Threshold

Rating:
Summary: Masterful story and character development
Review: A troubled teenage boy, the prototypical slacker, may be a gifted, spiritually enlighted master. How can his true potential be realized--through a well-financed integration of science and open-minded spirituality, or through the primitive, simple faith of his now severely handicapped and distant father? How does his past mistakes fit into the future, and where will he find his answers? Does a well-meaning and beautiful young scientist hold answers, danger, or both for him? An added plus is that the minor characters enhance, rather than distract, from the plot's momentum. This is suspenseful, sophisticated story-telling that is imaginative and plausible. Bottom-line: Threshold is a great read!

Rating:
Summary: Masterful story and character development
Review: A troubled teenage boy, the prototypical slacker, may be a gifted, spiritually enlighted master. How can his true potential be realized--through a well-financed integration of science and open-minded spirituality, or through the primitive, simple faith of his now severely handicapped and distant father? How does his past mistakes fit into the future, and where will he find his answers? Does a well-meaning and beautiful young scientist hold answers, danger, or both for him? An added plus is that the minor characters enhance, rather than distract, from the plot's momentum. This is suspenseful, sophisticated story-telling that is imaginative and plausible. Bottom-line: Threshold is a great read!

Rating:
Summary: Just flat out bad
Review: After reading Blood Of Heaven I was quite eager to read Threshold. Blood of Heaven was a book that I could not put down. I cared a great deal about the characters and the storyline was extremely captivating. I was so eager to find out what was going to happen next. I read the book in 3-4 days. Well with Threhold I was majorly disappointed. The storyline was interesting, however I really did not like where he took the premise. The story was not as focused as Blood of Heaven, Myers seemed unsure of what he really wanted to do with this book. Some of the characters were interesting, however many of them really did not interest me. Most of the secondary characters were not developed at all, they were just there. Thier backgrounds and motivations were really not developed. The main character of Brandon was somewhat interesting, however he seemed like a weak character to base a book around, Sarah was a far more interesting. My biggest problem with the book was trying to visualize many of Brandon's visions, they become more outlandish and outright silly as the book went on. Brandon's final confrontation at the end did absolutely nothing for me, I could not take it seriously at all. Years ago when I used to read Stephen King he was able to make just about anything believable, no matter how bizarre and out there it may have been. That most definately was not the case with Threshold. Overall I found parts of the book enjoyable. I did like the resolution and the development of Brandon's abilities. This book really did not grab me. I have just started Fire of Heaven, I do hope I am not disappointed with that one.

Rating:
Summary: I Did Not Reach Threshold
Review: After reading Blood Of Heaven I was quite eager to read Threshold. Blood of Heaven was a book that I could not put down. I cared a great deal about the characters and the storyline was extremely captivating. I was so eager to find out what was going to happen next. I read the book in 3-4 days. Well with Threhold I was majorly disappointed. The storyline was interesting, however I really did not like where he took the premise. The story was not as focused as Blood of Heaven, Myers seemed unsure of what he really wanted to do with this book. Some of the characters were interesting, however many of them really did not interest me. Most of the secondary characters were not developed at all, they were just there. Thier backgrounds and motivations were really not developed. The main character of Brandon was somewhat interesting, however he seemed like a weak character to base a book around, Sarah was a far more interesting. My biggest problem with the book was trying to visualize many of Brandon's visions, they become more outlandish and outright silly as the book went on. Brandon's final confrontation at the end did absolutely nothing for me, I could not take it seriously at all. Years ago when I used to read Stephen King he was able to make just about anything believable, no matter how bizarre and out there it may have been. That most definately was not the case with Threshold. Overall I found parts of the book enjoyable. I did like the resolution and the development of Brandon's abilities. This book really did not grab me. I have just started Fire of Heaven, I do hope I am not disappointed with that one.

Rating:
Summary: this book rocks
Review: although i haven't finished this book yet, i can tell that i really like it. meyers writes on an level uncommon among other novels i've read. he grabs the attention of the reader and doesn't let it go until he sees fit.
i picked up this book in geometry class, (yes, i'm reading a book of this magitude while a freshman in high school) after having been reading it for a week or so, and for the last ten pages before part three begins, i couldnt put it down. i missed the entire lecture because it was so captivating.
i would highly recomend this book to anyone who is looking to expand their thinking beyond their 3-demensional comfort zone, or anyone who just wants something to make them think.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: Although I take issue with the author not revealing that we have to ask Jesus to save us, He won't do it without our permission. I must admit that I "read" this on audio tape, so maybe that was left out. I would be careful who I loaned this to. It's really out there!

Rating:
Summary: Very gripping, as usual
Review: Bill Meyers has a way of tearing back the veil and showing readers the things that are going on all around us which we can't see. I thought this book started out slowly, but it built up to an exciting conclusion. I wish he'd write more like it.

Rating:
Summary: Badly written and not particularly interesting.
Review: From the very first chapter you get the idea that Bill Myers should stick to kids' books. The same boring character "insights" are repeated over and over and over. You just get so sick of reading the same cliches and overly dramatic descriptions of everything.

As to the story itself, only the most avid fan of the Book of Revelation would find it interesting. It was just all too silly and repetitive.

Moreover, the attempts to tie theology to paranormal research were simply bizarre. In all, the book was just so poorly authored, so boring and tedious, so over the top in far too many places, and so worthless theologically, it probably isn't worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: A technically accurate and well researched alagory
Review: Having been a scientist nearly all of my professional life I found Threshold to be both technically and theoretically accurate. As well as an immaculately researched work it contains a deeply spiritual allegory--for those who care to think beyond the surface.

Having read the previous reviews I could not help but be astonished at the shallowness of one which rated the book with one star, commenting on its lack of substantive content. That reviewer said, for example, "...the attempts to tie theology to paranormal research were simply bizarre." This type of thinking would have undoubtedly labeled John Bunyon's Pilgrim's Progress as the product of a theologically overactive immagination and worthless for its lack of reality. Alegorical thinking, of course, is not for every mind, but is indespensible as a vehicle for conveying the deeper truths of the spirit, which Threshold does without sacrificing the entertainment value of the book. If that is the type of writing Mr. Myers incorporates into his children's books perhaps some of us more "simpleminded" readers who are "avid fan[s] of the Book of Revelation," as the other reviewer terms it, would do well to read Myers' books for children also.

By the way, is there something wrong with being "and avid fan of the Book of Revelation"?

Rating:
Summary: A LOOK AT THE NOVELS OF REVELATION
Review: I am a very big fan of novels that deal with the Biblical Apocalypse and, with so many different types, thought it would be worthwhile to give an overview of the ones I have read.

Left Behind, by Tim Lehay- The series that started it all. These novels are, in truth, somewhat boring, but it covers the bases with a depth that none of the others do, probably owing to the fact that there are so many of them. They lack character development and deep theology, but are a fun, if shallow read

The Christ clone Trilogy by James Beauseigneur- Well written novels that focus on the scientific and political. Tom Clancy meets Left behind is not too far off the mark. I greatly enjoyed these books although I felt a little let down by the ending. Overall, a good political take on the End.

We All Fall Down by Brian Caldwell- Certainly the most controversial of these novels. The focus here is the individual and why someone would ever in their right mind reject salvation. Very brutal, although probably more realistic, in its depiction of the End. This is certainly not a book for the timid, but for the rest, I found it the most intelligent, well written, and, oddly enough, spiritual of the bunch. It's hard to walk away from this book with feeling to need to take a fresh look at one's own relationship to Christ.

Blood of Heaven, by Bill Myers- These are intelligent, character focused novels. I found the theology again to be a little weak, but really enjoyed following the distictive characters.

The Last Gentile Trilogy by Cary Bybee- Better written than Left Behind, but lacking the scope of that work. Like conquest of Paradise or Christ clone, it it based in science, but perhaps too much. Not enough religion for my taste.