Extinction

A Novel

By: Douglas Preston

Narrated by: David Aaron Baker

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

With Extinction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston has written a binge-worthy thriller in the Michael Crichton mode that explores the possible and unintended dangers of the very real efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct animals.

Erebus Resort, occupying a magnificent, hundred-thousand acre valley deep in the Colorado Rockies, offers guests the experience of viewing woolly mammoths, Irish Elk, and giant ground sloths in their native habitat, brought back from extinction through the magic of genetic manipulation. When a billionaire's son and his new wife are kidnapped and murdered in the Erebus back country by what is assumed to be a gang of eco-terrorists, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down the perpetrators.

As killings mount and the valley is evacuated, Cash and Colcord must confront an ancient, intelligent, and malevolent presence at Erebus, bent not on resurrection—but extinction.

©2024 Douglas Preston (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

An April 2024 Library Reads pick

An April 2024 best new science fiction book at New Scientist

“A thriller as breathlessly riveting as you would expect from a genre master like Douglas Preston, but much more too: it's meaty and thought-provoking, and tells us a lot about our distant past—and our immediate future. Spectacular!”—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Preston’s latest thriller, Extinction, is Jurassic Park for the Pleistocene Era—and that’s no exaggeration. It’s got everything I love: fantastic creatures, wild adventures, and dynamic heroes. But most frightening of all, it shines a disturbing light on where the science of genetic engineering might be venturing next. Read at your own risk!”—James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Doug Preston is a master storyteller. I’m still thinking about Extinction—which is both entertaining and frightening—every page like a tasty treat. You have to read this!—Steve Berry, #1 New York Times bestselling author

I would reccomend it

This audio book was suggested by audible saying it was similar to Jurassic Park. I knew nothing about this book before buying it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story is a crime drama laced with some prehistoric creatures.

De-Extincting "Humans", WHAT!!!

I enjoyed the h*ll out of this book!!! Classic Preston on the order of "Relic"! An incredibly novel idea, great characters, lots of action, and a very well-developed story make this one of my favorite Preston novels, I think. Being a trained geologist and an anthropology/paleontology fan, I loved the whole experience! If you liked Preston & Child's early books, you will love this book! I highly recommend!

Don’t miss this one

Well read well written. Mr Preston score again. It feels like you’re there. Law enforcement procedures well done.

Finally someone is addressing the awful possibility of caveman cloning. We, as humans have a lot to answer for. However …

I was disappointed in the language. Mostly profane. In my collection I have almost 40 Preston&Child…Preston…Child books and have loved most of them. Never before have I felt an assault of profanity to this degree. I’m a Catholic and saddened by the blasphemous use of the name of God and his Son. Douglas, please consider returning to using language more appropriate of the gift you possess.

Wow

A wild take on Jurassic park, with extinct humans! Couldn’t stop listening until complete. Very well written and audio was amazing!

Couldn’t put it down

I loved this story and the reader was very good. A real thriller from beginning to end!

Extinction

Interesting story, different from what these authors usually write but quite good. At first I thought it was going to be another version of Jurassic Park but with mammals instead of dinosaurs. In a way it was but using Neanderthal people instead of velociraptors as the dangerous creatures but had a lot of police investigation in it as well. Well worth the read or listen

deextinction

Should something be done just because we can do it? The thought of ancient animals once again walking the earth is thrilling. But earth is not as it was and, perhaps, we would be putting vulnerable animals in harms way for our own vanity.

Solid until the end!

Great story and premise but lost momentum for me at the end. Fine storytelling throughout the entire book and it’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from such a great author. I just wanted something a little more at the end.

Entertaining

Put on your fiction and fantasy hats and take a ride. This time the animals are tame and the people aren’t. But it’s a fun read with suspense and adventure.