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nonlocalflow's review against another edition
2.0
I don't intend to go into much depth here, as Frederik Pohl didn't give me much to go in depth on. You have a pathetic, narcissistic lead character whose nauseating narrative you must experience this reality through. Cowardly, womanizing Robinette seems to have no purpose or identity. To think, a whole alien species (granted, one with about as much character as a faux-Native American wolf statue at a truck stop) was conjured up to serve as the backdrop to a character that folds his arms and says "I don't wanna," that is, show up for his own story. Robinette's story is largely about the "500 women" (actual quote) he's bagged and the long, drawn out pattern of worthlessness that ultimately leads in the most contrived ending I've read in a while, This book has given my a perhaps healthy disrespect for the awards bestowed upon it.
Spoiler
in which a freak incident with a black hole causes him to spontaneously choose to kill everyone but himself including 3 (three) of his active love interests.grayjay's review against another edition
1.0
Spoiler/content warning: domestic violence, straight white man getting away with everything
At first I was taken with the frame narrative of the protagonist in talk therapy sessions with an AI therapist, narrating the events of the novel through flashbacks. The story progresses as he slowly reveals more and more to his therapist about his career as a spacefaring prospector.
Earth is in dire straights due to overpopulation and resource limitations. It's one hope is a collection of alien ships it has discovered, that have been pre-programmed with destinations by the aliens. Prospectors bid to ride out to these unknown destinations and try to find something useful to humanity. They are paid royalties based on what they discover but the risks are great. Many ships never return.
It's an interesting premise that, perhaps, resonates stronger now than it did in the 70s, with our world facing growing climate crises.
Unfortunately, as we get to know the protagonist through his therapy sessions, he becomes less and less likeable. While his misogyny, womanizing, and homophobia might have made him an anti-hero in the 70s, they make him pretty disgusting to me now.
When he beats up his girlfriend three quarters through the novel, with some remorse, but with little consequence or personal reflection, it made it hard for me to finish the book. I kept hoping that this would be addressed, or I would feel that the author would make a strong case against him, but no, in the end, the issue he is dealing with and resolves in therapy is a completely different one that seems less important than his abusive behaviour.
At first I was taken with the frame narrative of the protagonist in talk therapy sessions with an AI therapist, narrating the events of the novel through flashbacks. The story progresses as he slowly reveals more and more to his therapist about his career as a spacefaring prospector.
Earth is in dire straights due to overpopulation and resource limitations. It's one hope is a collection of alien ships it has discovered, that have been pre-programmed with destinations by the aliens. Prospectors bid to ride out to these unknown destinations and try to find something useful to humanity. They are paid royalties based on what they discover but the risks are great. Many ships never return.
It's an interesting premise that, perhaps, resonates stronger now than it did in the 70s, with our world facing growing climate crises.
Unfortunately, as we get to know the protagonist through his therapy sessions, he becomes less and less likeable. While his misogyny, womanizing, and homophobia might have made him an anti-hero in the 70s, they make him pretty disgusting to me now.
When he beats up his girlfriend three quarters through the novel, with some remorse, but with little consequence or personal reflection, it made it hard for me to finish the book. I kept hoping that this would be addressed, or I would feel that the author would make a strong case against him, but no, in the end, the issue he is dealing with and resolves in therapy is a completely different one that seems less important than his abusive behaviour.
creadsagain's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lelcopter's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Gateway' by Frederik Pohl was the pick for my book club last month. It's a good, though somewhat dated, story.
The framing story involves the main character, Robinette Broadhead, as he attends therapy sessions by a mechanical therapist. Rob is not a very likable character, and he seems evasive towards his therapist, even to the point of pulling pranks, and being derogatory towards him. Can you be derogatory towards a machine?
The reason he is in therapy is about his time on Gateway, a place with strange alien technology left behind by the Heechee. Fortunes can be made and lives lost by blindly taking a trip in one of the strange spacecraft left behind. Rob has come from a bleaker existence that makes this sort of risk seem like his only choice.
The dated parts come in regarding the kind of technology and even therapy methods used. Also some of Rob's feelings about things. I don't think we are supposed to like him, but that doesn't mean it's not a good book. The ending is a bit abrupt, and there are bits of Gateway ephemera that were sprinkled through my book that seemed disruptive to the narrative flow, but it was a quick enough read. I enjoyed this one.
The framing story involves the main character, Robinette Broadhead, as he attends therapy sessions by a mechanical therapist. Rob is not a very likable character, and he seems evasive towards his therapist, even to the point of pulling pranks, and being derogatory towards him. Can you be derogatory towards a machine?
The reason he is in therapy is about his time on Gateway, a place with strange alien technology left behind by the Heechee. Fortunes can be made and lives lost by blindly taking a trip in one of the strange spacecraft left behind. Rob has come from a bleaker existence that makes this sort of risk seem like his only choice.
The dated parts come in regarding the kind of technology and even therapy methods used. Also some of Rob's feelings about things. I don't think we are supposed to like him, but that doesn't mean it's not a good book. The ending is a bit abrupt, and there are bits of Gateway ephemera that were sprinkled through my book that seemed disruptive to the narrative flow, but it was a quick enough read. I enjoyed this one.
mayhem9683's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mrsderopp's review
Written in the 70s this was really sexist and machovenistic. Main character just really horrible. Couldn't be doing with him. Shame cus it was an interesting idea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
jacktopher's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
steven_lamb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall, I quite enjoyed the read and Pohl's writing style. The main character is written to be unlikable and over the course of the book, he goes from unlikable to truly despicable.
This may turn some readers off, but I remain thoroughly entertained and invested in the world. I felt that the world-building was excellent, and the world really felt lived in.
This may turn some readers off, but I remain thoroughly entertained and invested in the world. I felt that the world-building was excellent, and the world really felt lived in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
billymac1962's review against another edition
4.0
This is one I'd been meaning to read forever. Gateway has a great premise, one which leads to great anticipation of wonders and mystery. Gateway is a docking station, left behind by an alien species,
the Heechee. It's like a giant asteroid, stocked with ships programmed to travel to destinations light-years away and then return.
Bob Broadhead has won the lottery, his ticket off an overpopulated
and bleak Earth to Gateway, where missions on these ships bring either death or wealth...you just have to be lucky enough to pick the right ship.
This was a very enjoyable read but really left me wanting more...I felt a little cheated that after reading it I didn't come away with any mysteries resolved or wonders revealed. But I guess that's the
aim behind the first book in a series. After reading the reviews of Beyond the Blue Event Horizon at Amazon.com, I'm convinced that the best is yet to come, although the darn thing's out of print now.
Hopefully I'll find it at my used bookstore haunts. Definitely worth your time and soooo close to meriting a 5-star rating.
the Heechee. It's like a giant asteroid, stocked with ships programmed to travel to destinations light-years away and then return.
Bob Broadhead has won the lottery, his ticket off an overpopulated
and bleak Earth to Gateway, where missions on these ships bring either death or wealth...you just have to be lucky enough to pick the right ship.
This was a very enjoyable read but really left me wanting more...I felt a little cheated that after reading it I didn't come away with any mysteries resolved or wonders revealed. But I guess that's the
aim behind the first book in a series. After reading the reviews of Beyond the Blue Event Horizon at Amazon.com, I'm convinced that the best is yet to come, although the darn thing's out of print now.
Hopefully I'll find it at my used bookstore haunts. Definitely worth your time and soooo close to meriting a 5-star rating.