Threader Origins has a whole grab-bag of science fiction topics, combined and worked into a single story. Most prevalent is the concept of a multiverse, but travel between them is rare to the point of being almost unheard of, while being obviously related to some sort of energy, called "threads" that certain people can manipulate to cause magical effects. These threads appear to be a side effect of the QPS, an invention created by Darwin's father, Henry Lloyd, to serve as a limitless power source. After the machine is turned on and Darwin, our hero, finds himself in another version of the "real" world, he discovers that he is one of those who can perceive and manipulate threads... or a "threader" as they call them. But, to learn to control those powers takes most threaders years of instruction and practice. In addition to these threads, there was a passing mention of a DNA sequence that Darwin finds in the code of the the QPS. When Darwin asks his father about it, his father is evasive, changing the subject... but what could it mean?
Whereas Darwin's mother had passed away in his universe, leaving he and his dad alone... in the post-apocalyptic dark-future version of his home in which Darwin finds himself, his father had passed away five years ago. Does that mean his mother could still be alive there? And, if so, is there any way that she could help him find a way back home?
Darwin will have to learn who to trust and how to survive if he hopes to live long enough to possibly find a way back home. Also, he will need to learn to control and make good use of his "threader" powers. If he is to use them to return home, he will most likely need to teach himself things that no one else even knows about the threads. And, when he finds himself falling for Teresa, a girl from this version of the world, it will be even more difficult. Finding a way home was difficult enough when it was all he could think about, but with Teresa here, with her own life and his father back home, not knowing what happened to him... what is Darwin to do?
In my youth, reading whatever fantasy books I could get my hands on, I happened upon Madwand by Roger Zelazny. I don't remember how good the book, itself, was, and I've heard that it didn't get the best reviews, and I know that the series was never completed, stopping at just two books, but I found it an intriguing read - and the concept of certain people being able to perceive and manipulate "threads" of energy around them in order to evoke magical effects is quite similar to the technologic invention-spawned magic that exists in the Quantum Emperica series and it has stuck with me to today.
I have read science fiction most of my life. I also spend a good bit of my spare time watching science fiction and superhero movies and poring over articles of upcoming technological advances. Perhaps that colors my experience a bit, but I felt like I had a much clearer understanding of what was happening than the main character did for the first three-quarters of the book. I know it's a classic storytelling element to have a "chosen one" start off as the underdog and grow to become a reluctant hero, but Darwin seemed in the dark in a way that brought back images of unwitting victims in silent movies; I just wanted to scream at Darwin to clue him into what was going on.
Starting a series can be a delicate balance between character development and storytelling. To me, Threader Origins felt a bit slow... as did Darwin. Well, at least slow to get started. The story presented is a complete one, but the nature of the premise of the book allows the story to be continued in a multitude of ways. Being a big fan of Gerald Brandt's San Angeles series, I feel like this series has great potential to unfurl into an exciting and intriguing series... but I wasn't thrilled with this first installment. To me, it feels like there is much more explanation than was needed, which slowed things down. Overall, color me "cautiously optimistic." I'm looking forward to see where the series goes.
