Over the last couple of years, I’ve read a few books where the main plot has been related to quantum physics, especially traveling across space and time. Some of the books include Dark Matter, Recursion, and Pennsylvania. There have been others where traveling across space and time supported the story but wasn’t the main attraction. You’d think I would tire of this theme, but I’m finding there’s always room for one more on my reading list.

I knew going in that The Fold by Peter Clines would involve bending space and time as the main attraction. I was interested in Clines take on the topics and the story he built around the concept.

The short plot summary goes something like this. The government funds a small research team to build a machine that can teleport someone from one location to another. After the team successfully builds a prototype that allows team members to beam one another between buildings, things start to come off the rails. When the team becomes secretive and difficult to work with, the government benefactor overseeing the project brings in one of his smartest friends to figure out what’s going on. Oh, and did I mention that his friend has one interesting “superpower”? He can remember everything he sees and hears down to the last detail, and by everything, I mean every. last. thing.

I enjoyed The Fold, especially the first 2/3 of the story. It was well written, paced well, had good characters, and well placed humor and action. My only beef was that the last 1/3 of the book got, well…, strange. A little too strange and too far out there for my taste.

Overall, I loved the idea behind the book. Clines did a great job with the concept of ‘folding’ space and time to achieve teleportation and the quantum physics multiverse aspects surrounding time travel. When the story ventured into a fantasy setting complete with strange creatures and outlandish action sequences, the book fell a little flat for me.

Still yet, I’d recommend the book as a fun read. It’s fun, enjoyable, and incorporates the science fiction concepts in a relatable way that goes into just the right amount of technical detail without being too technical. And if you’re into zombie stories and fantasy books, then The Fold is a book that you’re going to really enjoy and one you must read.