チャイルドとの共著である『レリック』は、絶賛されたペンダーガスト警部シリーズの幕開けとなり、科学的専門知識と胸躍る物語を融合させるプレストンの代表的なスタイルを世に示しました。

プレストンはこれまでに39冊の著書を執筆しており、フィクション・ノンフィクションの両分野で32冊がニューヨーク・タイムズのベストセラーとなっています。プリンストン大学でノンフィクション執筆の教鞭を執った経験もあり、現在は全米作家協会（Authors Guild）の会長を務めています。『レリック』の文化的影響力は、1997年にペネロープ・アン・ミラー主演でパラマウント・ピクチャーズによって映画化されたことで確固たるものとなり、現代スリラーの古典としての地位を確立しました。

レリックの要約をダウンロード

レリックの要約をPDFまたはEPUBで無料でダウンロード。印刷やオフラインでいつでもお読みいただけます。

他のユーザーのお気に入り

Jurassic Park

Michael Crichton

Revelation Space

Alastair Reynolds

The Shadow of what was lost

James Islington

Dan Simmons

Christopher Priest

William Diehl

Michael Crichton

Shantel Tessier

この本に関するよくある質問

学習プラン

Gothic Shadows and Psychological Depths

This learning plan offers a deep dive into the evolution of literary terror, tracing how horror transitioned from external threats to internal psychological struggles. It is ideal for literature students, creative writers, and fans of the macabre who want to understand the mechanics of fear and the complexity of the human soul.

1 h 12 m•3 セクション

学習プラン

Secrets of a Strange Earth

This plan is designed for curious minds who want to look beyond conventional knowledge to understand the anomalies of our universe and species. It is perfect for lifelong learners and trivia enthusiasts seeking to bridge the gap between science, history, and psychology.

1 h 36 m•4 セクション

学習プラン

The Raven: A Descent into Gothic Madness

This plan offers a deep dive into the psychological horror and literary craftsmanship of Edgar Allan Poe's most famous poem. It is ideal for literature students and fans of the Gothic genre seeking to understand the mechanics of madness and grief.

1 h 30 m•3 セクション

学習プラン

The Psychic Espionage Playbook

This playbook provides a structured look into the intersection of intelligence operations and human consciousness. It is ideal for history buffs, intelligence enthusiasts, and those interested in the rigorous methodology behind scientifically-studied psychic phenomena.

1 h 45 m•3 セクション

学習プラン

The Evolution of Gothic and Epic Storytelling

This path is essential for literature enthusiasts and writers who want to understand how narrative traditions shifted from heroic epics to psychological horror. It offers a deep dive into the human psyche, making it perfect for those interested in cultural history and the mechanics of atmospheric storytelling.

2 h•4 セクション

学習プラン

The World of Three Pines

This plan is essential for readers and literary enthusiasts who want to look beyond the mystery and understand the profound human themes of Louise Penny’s work. It is ideal for aspiring writers, book club members, or fans of the series seeking a deeper analysis of Armand Gamache’s character and the healing power of community.

1 h 30 m•3 セクション

学習プラン

Nature's Lethal Ambition

This plan offers a unique look at how humanity has harnessed nature's toxins for power, war, and status. It is ideal for history buffs, science enthusiasts, and true crime fans interested in the dark evolution of toxicology.

1 h 12 m•3 セクション

学習プラン

Tombs, Rituals, and Lost Kings

This plan is essential for history enthusiasts and aspiring archaeologists who want to understand the intersection of power, architecture, and the afterlife. It offers a deep dive into how ancient civilizations immortalized their leaders through complex rituals and celestial alignment.

1 h 12 m•3 セクション

コロンビア大学卒業生がサンフランシスコで開発

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

BeFreedがウェブ上でどのように話題になっているかをもっと見る

コロンビア大学卒業生がサンフランシスコで開発

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

BeFreedがウェブ上でどのように話題になっているかをもっと見る

今すぐ学習の旅を始めよう

第8章

レリック

概要『レリック』の概要

1冊の本。さまざまな聴き方。

When Ancient Evil Awakens: The Museum's Deadly Secret

Into the Heart of Darkness: The Expedition That Started It All

聴きながら、すべての言葉を目で追えます

The First Bodies Fall: Panic in the Halls of Science

The Creature Revealed: Science Confronts the Impossible

『レリック』をもっと深く楽しむ

The Museum Politics: Human Monsters Among Us

The Exhibition Opens: Disaster Unfolds

聴きながら、すべての言葉を目で追えます

The Final Hunt: Intelligence vs. Instinct

The Aftermath: Science Vindicated and Secrets Revealed

『レリック』をもっと深く楽しむ

The Legacy of Relic: Where Science Meets Horror

『レリック』を最後まで読み終えました

『レリック』の主要テーマ

『レリック』の名言

『レリック』の登場人物

著者について

レリックの要約をダウンロード

他のユーザーのお気に入り

この本に関するよくある質問

What is Relic by Douglas Preston about?

Who wrote Relic and when was it published?

Is Relic by Douglas Preston worth reading?

Who should read Relic by Douglas Preston?

もっと見る

1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

1冊の本。さまざまな聴き方。

When Ancient Evil Awakens: The Museum's Deadly Secret

Into the Heart of Darkness: The Expedition That Started It All

聴きながら、すべての言葉を目で追えます

The First Bodies Fall: Panic in the Halls of Science

The Creature Revealed: Science Confronts the Impossible

『レリック』をもっと深く楽しむ

The Museum Politics: Human Monsters Among Us

The Exhibition Opens: Disaster Unfolds

聴きながら、すべての言葉を目で追えます

The Final Hunt: Intelligence vs. Instinct

The Aftermath: Science Vindicated and Secrets Revealed

『レリック』をもっと深く楽しむ

The Legacy of Relic: Where Science Meets Horror

『レリック』を最後まで読み終えました

他のユーザーのお気に入り

もっと見る

『レリック』の概要