Book Review: The Fold by Peter Clines
Media Type: Print Book
Title: The Fold
Author: Peter Clines
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Pages: Hardcover; 384
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Source: Publisher
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Genre: Science Fiction
HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Readers who enjoy accessible Science Fiction that will keep you reading well into the night.
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | BookLikes
STEP INTO THE FOLD.
IT’S PERFECTLY SAFE.The folks in Mike Erikson’s small New England town would say he’s just your average, everyday guy. And that’s exactly how Mike likes it. Sure, the life he’s chosen isn’t much of a challenge to someone with his unique gifts, but he’s content with his quiet and peaceful existence.
That is, until an old friend presents him with an irresistible mystery, one that Mike is uniquely qualified to solve: far out in the California desert, a team of DARPA scientists has invented a device they affectionately call the Albuquerque Door. Using a cryptic computer equation and magnetic fields to “fold” dimensions, it shrinks distances so that a traveler can travel hundreds of feet with a single step.
The invention promises to make mankind’s dreams of teleportation a reality. And, the scientists insist, traveling through the Door is completely safe.Yet evidence is mounting that this miraculous machine isn’t quite what it seems—and that its creators are harboring a dangerous secret.
As his investigations draw him deeper into the puzzle, Mike begins to fear there’s only one answer that makes sense. And if he’s right, it may only be a matter of time before the project destroys…everything.
A cunningly inventive mystery featuring a hero worthy of Sherlock Holmes and a terrifying final twist you’ll never see coming, The Fold is that rarest of things: a genuinely page-turning science-fiction thriller. Step inside its pages and learn why author Peter Clines has already won legions of loyal fans.
Although I’ve never known anyone like Mike, with his staggering IQ and eidetic memory, he was so likable that I felt like we were friends. Imagine having a brain like a super computer. Able to recall anything that you’ve ever seen, heard, or even tasted. What would you do with such a power? If you’re Mike, you’d work as a high school English teacher. I won’t get into the particulars, since I’d rather you discover them for yourself, but trust me when I say that Mike is one fascinating individual. Watching him slowly unravel all the secrets surrounding the “Albequerque Door” had me riveted. Not two weeks before I read this book, I was reading an article about scientists working with dark matter, and looking at folds in space. After reading this book? Well, I’ll simply say that I really hope things don’t turn out that way they do in here.
I think what makes this book so accessible, honestly, is that it doesn’t just dwell on the scientific aspect of things. The team working on this project feel like real people. We see how they interact with one another, along with their strengths and flaws. Every time it seemed like things might be getting a bit too heavy, something would happen to pull me back. I had such an investment in the characters of this book, such a deep need to see them through, that I couldn’t stop reading. I knew what they were doing was dangerous, I just didn’t realize how right I was. The twist here is amazing!
My final verdict is a simple one, and that’s simply that this book needs a spot on your reading list. While it wasn’t perfect, it was a ton of fun to read! It’s not often that I power through a Sci Fi book, but this one made it impossible not to. I hope there’s a follow up, because I could definitely read more about Mike.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
