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A review by arf88
Gateway by Frederik Pohl
5.0
What a fantastic book. Almost from the start you know the main character is repressing something and there's this slow feeling of dread that keeps amping up to a devastating conclusion.
I've read a couple of one star reviews, and the common theme among them is that the main character is unlikable and whiney and that the therapy chapters are boring. He is pretty unlikable, but entirely human and sympathetic and complex. It's clear from the start that he's dealing with some unspeakable trauma.
As for the therapy bits being boring, I couldn't disagree more. They added so much to that growing feeling of impending doom.
Another bit I liked were the snippets of mission reports, and classifieds, and scientific lectures. Stan On Zanzibar did something similar, but I felt it worked much better here.
There are sequels to this book, but I don't think I'll pick them up. I honestly loved this book just as it is.
I've read a couple of one star reviews, and the common theme among them is that the main character is unlikable and whiney and that the therapy chapters are boring. He is pretty unlikable, but entirely human and sympathetic and complex. It's clear from the start that he's dealing with some unspeakable trauma.
As for the therapy bits being boring, I couldn't disagree more. They added so much to that growing feeling of impending doom.
Another bit I liked were the snippets of mission reports, and classifieds, and scientific lectures. Stan On Zanzibar did something similar, but I felt it worked much better here.
There are sequels to this book, but I don't think I'll pick them up. I honestly loved this book just as it is.