Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Maybe Not Quite as Good, but Awfully Close
It would have been nearly impossible for "Reliquary" to live up to the fame of its predecessor, "Relic." But to this reader, it came very close. The authors start the story about a year and a half after the "Museum Beast" event They keep most of the same great characters from the first book: D'Agosta, Agent Pendergast, Margo Green, Dr. Frock, and Bill Smithback -- and introduce two well-drawn new characters: Sgt. Laura Hayward and Mephisto, mysterious, charismatic leader of an underground society. Some of the original characters, more than others, are still feeling fallout from the events of "Relic." This time, however, the action is centered not in the New York Museum of Natural History, but in a fantastic underground world of the homeless and society's outcasts below the streets of New York. The two books are linked by the fact that the creatures of "Reliquary" are different, yet definitely tied, to the Mbwun monster of "Relic." Besides the usual gruesome attacks and tense action sequences, highlights include the dark, dank atmosphere of the underground world, intriguing information about the underground society, much of it fact-based, an interesting sub-plot involving the ugliness of class prejudice, and twists to this story that make us look at two of the original characters in a new light. I also highly recommend the very well-read unabridged audiotape.
Rating: - Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the museum..
"Relic," a dark, twisted tour through a museum stalked by terror, is a book one would imagine would be difficult to follow. Does "Reliquary" do this successfully? Yes... to a point.This time, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child take us on a horrifying subway ride, past underestimated homeless "moles," a rabbit's warren of black tunnels, and a frightening continuation of the first book's monster story. "Reliquary" is a relief in that it doesn't suffer from "sequelitis," that "deja vu all over again" feeling that most sequels seem to have. There's no rehashing of the original story, here. "Reliquary" goes where "Relic" was afraid to, and with enjoyable results. My quibble with "Reliquary" is that it isn't quite as tight as "Relic." The plot seems to meander a bit more, and I prefer the museum setting of the prequel. The writing, however, is top-notch (as expected), and it's a sign of the writers' talents at characterization that I felt as though Margo, Smithback, Pendergast, and the rest of the returning cast were old friends of mine. The authors hint at a promise that these characters will feature in future books, and I would love that. I look forward to it. All in all, "Reliquary" is a satisfying and worthy sequel to "Relic." Given some of the plot twists and differences between "Relic" and its unfortunate silver screen adaptation, it appears that Paramount couldn't make "Reliquary" into a movie without running into some serious continuity errors. Of course, looking at the first film, it doesn't seem like Paramount was very concerned with that to begin with, so I'll just have to hope that they don't get their grubby mitts onto "Reliquary." The world doesn't need another movie like Paramount's "The Relic." More books from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, however, are more than welcome. :)
Rating: - reliquary doesn't surpass relic, but is a worthy sequel
Relic and its sequel remind me of alien and aliens. In the first, you have a thriller about a single creature that seems to be unstopable, while in the sequel, they are dropped left and right, with a larger emphasis on action. That's not to say one style is better than the other. Reliquary has all the techno-jargon you've come to expect from preston and child, but unlike Michael Crichton, they are horror writers at heart. and horror you get, with equal amounts of suspence and gore. Occasionaly, the characters fall a little close to stereotype, with a cool professional FBI man and a street smart NY cop, but do not compromise the story. If you want a satisfying thriller, you can always count on Preston and Child, I'm waiting eagerly for the next one, guys!
one last note, If you have only seen the movie of relic, read relic before you read this. Otherwise the story will be paradoxal to say the least.
|
