Threshold

by Sara Douglass

Book Overview

Over the hot southern land of Ashdod looms the shadow of Threshold, a massive pyramid which the Magi of Ashdod are building to propel themselves into Infinity, a plane of existence that holds the promise of technological magics and supposedly unimaginable power. For decades, thousands of slaves have lost their lives in the construction of this edifice. Now that this construction is almost complete, the Magi need only to add the finishing touches,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312876874
• ISBN13: 9780312876876
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

One is the lonliest number...

I thought I probably wouldn't like this book. I mean, all the reviews said it had a lot to do with math and numbers and that just made it sound boring. But, if you had that same concern relax, this book has very little to do with numbers. If you know what a prime number is you'll be fine and you may even feel a little superior because the author of this book doesn't appear to know that 2 is also a prime number. Elementals are a group of people who can hear the elements speak in things. They tend to be craftsmen, because they can talk to glass and pottery and gems. But they and their mysterious religion of the gentle beings that live in the place beyond has been mostly whipped out. In the land of Ashdod this religion has been all but banned and replaced with the worship of numbers and mathematical formulas, mostly that of the number one which is seen as perfect. And so, the priests of the One have been building a giant temple to the One for two hundred years, a pyramid covered in glass. Work on this used to be voluntary but now they use slaves. This is where Tirzah comes in. She's from the north, sold into slavery with her father when they fall into debt. They both make glass, but Tirzah, though only 19 years old, can cage, which is the most difficult part of glass carving. They are sent to work on Threshold, which is the giant temple/pyramid. But there Tirzah discovers that other people can also hear glass speak, and that there is something wrong with Threshold. The glass inside screams for help, and not even the gentle beings from the place beyond know why. Somehow something evil is coming through threshold, and the only hope for the land is Boaz, a priest of the One, who hates his one gentle side but appears to be an elemental as well. Strangely and beautifully, Tirzah must make this man into someone who will act to save the world. This is a great story, and a great book about the redeeming power of love. When you finish it you'll find yourself whispering for days: hold me, sooth me, touch me, love me. I disagree with the reviews that say this book is a feminist's worst nightmare, this is a book about never forgetting that everyone can change and love can conquer all, if you nurture it. It does appear that Sara Douglass almost always has an abusive relationship in her books that is blindly ignored-and then somehow fixed but not in a way that always seems healthy, so maybe she has some issues there to work out in her own life. This book though, does do better in the fixing of the abuse than her other novels (Ie "Hades' Daughter.") Unlike in her other books (all I've read) the darkness and kind of gloomy setting that permeates this book works for Sara Douglass. Be warned-in her other books it doesn't and so they can be not only depressing but actually manage to drain you of life. I don't know what it is, but I havn't really found, with some time to put distance between me and them, reading her other books to be a good experience for me. Fi

A beautiful story, completely unique...

I have read the first book of Sara Douglass' Troy Trilogy. I was not too impressed. I was a bit reluctant to read this one, but I had already ordered "Threshold" and decided to give it a try. When I read the back of the book and other reviews, I did not know what sort of story could be created about a slave girl who could communicate with glass. In fact, is sounded a bit hokey. Perhaps it was the assumption that it would be mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was immediately pulled into the story. The story in a nutshell is about a slave girl, who is given a new name Tirzah. She has a special ability to mold (or cage) glass, but her abilities go beyond this since she actually can communicate with it. The girl is sold to monk-like "magi" that are building a large structure called "Threshold." The structure's purpose is to reach into infinity and to give immense power and immortality to the magi. However, unknowingly, they begin to tap into a very evil reservoir of dark power. The magnificant structure has pure evil that seeps from it; and Tirzah fears what will occur when it is completed. As the story progresses you learn more about the magi and their own magic, while you also learn more about Tirzah and her own power. Eventually she learns there are more people like her that practice a forbidden craft of ancient people. Together they fight to stop the construction and free themselves, but their terrifying journey goes beyond what they fear. In the midst of all their scheming, Tirzah must deal with a dangerous relationship with the most revered magnus, Boaz. There is a lot of mathematical references, but nothing overbearing. Also the craft of Tirzah is not too complicated as found in other fantasy books. Through the book you are introduced to various characters. They are real and believable, but not very easy to get attached to. But in truth, the story is so well laid out and very unique, that I didn't really notice. I read this book very quickly and could almost smell and hear the adventures Tirzah underwent. There were times that I forgot I was even reading. I haven't been this engrossed in a book for quite some time. What I liked most about the book was that it presented the cruelty of people seduced by power and immortality. It showed how good people can be thwarted but can eventually be changed. I gave the book a five because I found it intriguing and it left me feeling complete. It was not the most breathtaking conclusion, but it was not over the top. I recommend the book, but not highly recommend. Mainly because I don't know if others would appreciate it as much as I did. So buy it for fewer than five bucks and give a try. The idea itself is commendable.

I absolutely love this!

This is one of those books which I re-read; something I don't do that often. Though most of the plot was rather predictable, Ms. Douglass writes with a certain measure that kept me totally hooked. When Boaz left to destroy Nzame, I cried (literally). If you don't like romance, then don't read this. Emotions are played upon vastly throughout the entire book. I hope the author can come up with more like this, or I will!

Strong female leads

It was interesting reading Threshold and seeing how the strong female leads in Wayfarer and Troy originally developed. Faraday, Azhure and Cornelia owe much to Tirzah. The story is creative and moves quickly. There are a few twists that keep you guessing but these eventually serve to round out the characters rather than give mystery. That, of course, is Sara Douglass's art and greatest strength; believeable characters who get you into their story not intricate plot twists, monsters or gagets. Great characters, great plot, great writing and a great look over the shoulder, so to speak, for all Sara Douglass fans.

strong stand-alone fantasy

In the cold regions of the North known as Vinland lives Tirzah and her father who create beautiful glass objects. They are contented until Druse gambles away everything they earned, leaving them deeply in dept. To wipe out their arrears, they are sold into slavery and travel by boat to Ashdod in the South. There, Tirzah shows the Master of the Magi Boaz her unusual skill as a glassmaker.Boaz sends her and her father to Grensholme, the slave city that lies in the shadow of Threshold, a pyramid structure that has taken eight generations to create. All that is left to do is put the finishing touches of glass where needed which is why Tirzah and other master glassmakers are desperately needed. When Tirzah meets other of her kind, she learns she is an Elemental magician and that is why she can hear the glass chatter. Her magic is forbidden in Ashdod where the state religion is the power of the One. When Boaz takes over the working of Threshold he forces her into his bed.Over time, Tirzah realizes that the Mage is fighting his own nature and when he lets his mask slip can be very loving and tender. On the day Threshold is finished, a creature from the Vale enters the world and takes over the minds of everyone in the area. Tirzah and Boaz along with several other elementals are able to escape to a place where they can learn to use their powers to send the evil creature back into Infinity before he destroys the world.This stand-alone novel from the creator of The Wayfarer Redemption series is epic in scope and brilliant in world building. There is enough action to satisfy sword and sorcery fans and enough romance to satisfy fans of that genre. The metamorphosis of Boaz from a cold and rigid master to a warm and caring elemental necromancer is totally believable because the character slowly changes by events that affect him personally.Tirzah is no whimpering lass who submits to slavery but a warrior magician who fights to save herself and her loved ones from the affect of the creature of the Vale. She loves strongly and it is the strength of her caring that allows Boaz to lower his guard around her so that when the time comes he is at her side, fighting to undo the damage he and other magi have caused. Although their goal was not evil, they played around with forces without considering the consequences because in their arrogance, they thought there would be none. They paid a huge price for their presumption and the reader will feel satisfied and more by their ultimate fate. Ultimately it is Boaz who makes the biggest sacrifice but his bond with Tirzah is so strong it overcomes time and space. The audience will want to see the further adventures of Tirzah and Boaz because these two are not the type of characters that will be content to rest on their laurels. Harriet Klausner