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Threshold
To help a former girlfriend investigate her father's death, young geneticist Jeremy Ross infiltrates a mysterious genetic research center in South Carolina and uncovers high-level government intrigue and a deadly project involving the genetic mapping of human DNA
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Ben Mezrich
55 books1,466 followersBen Mezrich has created his own highly addictive genre of nonfiction, chronicling the amazing stories of young geniuses making tons of money on the edge of impossibility, ethics, and morality.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 4, 2025
Better than expected! I'm not sure how this book ended up on my shelf- possibly a rare charity shop purchase where I recognised Ben Mezrich's name (he would go on to author predominantly non-fiction books about "young geniuses" like Mark Zuckerberg).
He apparently started off as a fiction writer, and this sci fi thriller isn't bad. The plot is interesting, but the fact it's largely focused on technology in the 90s does date it badly.
I wouldn't necessarily suggest anyone runs out and tries to track down a copy of it but I enjoyed it. 3.5 stats!
He apparently started off as a fiction writer, and this sci fi thriller isn't bad. The plot is interesting, but the fact it's largely focused on technology in the 90s does date it badly.
I wouldn't necessarily suggest anyone runs out and tries to track down a copy of it but I enjoyed it. 3.5 stats!
October 29, 2025
For a debut sci-fi thriller set in the 90s this story does surprisingly hold up. There are a lot of cliches you’d come to expect within this genre but I found the characters to be interesting enough to not roll my eyes on the logic in certain areas of the story. The ending is very action packed and concludes nicely and precise with not much left to the imagination after finishing. If you can get passed the silliness of some of the technology and how it’s described and some “movie moment” dialogue between the characters I think it’s a quick and entertaining read.
September 9, 2019
I love how the story evolves like the old school 90's tech-thriller combined with some medical and DNA plots. The things they do with the 90's technology could hardly be explained with even technologies from 2019, but the book is still fun to read and with interesting story development.
June 9, 2019
Fast-paced and exciting. The characters seem real. What made the story less believable was the super secret government agency created by Ben Mezrich. It didn't seem realistic or believable.
November 30, 2016
The subject material deals with genetic research, which admittedly I know very little about and therefore can not speak to the accuracy or reality of the story line. That being a given, this story seemed to be better developed (blind acceptance of the science presented) both in the plot and the characters, than Seven Wonders. Unfortunately that is not saying a lot.
I was able to get an understanding of the main character through a series of current events coupled with flashbacks along with the character's own thoughts. And while the story did take some twists and turns that were unexpected, overall it was still rather predictable.
I was able to get an understanding of the main character through a series of current events coupled with flashbacks along with the character's own thoughts. And while the story did take some twists and turns that were unexpected, overall it was still rather predictable.
January 6, 2011
This was a really great debut. Mezrich is one f my top 3 authors although I know him more as a non-fiction-that-reads-like-fiction guy. Still I'd read a lot more of his fiction.
I've probably given a 3 unfairly given that the book was written so long ago, the dating of the tech was amusing but made it slightly unbelievable.
I've probably given a 3 unfairly given that the book was written so long ago, the dating of the tech was amusing but made it slightly unbelievable.
March 14, 2013
I think this is Mezrich's first novel, though published back in 1996 and I don't know if he followed it up. Shame, as it's not bad at all.
A fast-paced and well written techno-thriller which would have done Crichton proud. Certainly it's better than his over-preachy genetics novel that came out a couple of years before he died.
Well worth a read if you see a copy kicking about.
A fast-paced and well written techno-thriller which would have done Crichton proud. Certainly it's better than his over-preachy genetics novel that came out a couple of years before he died.
Well worth a read if you see a copy kicking about.
January 1, 2012
The book was OK not great. Maybe I just have trouble with the sixty year old super secret government organization with renegade scientists and security personal running it. I mean really now, do you think our government could keep it secret that long.. Also there were several really obvious editorial gaffs. But all that aside the story is fast paced and interesting.
December 2, 2008
Great book!
It made me feel like I was back in Princeton briefly.
It made me feel like I was back in Princeton briefly.
June 15, 2013
I really enjoyed this fast-paced political thriller. It's an older book so the technology references were amusingly outdated, but in no way diminished my enjoyment of the story. A good read.
June 25, 2013
By far one of my favorite books by Ben Mezrich
July 13, 2013
Not the best book I've ever read but far from the worst. It's high paced and action packed but seems unbelievable in some regards. Still, a very good read.
February 6, 2016
A decent novel.
Story everyone knows.
Man meets old flame, old flame's dad was the secretary of defense before he tore his own face apart, now boy and girl are running from a mad genetic scientist.
Story everyone knows.
Man meets old flame, old flame's dad was the secretary of defense before he tore his own face apart, now boy and girl are running from a mad genetic scientist.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews