Threshold Shift is an anthology of science fiction short stories, most of which have previously appeared in Interzone and Spectrum 7. The authors' prose and style are smooth and engaging, enhancing the readability of his work.

Synopsis:
Several of the works in this anthology are related, notably the stories dealing with Earth as it is affected by the presence of the Kéthani – a mysterious race of aliens who offer nothing less than physical rebirth after death.

Many of the other stories deal with the development or evolution of a culture or a person. The author acquits himself well in these endeavors, positing a wealth of possibilities and showing keen insight into the human mind.

My Take:
The anthology consists of 10 stories:

• The Children of Winter: An engaging tale that asks the question: “What does it mean, to be human?”
• Thursday's Child: The first of the Kéthani tales, this story explores the religious and moral implications of the Kéthani's gift, interwoven with the main storyline of a child's battle with leukemia.
• Ascent of Man: Population pressure – literally.
• Ulla, Ulla: A keen and enjoyable look into a world where “War of the Worlds” is a reality – or is it?
• The Kéthani Inheritance: This second tale set in the Kéthani universe explores the concept of a world where no one dies – even if you wish they would.
• Instructions for Surviving the Destruction of Star Probe X-11-57: Your computer is totally non-judgmental of your actions – is that necessarily a good thing?
• Eye of the Beholder: What if being introverted meant nobody else was aware of you, either?
• The Touch of Angels: The third and final Kéthani tale brings us face to face (after a fashion) with the Kéthani – but leaves many unanswered questions.
• The Spacetime Pit (with Stephen Baxter): Trapped on an alien planet with only a nearly indestructible life sustaining cryo-pod, a marooned spacer formulates a plan to guide the local indigenous population into building her a rocket to return to her orbiting starship – with disastrous results.
• Hunting the Slarque: When it comes right down to it, it's all about family.

The book barely deserves a PG rating for a bit of gore and violence (and a wee bit of non-explicit sex in The Children of Winter).

I'd have loved to see a bit more information on the Kéthani, but I imagine that the author will include these stories (or the gist of them) into a novel at some point. I look forward to reading it.

This anthology is interesting and thought provoking, and I recommend it to those who don't mind a little soul-searching in their SF.
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Hardcover: 265 pages
Publisher: Golden Gryphon Press (September 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 1930846436
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