User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Edit: I went back and reread 14 and The Fold and then reread Terminus. Best thing I could have done. It was a completely different experience having the first two books refreshed in my brain and the minor details of the story became HUGE details this time around.
Original review:
Peter Clines is back with another incredible book in his Threshold world. As I started listening to Terminus, I very quickly realized how very much I had missed this series, and just as important, Ray Porter’s performance of this series.
You really should have read at least 14, and probably The Fold, before reading this one. Especially 14. Dead Moon is also set in this same world but I’m not quite sure how it fits in yet. I wish I would have reread the prior books again before starting Terminus. With that said, as soon as I finished Terminus, I started a reread of 14, and will most likely binge read The Fold and then Terminus again.
I seriously am not ready to leave this world, or Ray Porter, right now.
I have been waiting for Terminus to release ever since I stood next to Peter Clines at Phoenix Fan Fusion 2 years ago at a charity event and listened to him tell me about the book he was currently working on that was in the same world as 14 and The Fold and that there’d be some overlapping characters. I was drooling!! And I’ve been drooling ever since! But, wow, it was worth every minute of the last two years.
I loved Terminus!! I don’t want to give up any of the many surprises, so suffice it to say that it was non-stop action and I need to reread the entire series right now!!
Rating: really liked it
This entire series has been full of fun!
In my mind now, Peter Clines is connected with Ray Porter, and between them, I'll listen to anything they want to give me. Bravo to them both for the hours of pleasure these audiobooks have given me.
Humor, adventure, scares, mysteries, crimes and cults-it's all in this series and I'm so glad I decided to try them out.
I don't know if this will be the last one, but I am secretly hoping for another!
Rating: really liked it
All/Most likes on this review were for my pre-release comments: Terminus - in which Clines makes up for the floater that was Dead Moon?
Review:
Terminus - in which Clines DOES make up for the floater that was Dead Moon. Just the gem I've been needing.
Ray Porter is a national treasure.
My non-PC rant:
A comment on the president and the mention of mansplaining should help the book age like fine milk.
"marriage is an obsolete convention that reduces women to property" ...if you think this you're stupid and you've definitely been doing marriage incorrectly.
Rating: really liked it
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/02/20/...
Terminus was an audiobook that kind of snuck up on me, so even though I knew beforehand that it would be a part of the Threshold sequence, what I didn’t realize was that it was more or less a follow-up to 14. I mean, I loved that book. And while I enjoyed The Fold and, okay, even Dead Moon but to a much lesser extent, a part of me has always wondered what became of the original gang back at that mysterious old brownstone back in Los Angeles…
But wait, before you get too excited, Terminus doesn’t actually give that many answers or even provide much continuity, though if you’ve read the other books, I think there’s a lot here that would make sense or click with you, and no doubt there will also be rejoicing at the return of a couple of familiar characters. Still, even if you’re a newcomer to Threshold, the good news is that this one can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. In fact, no matter who you are or your level of experience with the series, I guarantee everyone will start with the same level of confusion at the utter strangeness with which Terminus begins. The story first introduces us to Murdoch, who appears to be a part of some religious sect calling themselves the “Family.” However, from the offhand descriptions of the congregation and teachings of their minister, it swiftly becomes clear this is not like any religion you’ve ever come across or heard of, nor is Murdoch your average kind of person.
In another thread, our focus shifts to Chase, a man who has seen his life completely fall apart and is now going his own way, sailing around the world with some interesting types. When news of a monster storm approaches, he and a few others are dropped off on a bonafide uncharted island—totally off them maps, known only to a very few. But soon, Chase and his companions come to realize this cannot be true. There is clear evidence that someone—or something—has been living on the island. Also odd is the complete absence of insects, and the fact that the plant life does not appear to be native. Then there are the deadly traps and the sneaky attacks from unseen enemies. Something’s definitely not right here, but it’s going to take everyone coming together—and a whole lot of mindfuckery—in order to figure out what.
Anyway, before we continue, can we just take a moment to geek out over the sheer awesomeness of that cover? I love me some Lovecraftian-level cosmic horror, baby! Not surprisingly, I also got some major LOST vibes from the story. Of the three previous Threshold novels, Terminus probably most resembles the mood and style of 14, more evidence that the two are more heavily linked, even leaving aside the obvious connections between the characters and the island with the Kavach Building. The overall atmosphere is creepy is surreal, steeped in mystery. It is also more brutal, nihilistic and darker in tone, featuring less of Clines’ usual wit and bantering dialogue as characters’ attitudes are shifted towards being more survival oriented. As a whole, this is much more unsettling than 14, which is apt considering how much more is at stake.
More than that, I’m hesitant to say because I don’t want to inadvertently give away too many details of the story. However, I do want to touch upon some of the characters. As I said, longtime Threshold readers will recognize a couple familiar faces, most notably Veek. Much to my disappointment though, seeing her again did not give me the satisfaction I expected. Her character was always a spitfire, which was what I loved about her in 14, but sadly this obnoxious cringey version of Veek is far from the one I remember. Honestly, her snark and divisive preachy one-liners here were so unnecessary and distracting, I couldn’t think of any good reason for them other than an attempt for the author to score some woke points (and it was definitely not worth it). The new characters were far more interesting, especially Murdoch, whose background and struggles were nothing short of amazing. Chase was also a sympathetic protagonist, though I wish we had more of his backstory to bring together his character arc development. His steady demeanor like a solid, reliable anchor in a sea of weirdness and unpredictability.
And for real, these Threshold stories are meant to warp your brain. While not every piece of the puzzle fell neatly into place to form a coherent picture (there’s some disjointedness in the story, plenty of plot holes if you stop to think about it, stuff that’s glossed over and certain instances where you just have to throw up your hands and simply roll with it), overall Terminus was slick, quirky and entertaining. Ultimately, I can also appreciate a sequel that builds significantly upon the previous books and I hope we get more. There’s certainly plenty of material!
Audiobook Comments: When it comes to audiobook narrators, Ray Porter is a personal favorite. I’ve loved his work in the past and no surprise I also enjoyed his performance on Terminus. Not only is he a pro at doing tones and accents, he’s fantastic at putting a range of emotion into his voices and made this audiobook a great listen.
Rating: really liked it
Peter Clines' latest installment in his Threshold series of Lovecraftian inspired thrillers is a hell of a lot of fun. Despite a story arc that feels a bit formulaic and perhaps slightly less than airtight, Terminus boasts lots of snappy dialogue, high adrenaline action, hair raising monstrosities, cosmic terrors and an amusing ensemble of characters. All with a touch of steampunkery. It certainly can be enjoyed as a standalone, though familiarity with the previously published 14 helped provide some context, despite my less than perfect recall of the events and characters there. Fans of Stranger Things should love this series, and Terminus in particular.
Rating: really liked it
February 6, 2020 Mini-Review:
Rating Raise to 5 Stars
4.5 Stars for Narration by Ray Porter
4.5 Stars for Concepts/Details
4 Stars for Characters
4 Stars for Action
5 Stars for Making Me Think
At this point, I've read all of the books in the series at least twice. I love the multi-dimensional chaos, the pop culture references, how variable changes can lead to very different versions of the world/people and the way Clines can pull all the emotional strings by highlighting horror and bravery at the same time.
During my second listen, I realized my focus on the 1st listen was to take in primary details and any of the points that seem to point towards the other books. On round two, I took in each sequence as they happened and soaked in everything without "trying" to figure the story out. My experience was great during both readings and I loved how I had more "ah-ha!" moments.
The best thing about the book were how many questions were answered and yet there are plenty more to explore. The Threshold series is a great romp into parallel worlds and human reasoning.
January 31st Notes:
You need to have read 14 and the Fold before this book.
I listened to this one 1.5x because I wanted to be sure about a few parts. Right now, the book is sitting at 4 stars. I plan to re-listen next week and see what new bits I will gain from listening again.
Rating: really liked it
I don’t like to leave negative reviews. I love Clines. 14 is one of my favorite books of all time. This story just lacked in drive to me, and the dialog between characters was disappointing. Lots of repetitive conversation and filler dialog that tended to drag on too much. Ray Porter is still the GOAT, and there was some nice easter eggs that saved it from being a complete flop. Worth the listen, but definitely fell short of my high expectations.
Rating: really liked it
Nope. Stopped listening at about the 40% point. I have absolutely no empathy with any of the characters and hope Cthulhu eats them all.
Rating: really liked it
Finally!
Terminus is the
Threshold book I've been waiting for since reading both
14 and
The Fold, but especially
14. While you might be able to get away without reading
The Fold first I would highly recommend reading both books before
Terminus for full story context.
Dead Moon is likely optional, though I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see connections there too in some future installment. But I'm getting ahead of myself. How about a synopsis?
The Family is close to achieving their ultimate goal of destroying the machine. With Anne as their Minister she knows it's her destiny to pave the way for balance to be restored on the planet. The hunt takes them all to an uncharted island where the walls of reality are thin and the apocalypse has already started.
It is really hard to talk about this book without spoilers so I'll keep things short. This book kept me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. The situation our characters end up in is relentlessly grim and yet has so many touches of humor and ends with a bit of hope. Fans of the series will be excited by the major reveals and connections to previous books. Several things I had questions about since the beginning are answered even though it just created more questions. I was sooo excited to see a couple familiar faces and meet many new ones. I think I can see how Chase will be important in this universe's future. That last mention of "needing a new Tim" made me a tad teary eyed. With that ending I have no idea where the author will go from here and I'm super excited to find out! This is easily my go to series for scifi/thriller/horror.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Ray Porter. I think he may be my favorite narrator by this point. Love his narration! He's amazing.
Rating: really liked it
Heck, this was good. This return to the present fits perfectly as a follow-up to 14 and The Fold. I’d say it’s more 14 than The Fold (though I liked The Fold better), but I don’t know how to get more into it without spoilers.
I will say that it’s important that you’ve read/listened to 14 and The Fold before reading/listening to this one. You dont *need* to have read Dead Moon (but it’s also great, and I recommend it), but you need the others for everything to make sense.
If you’re into the Threshold series so far you’re gonna love this one.
Rating: really liked it
I loved "14" and "The Fold". I recommend them all the time. There are aspects of "Terminus" that I enjoyed, but I had at least two main issues w/it. Spoilers ahead.
How did Alex not consider that Veek was from an alternate reality, and instead mistrust her? This feels like a huge plot hole. Minutes after the high levels of distrust, we find out that Alex knew she was from an alternate reality, and that the Alex's from two diff realities have been working together on ideas, etc. I don't get what this added to the plot, aside from it providing an opportunity for the author to wade into my next complaint.
Injected "woke-ness" just doesn't work. It ruins stories. It's blatantly didactic nature and "tada! See me virtue signal for my tribe!" shout-out is like hitting a speed bump at high speed so hard your head hits the ceiling and your alignment isn't quite the same once you're back on the ground. Veek is already established as snarky, intelligent and no-nonsense. This makes her an interesting and quirky character. But the distrust from Alex provides an opportunity for her to complain about a "boys club" - really? She scolds Murdock for "mansplaining". Topping it off, a negative comment about 'the president' occurs, and my favorite (no, not really): "marriage is an obsolete convention that reduces women to property". It's deadpan in its delivery. It's becoming a tired trope, hijacking storytelling and comedy away from "show, don't tell" back into "tell, and make sure you condescend to those stupid people reading or listening". Does Veek really believe, for example, that marriage reduces women to property? Maybe provide compelling backstory as to why. Make the reader grapple with the issue alongside her, even struggle with maybe feeling conflicted b/c of her feelings for Nate. I know I'm not alone in my frustration that *so much* content that we turn to for intelligent entertainment has become littered with jabs about "the president" or intentionally provoking animosity between men and women, between races, etc. - not with the intent to story tell or move the audience, but with the intent to check a box on the virtue-signaling checklist.
Finally - I get the fanatical element of the The Family. Their twisted religion is an integral part of who they are and what motivates them. However, the nonchalant equivalence Clines draws between their fanatical insanity and mainstream Christianity is just absurd. Attempting to make this connection cheapens the story, and I found myself actually wondering if Clines truly views real life Christians this way.
On one hand, the universe Clines has constructed here is interesting, quirky, fun, terrifying and full of potential. I hope he continues with more material here. On the other hand, though, I'll pass if it continues to cheapen the ideas and insult the reader the way that Terminus did.
Rating: really liked it
No Longer Dreaming*Review of the Audible Audio audiobook edition (2020)Terminus is the 4th book in Peter Clines Threshold series. The Threshold books are an expanded universe version of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos which incorporates Lovecraft's monstrous "Great Ones" and adds factors such as multiverses and gateways with forces on Earth seeking to block their passage.
Many of the reviews here do recommend taking the time to re-read the earlier books 14 (Threshold #1 - 2012) and The Fold (Threshold #2 - 2015) before reading
Terminus, but I found that a quick refresher from the (spoilers obviously, if you click) Threshold Universe page on Wikipedia was sufficient. Book #3 Dead Moon (2019) although supposedly in the Threshold Universe, takes place in the future and does not immediately seem to relate to the events of the other books.
With the cover image of a flying tentacled monster approaching a ship and island being somewhat of a spoiler, it is fair to say that in
Terminus the "Great Ones" are actually unleashed into the world. Several characters who played minor roles in the preceding books take much larger central ones in this one. Primarily the story is of various forces trying to prevent the cult of the Family who are obsessed with bringing the Great Ones into this world in the belief that they are god figures to be worshipped and who will reward the followers for their faith. The sane forces know that they are monsters that must be stopped. Clines does a masterful job in bringing all these opposing characters together and keeping the tension and suspense high especially as motives and loyalties are mostly unknown until later in the story.
The narration by Ray Porter in the audiobook edition was absolutely outstanding in all voices. That is also a prime reason for a 5 rating.
I listened to
Terminus thanks to the Audible Daily Deal on May 3, 2021.
Trivia and Links* The reference to dreaming is based on the classic Cthulhu Mythos quote:
In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming .
The Audible page for
Terminus includes a 2-part Behind the Scenes discussion between author Peter Clines and narrator Ray Porter. The discussion can be viewed as a 1-part video on YouTube here.
Rating: really liked it
The action absolutely does not stop with this. I kind of wish I'd re-read 14 and The Fold beforehand, so I'd get some of the science more accurately. I'm also not sure where Dead Moon (which I loved) ties in, because I was expecting for the "bad thing" to be pulled from that. But Clines consistently writes sci-fi I want to read, and Ray Porter is stellar. The tension in this book is palpable. I hope there are more stories in this universe.
Rating: really liked it
I really like the concept behind this series. It's a modern take on the cosmic horror that Lovecraft developed. I also enjoyed 14 and The Fold (I skipped Dead Moon based on it's poor rating and reviews). This, however, didn't have that sense of mystery like those first 2 books. It didn't get me excited about what's going to happen to the characters. For all its action and high stakes, I struggled to engage with this instalment.
I think that stemmed from a few big issues I had with this book. First of which was the plot. Things escalated very early and by the 25% mark, it was hard to imagine the stakes being any higher. But you can't stay at that kind of heightened sense of tension for three-quarters of the story. It had the effect of making everything urgent and serious, but when that's the case, nothing is truly urgent and serious. Ups need downs to give you a sense of emotional range. This book didn't have that.
The characters also didn't get much chance for development and it felt like the author ran out of ideas for the main characters. Most of them felt depressingly generic while the few that didn't, came across as caricatures of easy stereotypes. Nothing near the memorability of the cast of 14. The antagonists were also cheap copies of characters we've seen before in this series. There was no nuance to them. Even when one of them explains why they're doing what they're doing, it comes across as weak and stupid.
The writing was still decent at least and Ray Porter is a great narrator. It made the reading experience more than bearable despite the underwhelming content. From a story perspective, it was passable at best. Scenes felt very repetitive and twists were expected rather than earned. Despite the situations the protagonists found themselves in, I never felt any serious concern for them. For what was happening all around them, the lack of tension was noticeable and disappointing.
Hence the 'ok' rating. It's far from a bad book, but it's easily the weakest of the series (that I've read). I'd even go as far as to say that if you read the first 2, you don't need to bother with this one. It doesn't add enough to the world to justify reading for that, while the story and characters were below par for what I've come to expect from the author. You do get a lot more squale action though, so if that's what you're after, then you won't be disappointed.
Rating: really liked it
Okay, I admit it. I have a thing for Cthulhu stories, especially really smart ones like Terminus by Peter Clines. This is a novel in which the author has really thought about the whole Cthulhu subgenre and asked interesting questions like, why haven’t creatures this powerful already eaten the entire planet. And his answer is…they have. And they’re getting ready to do it again.
This one has a really well thought out explanation for Cthulhu, and absolutely fantastic competing plots as heroes and villains struggle to keep the monster away or bring him here out of the deluded belief that somehow life will be so much better after all life on the planet has been consumed. Throw in some mad scientist style science and a great cast of characters and you have a novel that I think H.P. Lovecraft would have been proud of. This novel does for the Cthulhu subgenre what Clines’ Dead Moon did for the zombie apocalypse—gave it a totally new and interesting spin. If you like stories about Things Man Was Not Meant to Know, you’re going to love Terminus.
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