Chapter summaries Pendergast Douglas Preston

Chapter 71: About the Authors – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 71, titled “About the Authors,” closes the book with a factual profile of the writing team behind the Pendergast series: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It opens with a Publishers Weekly quote praising their thrillers as outstanding in the genre. It notes that their novels Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities were selected by National Public Radio listeners as among the one hundred greatest thrillers ever written, and that Relic was adapted into a number-one box-office film. The chapter then lists the series they coauthor: the famed Pendergast series and the newer Nora Kelly series. Recent collaborative novels are named, including Badlands, Angel of Vengeance, Dead Mountain, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, Diablo Mesa, Bloodless, The Scorpion’s Tail, and Crooked River. Separate solo achievements are highlighted: Preston wrote the award-winning nonfiction The Lost City of the Monkey God, and Child, a former book editor and Florida resident, has published solo bestsellers such as Chrysalis and Deep Storm. The chapter ends with a reference to the authors’ website for more information.

Key Events

A Publishers Weekly review characterizes Preston and Child’s thrillers as head and shoulders above rivals.
NPR listeners select Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities among the 100 greatest thrillers.
Relic is adapted into a film that reaches number one at the box office.
The chapter identifies the Pendergast series and the Nora Kelly series as their primary coauthored series.
Recent collaborative novels are listed, showing continued output.
Douglas Preston’s nonfiction book The Lost City of the Monkey God wins awards.
Lincoln Child, an ex-editor, publishes solo novels including Chrysalis and Deep Storm.

Character Development

The chapter does not advance fictional characters. Instead, it develops the real-world personas of the two authors: Preston as an award-winning nonfiction writer and Child as a veteran editor and solo novelist. Their long-term collaborative success is emphasized, reinforcing their authority in the thriller genre. This backmatter humanizes the creative force behind the series, giving readers context about the partnership that produced the story they just finished.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Creative Collaboration: The chapter stresses the power of a coauthor partnership, showcasing a joint resume that spans decades and multiple series.
Literary Recognition and Crossover: The NPR poll and the film adaptation illustrate that good thrillers can achieve both critical and commercial success across media.
Dual Talents: The separate solo works of each author hint at diverse abilities—Preston in narrative nonfiction, Child in independent fiction—that enrich their joint projects.

Why This Chapter Matters

This concluding chapter serves as an author’s note, grounding the fictional world of Pendergast in the real-world credentials of its creators. It builds trust with readers by detailing the acclaim and awards the authors have earned. For fans of the series, it provides a handy reference for other books by the same team. As the final chapter, it closes the volume with a nod to the writers behind the story, reminding us that every thriller is the product of a real writer’s craft.

Study Questions and Answers

According to the chapter, which two Preston‑Child novels were chosen by NPR listeners among the hundred greatest thrillers?
Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities.
Name two series that Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have coauthored.
The Pendergast series and the Nora Kelly series.
What is one solo accomplishment of Douglas Preston mentioned in this chapter?
He wrote the award‑winning nonfiction book The Lost City of the Monkey God.