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hakimbriki's review against another edition
2.0
Gateway won three major awards... I can see the appeal. It's an interesting take on the "alien artifact" plot device. It's thematically courageous and quite well written. It's just so damn boring. Barely anything interesting happens... until the very end, this felt like a drone metal concert. Pohl sustained the same chord, though distorted and beautiful, for too long. I kept waiting for him to pick up the pace, but by the time he did, I looked like this:
categj's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book — and not just because it is a science fiction tale. I loved the way the author built up suspense, it had me dying to find out what had happened on the Robinette's prospecting voyage. It definitely was not predictable in any sense. I was pulled along by the novel, learning more and more with every page turned, until the story had fully unfolded.
Frederik Pohl set his story on a planet, Gateway, owned by the "Corporation", a conglomerate of sorts, comprised of different planetary governments. Gateway was long ago abandoned by the Heechee, an alien race with an intellect far more advanced than Earthlings that had for reasons unknown left a fleet of spaceships and other treasure behind. Through trial and error, humans painstakingly learned how to use some of the Heechee artifacts for mankind's benefit, including a way to man the spacecraft in order to search the galaxy for more technology.
Robinette, the main character,tells the story through the memories he replays in his head and the ones he relates to his therapist, Sigmund Freud, a sophisticated robot.
Pohl,artfully fills in the story piece by piece, building the tension, until with, Robinette's final revelation, we learn of the tragic way he cameinto his big score.
The author's description of Gateway, the condition of Earth and its solar system, and the technology of this world, all feels very real, and even though, the book was published in 1977, does not seem outdated. Instead, it all seems authentic, plausible and close at hand.
I found this novel to be an easy read, very enjoyable with enough humour to defuse the tension at exactly the right moments. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction.
Frederik Pohl set his story on a planet, Gateway, owned by the "Corporation", a conglomerate of sorts, comprised of different planetary governments. Gateway was long ago abandoned by the Heechee, an alien race with an intellect far more advanced than Earthlings that had for reasons unknown left a fleet of spaceships and other treasure behind. Through trial and error, humans painstakingly learned how to use some of the Heechee artifacts for mankind's benefit, including a way to man the spacecraft in order to search the galaxy for more technology.
Robinette, the main character,tells the story through the memories he replays in his head and the ones he relates to his therapist, Sigmund Freud, a sophisticated robot.
Pohl,artfully fills in the story piece by piece, building the tension, until with, Robinette's final revelation, we learn of the tragic way he cameinto his big score.
The author's description of Gateway, the condition of Earth and its solar system, and the technology of this world, all feels very real, and even though, the book was published in 1977, does not seem outdated. Instead, it all seems authentic, plausible and close at hand.
I found this novel to be an easy read, very enjoyable with enough humour to defuse the tension at exactly the right moments. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction.
songwind's review against another edition
5.0
This is an excellently written, affecting and difficult book.
The prose itself isn't difficult. It flows well, and the literary devices like foreshadowing and metaphor blend in smoothly. In fact, I'd be willing to say it's one of the best straight prose books I've read in a while. (As opposed to prose of a more poetic bent.)
The story itself is an intriguing take on the idea of interstellar exploration. Exploring without our own solar system, humanity finds the remains of an ancient civilization on Venus. They eventually find a ship, and one explorer accidentally activates it. It takes him to a right-angle orbiting asteroid (planetoid?) that comes to be called Gateway. Gateway is stocked full to bursting with alien ships. Their courses can be set, but we don't know what the codes are. They can be launched, but they go where they're sent and come back. They don't change course once launched.
The parallels to Stargate jumped out at me immediately - but without the TV friendly safe worlds and magic translation, or instant transport.
Bob Broadhead, the narrator, is a rich man because of a successful prospecting mission in a Gateway ship. He's also a troubled man, and the story is framed in a series of trips to his therapist, an AI he calls Sigfried von Shrink.
The trouble is, Bob is not the greatest guy you could meet. He's selfish, immature, bad tempered at times, and frequently cowardly. He's also pretty irregular in his acceptance of these facts.
The threads of the story - exploration of space, exploration of Bob, and the history of spacefaring in this alternate future - are woven together quite tightly. Bob's reminiscences and therapy sessions feed into one another. Sometimes they foreshadow the other.
The book is also interesting as a historical artifact. So many of the world's attitudes and expectations of the future come through, and it's fascinating. Some of the concepts will be familiar to readers of 60s-70s era sci fi: sex as casual fun, relaxed attitude to drug use, and the idea that computers will continue to be hulking mainframes even once they're running anything.
What is missing is the romantic view of space travel with spacious ships, artificial gravity, and the like. The space travel reads like a more advanced version of our own efforts at that time. Cramped spaces, long travel times, etc.
By the end of the book I was left full of conflicting feeling. Sympathy, disgust, and anger toward Bob were mingled thoroughly. The same is true of most of the other characters as well, in varying proportions.
The prose itself isn't difficult. It flows well, and the literary devices like foreshadowing and metaphor blend in smoothly. In fact, I'd be willing to say it's one of the best straight prose books I've read in a while. (As opposed to prose of a more poetic bent.)
The story itself is an intriguing take on the idea of interstellar exploration. Exploring without our own solar system, humanity finds the remains of an ancient civilization on Venus. They eventually find a ship, and one explorer accidentally activates it. It takes him to a right-angle orbiting asteroid (planetoid?) that comes to be called Gateway. Gateway is stocked full to bursting with alien ships. Their courses can be set, but we don't know what the codes are. They can be launched, but they go where they're sent and come back. They don't change course once launched.
The parallels to Stargate jumped out at me immediately - but without the TV friendly safe worlds and magic translation, or instant transport.
Bob Broadhead, the narrator, is a rich man because of a successful prospecting mission in a Gateway ship. He's also a troubled man, and the story is framed in a series of trips to his therapist, an AI he calls Sigfried von Shrink.
The trouble is, Bob is not the greatest guy you could meet. He's selfish, immature, bad tempered at times, and frequently cowardly. He's also pretty irregular in his acceptance of these facts.
The threads of the story - exploration of space, exploration of Bob, and the history of spacefaring in this alternate future - are woven together quite tightly. Bob's reminiscences and therapy sessions feed into one another. Sometimes they foreshadow the other.
The book is also interesting as a historical artifact. So many of the world's attitudes and expectations of the future come through, and it's fascinating. Some of the concepts will be familiar to readers of 60s-70s era sci fi: sex as casual fun, relaxed attitude to drug use, and the idea that computers will continue to be hulking mainframes even once they're running anything.
What is missing is the romantic view of space travel with spacious ships, artificial gravity, and the like. The space travel reads like a more advanced version of our own efforts at that time. Cramped spaces, long travel times, etc.
By the end of the book I was left full of conflicting feeling. Sympathy, disgust, and anger toward Bob were mingled thoroughly. The same is true of most of the other characters as well, in varying proportions.
tonyleachsf's review against another edition
1.0
A cool premise, but is overwhelmed by far too much space sex. Once it turns to unrepentant domestic violence... kinda ruins the book.
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 against another edition
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
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