Relic by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child (1995, Hardcover)

I bought this book as a replacement for a paperback copy. Preston and Child are superb writers. They are intelligent, scary, witty, and imaginative. This is the first book in a great series featuring Special Agent Pendergast. Pendergast is an unusual gentleman, who is so radical he should be fired from the agency. At the same time, his strangness is so brilliant, his wealth so staggering, his success so astonishing, that no FBI Director would consider firing him. The characters interact very well and the story line holds your attention. Reading the novels written by these two gentlemen has lead me to an exploration of many subjects I had not considered reading before. It is true, you can learn from well written fiction. There were two things I didn't like about the book. First, their writing makes the movie version of the book look incomplete. Secondly, I now have to budget for more of their books. I would recommend this book to any mature person who wants a really good literary ride. I would not recommend it to those who are afraid of the dark.