Richard Preston Books in Order

Richard Preston follows astronomers using the Hale Telescope at California’s Palomar Observatory to investigate the distant universe. His narrative combines the scientific search for cosmic origins with a portrait of the people pursuing discoveries at the edge of space.

Richard Preston chronicles Nucor’s effort to build an innovative steel plant in the Midwest’s Rust Belt. The account follows the people and technical challenges behind an industrial venture that seeks to reverse the fortunes of American steelmaking.

Richard Preston recounts encounters with Ebola and Marburg viruses, tracing outbreaks from Africa to a research facility in Virginia. The nonfiction narrative follows scientists and responders working to identify lethal infections and contain a frightening biological emergency.

Gruesome deaths in New York draw CDC pathologist Alice Austen into an urgent investigation. Discovering links between the victims leads toward a biological threat, turning scientific detective work into a race to prevent further deaths.

Richard Preston examines smallpox eradication, surviving laboratory stocks, and the scientists confronting biological weapons. The 2001 anthrax attacks frame a nonfiction account of biodefense research and fears that an eliminated disease could return as a deliberate threat.

After losing their father in Vietnam, Lila and Will find an unfamiliar old man in their trailer. Recognizing their visitor as Santa Claus offers the possibility of a Christmas wish connected with their father’s cherished lobster boat.

Botanists and amateur naturalists climb California’s towering redwoods to explore their hidden canopies. Richard Preston follows their discoveries and personal lives, revealing ecosystems high above the ground and the risks involved in studying these extraordinary forests.

These nonfiction accounts explore unusual frontiers of science, including a rare genetic disorder, the search for Ebola’s natural host, and mathematical investigation of pi. Richard Preston connects discoveries with the remarkable people pursuing them.

Seven graduate students are recruited to a cutting-edge biotech lab in Hawaii, promised access to revolutionary tools. After an experiment goes wrong, they’re forced to survive at a tiny scale while the company tries to erase the evidence.

Richard Preston follows the Ebola epidemic that began in West Africa in 2013 and the international response it triggered. Doctors and scientists struggle to contain the outbreak while scarce experimental treatments raise difficult questions about who receives help.