Badlands Chapter 67: About the Authors — Summary and Analysis
Spoiler Notice: This chapter is the book's back-matter "About the Authors" section and contains no plot spoilers for Badlands.
Summary
Chapter 67 of Badlands is not a narrative chapter but the book's concluding "About the Authors" section. It offers a concise professional biography of co-authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The passage highlights their collaborative history, noting critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly, and cites the inclusion of their novels Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities in a National Public Radio poll of the one hundred greatest thrillers. It further notes that Relic was adapted into a successful film. The section names their famed Pendergast series and lists several recent co-authored titles. It also acknowledges Preston's award-winning nonfiction work, The Lost City of the Monkey God, and Child's career as a former book editor and author of eight solo novels, including Chrysalis and Deep Storm. Child's Florida residence is mentioned. The section closes with a website URL for readers seeking further information.
Key Events
- Critical Accolades: The authors' thrillers receive high praise from Publishers Weekly.
- NPR Recognition: Two of their novels are voted among the one hundred greatest thrillers by NPR listeners.
- Film Adaptation: Relic is adapted into a number-one box office hit film.
- Collaborative Output: Their Pendergast series and five recent co-authored novels are cited.
- Solo Achievements: Preston's nonfiction award and Child's eight solo novels are acknowledged.
Character Development
In this context, the "characters" are the authors themselves. The section develops a portrait of a prolific partnership. Preston is presented as a writer who moves between collaborative fiction and award-winning nonfiction. Child is depicted as a former book editor who brought his industry knowledge to the partnership and maintained a separate solo career. Their longevity as a duo is implied through the long list of titles.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Collaboration as Strength: The section emphasizes what the two authors have achieved together, framing their partnership as central to their success.
- Genre Prestige: By citing accolades like the NPR poll and Publishers Weekly praise, the text reinforces the literary legitimacy of the thriller genre.
- Cross-Media Reach: The mention of the Relic film adaptation signals that their storytelling transcends the page.
Why This Chapter Matters
Though not part of the fictional narrative, this closing section serves important functions. It establishes the authority and pedigree of the storytellers the reader has just spent the entire novel with, validating the reading experience through external recognition. It also functions as a discovery tool: by listing other titles and a website, it guides satisfied readers toward the authors' broader body of work, deepening engagement with the Pendergast universe and beyond. The brief personal details about Child's Florida residence and Preston's nonfiction work humanize the authors after the intense fictional journey of Badlands.
Study Questions and Answers
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What evidence does this section provide that Preston and Child's work has achieved both critical and popular success? The section cites a Publishers Weekly assessment that their thrillers stand above their rivals, an NPR listener poll placing two of their novels among the greatest thrillers ever written, and the box-office success of the Relic film adaptation.
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How does the "About the Authors" section distinguish the individual contributions of each writer? It notes that Preston authored the award-winning nonfiction book The Lost City of the Monkey God, while Child is a former book editor who has published eight solo novels, including bestsellers Chrysalis and Deep Storm, and resides in Florida.
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What practical purpose does this chapter serve for readers who have finished the novel? The section directs readers to the website PrestonChild.com and lists additional co-authored titles such as The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, Diablo Mesa, and Bloodless, helping interested readers locate more books by the authors.