by Sara Douglass
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| List Price: | $7.99 |
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Product Description
Over the hot southern land of Ashdod looms the shadow of Threshold, the pyramid which the Magi of Ashdod are building to propel themselves into Infinity. Over the years, thousands of slaves have given their lives to the construction of Threshold. Now construction is almost complete; the Magi need only to add the finishing touches.
The Master of the Magi knows the glassworker slave Tirzah is hiding something, but he would never guess her secret is forbidden magic. Tirzah can communicate with glass-and the glass in Threshold screams to her in pain. For it knows what neither Tirzah nor any of the Magi suspect:
Something waits in Infinity, watching, biding its time, and when the final glass plate is laid and the capstone cemented in blood, it plans to use Threshold to step from Infinity into Ashdod...
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 A decent read, don't expect too much, 2008-06-09
I was recommended this book because of its relation to numbers and mathematics. If that's your interest, don't bother: it seems Douglass's underlying message is that math is bad. There certainly isn't much of it, only a fairly minor use of prime numbers (mysteriously excluding 2) . Additionally, all the mathematicians (Magi) in the book are evil, except for the love interest who renounces his mathy ways. And I can't say I'm overly fond of books that end in promises to burn libraries.
The plot is decent, at least it's something I haven't seen before. Can't say I would want to see it again. Douglass's characters are difficult to get close to, her writing is stiff and detached, and her plot is cumbersome and predictable. I could see every plot twist about thirty pages before it occurred. Douglass's names are impossible to pronounce, with few exceptions.
If you're just looking for some entertainment, you might enjoy this. If you're looking for a gripping, deep, and complex tale with powerful language and sympathetic characters, look elsewhere.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Interesting reading, 2008-02-24
"Threshold" is a fascinating look at a civilization much like Ancient Egypt, complete with the construction of a magical pyramid. It was an interesting read, although Douglass tends to drop some characters rather suddenly. However, it's an engrossing read.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 One of my favorites, 2007-12-12
I won't go into an overview of the book since that's been done here numberous times already. This is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it dozens of times since I got it a few years ago. The worst part about it was that it was a stand alone. I would have loved to read more about Terzah and Boaz.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
One is the lonliest number..., 2006-03-07
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.
Five stars. I liked this better than any of the Troy Game books.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A beautiful story, completely unique..., 2005-06-22
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.
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