A review by nonlocalflow
Gateway by Frederik Pohl

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,

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.

This book has given my a perhaps healthy disrespect for the awards bestowed upon it.