The Fold
Peter Clines
2015, 384 pages
Fiction
Mike Erikson’s students would say that he’s a normal teacher. His friends know differently. Although Mike doesn’t like to use it, his gift for synthesizing information and his photographic memory have made him the go-to guy for solving mysteries, and his best friend has just presented him with a new one. In the California desert, a team of scientists has invented teleportation (possibly) using a device they call the “Fold.” They believe that it is perfectly safe, but before the final approval is given the government wants Mike to check out the project. As Mike investigates, odd coincidences keep piling up, leading him to a terrifying conclusion about the project. If he’s right, the Fold may destroy everything . . . unless he can stop it.
Peter Clines’s novel is a throwback to classic science fiction, with a healthy dash of humor and a clever hero. Although the trappings are all things we’ve seen before – genius hero, team of potentially evil scientists, device that can destroy the world – Clines manages to avoid cliché and keep the pace tumbling along. The secondary characters were not as well developed as Mike, but the reason for this becomes clear as the plot moves forward and was understandable.
The Fold is an enjoyable read and highly recommended for fans of James Hogan, Andy Weir and Star Trek.
Nora Cascadden
Concord Public Library
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