The Fold is a sci-fi novel by Peter Clines. It was published by Crown Publishers in 2015. It is the second book in Clines’ Threshold series, following on from 14. This review is intended to be free of spoilers, but none of us are perfect. I purchased the book myself, and no review copy was provided. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb:
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.
Review:
Although The Fold is a sequel to Clines’ debut novel, 14, it’s very much a ‘thematic sequel’, rather than a ‘narrative sequel’. The bulk of the story in The Fold does not include many overlapping characters from the first book. It approaches the themes and the strange shadow-setting of this series in quite different ways to those used in 14. I like that a lot. I like seeing completely separate groups discovering and interpreting the same phenomena.
Whilst 14 dealt with a mysterious building in LA, The Fold introduces a different concept: a device called the Albuquerque Door, seemingly invented by DARPA scientists. Using cryptic equations and magnetic fields, it allows instantaneous travel across vast distances. The protagonist, Mike Erikson, is drawn into this mystery, and his likeability and the novel’s accessibility make it easy for readers to engage with the premise. That likeability shouldn’t be a huge surprise; it’s something Clines writes well. Clines crafts relatable characters, and Mike Erikson, with his unique gifts, stands out. He’s a high school teacher with an eidetic memory who acts as our guide into this scientific labyrinth. His wit, vulnerability, and genuine curiosity are what makes him relatable. As he investigates the Albuquerque Door, we witness his transformation from a skeptic to a seeker of truth.
Building on the ideas explored in 14, Clines delves further into the multiverse theory, where countless parallel realities exist. The novel raises thought-provoking questions: What if our choices create alternate versions of ourselves? How do these realities intersect? The scientific discussions are accessible thanks to Clines’ skillful exposition.
The pacing starts deliberately, allowing readers to absorb the characters and setting. I really like the cast of characters, with the scientists all being very individual, and it’s fun to see each of them developing a different relationship with Mike as he conducts his investigation.
Clues emerge gradually, building tension. Yet, beneath the surface, something unsettling brews. Clines balances humour and unease, creating an atmosphere akin to a classic Twilight Zone episode. And then, the twist; a seismic shift that challenges everything we thought we knew about this world, and gives another angle on the revelations of the Kavach building from 14. Without spoilers, I’ll say this: Clines takes risks. Some readers (including me!) may cheer, while others might raise eyebrows. Regardless, it’s a testament to his audacity as a storyteller.
The Lovecraftian influences on this series are even more evident here. Clines pays homage to H.P. Lovecraft, infusing cosmic horror into the narrative. The unknown looms large, and the implications of the Albuquerque Door evoke existential dread. Fans of Lovecraftian fiction will appreciate this nod.
I love this novel. It’s my favourite book in the series. I actually came to this book before before I read 14, and it was fine. The book isn’t so much a continuation of 14, as it is a separate exploration of the same core concepts. It works as a standalone novel. I feel that I only really missed out on two things. First, we have the strange cockroaches from 14 that make an appearance here, hinting at things to come. I suppose that by not knowing about them, my experience was closer to that of the characters in the novel. The other was not really knowing that the characters who turn up at the end, after the story is resolved, were the characters from 14. These cameos don’t have any real bearing on the story and instead act as almost a Marvel-esque post-credits scene, nodding to the wider context of the story.
Overall, I have to recommend this book. It’s fantastic. It has a good mix of action, suspense, horror, and humour, with a little romance tucked in there for good measure. It has some interesting things to say about how we become the people we are through the choices we make. The characters feel at once larger than life and, in the face of the cosmic horrors that they face, so very small. Read it.
Rating: 5 / 5
As an aside, I will likely review Terminus at some point. It’s the fourth book in the series. I’m probably going to skip Dead Moon, the third book, because it’s bad. I don’t recommend it. It’s not terribly written, but as part of the series, it adds nothing and feels a bit random.
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