Doorport

I’ll admit, I went into *Doorport* expecting another by-the-numbers portal fantasy, but Decker subverts the trope entirely. This is a thriller rooted in *engineering failures*—not just as a plot device, but as a slow-burn catastrophe with real-world analogies (ever waited for a delayed flight and wondered what *else* might be going wrong?). Janet Thompson is a refreshing protagonist: a competent, no-nonsense engineer whose panic feels earned, not melodramatic. The book’s first half is a masterclass in escalating tension, as Janet’s attempts to fix the Doorport system reveal just how deep the corruption goes. I loved the way Decker weaves in small, unsettling details—like time discrepancies and misplaced objects—that make the stakes feel intimate, not just apocalyptic. That said, the pacing stumbles slightly in the third act, where the explanation for the Doorport’s malfunction veers into *just* a bit too much technobabble. Szewczyk’s narration helps sell it—his ability to make even dense exposition sound urgent is impressive—but I found myself rewinding once or twice to parse the science. The ending also wraps up a tad neatly for a story that otherwise thrives on ambiguity. Still, the audiobook’s production is flawless: no distracting background noise, and Szewczyk’s character voices (particularly for the more sinister figures) add layers of unease. If you’re a fan of thrillers that ground high concepts in gritty realism—think *Recursion* meets *The Andromeda Strain*—this is a sharp, binge-worthy listen. Just don’t start it before a long commute; you’ll want to listen in one sitting.