Pros
- Excellent story pacing that leads to a fascinating outcome
- Writing style is easy to follow along despite complex topic
- Characters are fairly developed
- Pop cultural references to Star Trek and other lovable science fiction staples
Cons
- Some may see the pacing as a bit slow for their liking
- Mike has almost superhuman memories and intelligence, yet he misses subtle character changes
Of the three books in the Threshold series, The Fold is by far my favorite simply because the execution of the premise is so good.
Everything from the build up to the little details about the characters and the final reveal is great, and the characters are also likable.
If you’re considering the Threshold series and want a good example of Peter Clines’ work, then this book is the one to read, as they’re not related to one another.
Plot
Mike Erikson is sent to investigate a team of DARPA scientists and their Albuquerque Door experiment that involves teleportation. But the scientists are withholding dangerous information about their teleportation experiments.
Mike’s perfect photographic recall and intelligence puts him in a unique position to uncover the secrets the DARPA scientists are withholding.
Characters
Mike Erikson and the group of scientists are the central figure to this story.
Reggie is Mike’s friend and the man who sends Mike into this investigation. Reggie represents the government’s investment into the project.
The group of scientists include the two lead scientists, Arthur Cross and Olaf Johannson. Jamie Parker is the wizard software developer, and there’s a small team of technicians who maintain the machine.
Setting
The story takes place in a laboratory located somewhere in Southern California.
The Fold Review
While the story has a slow buildup, it really starts to pick up once Clines is able to complete the character introductions and backgrounds.
Of the three books I’ve read in the Threshold series, this no doubt my favorite one. I’m a sucker for media with this theme, so I’m a little biased in favor of this book.
Initially, I was turned off of the book because of the slow buildup. Also, having a protagonist who is essentially a superhero with his perfect recall and super intelligence makes stories kind of boring. The use of ants to represent recall is an interesting technique, and it’s realistic enough considering people use mnemonic devices to remember things.
Mike has the ability to learn programming languages in one night. He can recall any image, experience, or emotion that he’s had his entire life. And we’re to believe that he’s analytical skills and deductive reasoning are on par with even that of Sherlock Holmes.
So it seems from the outset that Mike would easily solve the mystery around the Albuquerque Door. However, that’s not the case, and readers are in for an exciting journey as they follow along with Mike and his discovery.
With Mike’s photographic memory and intelligence, he should have picked up on the changing behaviors of the characters. These clues should have immediately alerted him to some conclusions about the Door experiment. But I suppose a person shouldn’t be faulted for failing to come to a conclusion that is beyond the realm of human experience and understanding.
Clines does a decent job with the dialogue in the book and the character development. I found that some of the characters were a bit flat, like Arthur Cross. And Jamie seems to behave a bit childish at times, especially given that they’re all adults and scientists working on an experiment.
These character flaws do humanize the characters though, and having them fit the stereotypical scientist role would make the story boring. Scientists do have emotions, biases, and faults after all. Learning about the characters and their favorite television shows like Star Trek give us more context. These little details about the characters allow Mike to unravel the mystery of the Door experiment.
The slow pacing of the book at the start is forgivable once you understand the necessity of character development for the nature of the Albuquerque Door. It’s a time investment that pays off at the conclusion of the story.
I found myself wanting to read just a bit more with each session once I got past the midpoint of the story. The idea of the Albuquerque Door is fascinating. I wanted to learn more about the experiments and the results as the story progressed. Each experiment and result leaves readers wanting more.
I don’t believe The Fold is related to any other book in the Threshold series. But they share supernatural themes. I suppose if anything, these books are more supernatural mysteries with science fiction elements. If you want an example of the Threshold series, then read The Fold before you consider the other books.
Read reviews of other books in the Threshold series.
