Threshold

Threshold # 1

by Janet E. Morris, Chris Morris

Joe South, a young test pilot heading home from a mission, awakens in his ship to discover that he has traveled five hundred years into the future and landed on the planet Threshold, where he soon finds himself embroiled in the dangerous, deceptive, and alien world

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

250 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 7, 1990

About the author

Janet Ellen Morris (born May 25, 1946) is a United States author. She began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 20 novels, many co-authored with David Drake or her husband Chris Morris. She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell. Most of her work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written several works of non-fiction.

Morris was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences in 1980.

In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris founded M2 Tech. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on non-lethal weapon systems and software.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Test pilot Joe South and his experimental test spacecraft from 500 years in the past shows up near the space station Threshold. The officials must determine what to do with this antique relic ship and its anachronistic pilot. Meanwhile, a scavenger ship has brought back from the depths of space, a mysterious sphere like nothing anyone has ever seen before. Amidst these events, the station is full of religious adherents making their yearly pilgrimage toward their holy land on Earth. Unfortunately for them Earth has been turned into a reserve and is off-limits. Added to this already volatile concoction is the catalyst that no one expected, a star-crossed love affair between Dini Forat, the Mullah's teenage daughter, and Rick Cummings III, the teenage son of an eco/business magnate. Also, a conference is being held to determine the rights of alien races and bioengineered species that have been created as indentured servants. This flares political and spiritual debates that threaten to set off riots within Threshold. This book was a good read and kept my interest to the very end.

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I'm a sucker for stories set on space stations and this one delivered. It reminded me of Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh in some ways and that's not a bad thing.

Mickey Croft runs Threshold and is basically determined to herd cats as many things converge upon the space station at a very critical time. His mandate to his people is "Do what needs to be done to make sure a problem isn't". Earth is now an off limits location to most everyone except a very wealthy and select few (more an eco preserve than anything else) and this complicates making the hajj for Muslims from Medina so they've arrived on the station to get as close to Mecca as possible. In addition to this there's a conference discussing "humanity" status and rights for those beings deemed "subhuman". This ties into the Medinan delegation visit too as their protective servants are so designated. Added to this already volatile concoction is the catalyst that no one expected, a starcrossed love affair between Dini Forat, the Mullah's teenage daughter and Rick Cummings III, the teenage son of an eco/business magnate. They set off an interstellar incident complete with the complications of smuggling biological contraband & psychotropic beetles that turns into a bridge to book two in this series. Their involvement puts the lives of the Alis (Medinan protective servants) at immediate risk and calls into service Vince Remson to not only preserve those lives but also get them some sort of established personhood & accompanying rights. Over in Customs & Immigration, Riva Lowe & Reice are dealing with what they call a Relic. Astronaut Joe South, newly arrived at Threshold in his ship STARB1RD (lovingly called Birdy) after awaking from cryosleep off his course and way out of his time, by 500 years! He's, understandably having major adjustment problems and is causing some worry. Luckily, due to some help from Lowe he's given a task that becomes integral to something else huge going on at Threshold. A spacer scavenger named Keebler's found some otherworldly and unreadable orb and South has had a relevant encounter with it during his 500 year sleep.

I quite enjoyed this book and loved how everything came together. I definitely will read the next in the series. Definitely recommended to scifi fans.

[Larry Atchley Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometime in the 30th Century, an experimental test spacecraft from 500 years in the past, with its pilot alive, shows up near the space station Trust Territory of Threshold. The officials must determine what to do with this antique relic ship and it's ananchonistic pilot. Meanwhile, a scavenger ship has brought back from the depths of space, a mysterious sphere like nothing anyone has ever seen before. Amidst these events, the station is full of religious adherents making thier yearly pilgrimage toward their holy land on Earth. Among them is a wayward daughter trying to escape the restrictive life within her society, and the controlling nature of her father. Also, a conference is being held to determine the rights of alien races and bioengineered species that have been created as endentured servents that flares political and spiritual debates that threaten to set off riots within Threshold.
An Excellent book with a fast pace, and characters you really get to know and are able to relate to their situations. I really enjoyed how the story dealt with the issues regarding liberty, freedom of choice, and the rights inherent to all persons, races and genders, whether from earth or some other planet, or even some other time. It shows that no matter how far into the future, or how far away from Earth we progress, there will always be ethical issues that transcend time and space.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading Threshold it pulled me into its depths the moment I read that first page. I love Star Trek or any TV show or movie that deals with being in space or on a spaceship but especially living in space.

The world-building was wonderful. My favorite parts were when they were flying around in space. The action just kept on coming. I was racing to the end as I had to know everything about this world and its characters.

Threshold gave us insight into several different characters and their worlds. Oh, and there were Aliens too. I can’t seem to get enough of stories like this. I am always on the lookout for stories that remind me of Star Trek.

Once I picked up Threshold there was no way I could lay it down until I had read the last page. I could see every word playing out in my head as if I was watching a movie. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

I would recommend Threshold to all fans of science fiction, space travel, spaceships, and Star Trek. Grab your copy of Threshold today for some awesome space adventures!

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the story an interesting change, the bureaucrats worked hard to reach good goals. The protagonist struggling but finding the help he needs. Read this book if you get the chance.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, short science fiction novel which is the first in a series so there are a number of "loose ends" that need to resolved, and I assume the authors will address these in future books. The world building was strong but because this was written in the 1980's the details are a little dated, for example people use paper for reports, forms, business cards etc. as tablets were far in the future when the book was written. I liked this novel and would recommend as a quick read for a science fiction lover.

[Ben Brackett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like it rolled together a couple very old tropes and didn't do anything new or noteworthy with any of them.

[William Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 500-year-old NASA pilot is rescued from space by the inhabitants of a space-station, where an intergalactic conference on human rights is taking place. Various well-drawn characters inhabit a nicely thought-out world, with all too little to do in the way of plot. Some books have 'scope', that indefinable importance that can't be described but must be experienced. For all the competence of writing, this book could use that 'scope.' B-