A review by kymzii
Gateway: The Best of the SF Masterworks by Frederik Pohl
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
With an amazing premise, this book has great sci-fi potential. Unfortunately, the story was completely ruined by a misogynistic protagonist which actually betrays a misogynistic writer - i.e. there was no comment when the protag beat up his girlfriend. The writer has no feelings of guilt and no-one shuns him. She acts like it never happened when they meet again. It was nauseating. The writer knows very little about psychology and yet the dual narrative of the entire novel is about our protag being in therapy.
There was also too much 'oh look everyone swings in the future'. Also that character is, in the words of the writer, 80% straight, but like to fantasise about shagging his male colleagues because his mum shoved a thermometer up his arse when he was a kid and he found it comforting'. Just WTF.
There was also too much 'oh look everyone swings in the future'. Also that character is, in the words of the writer, 80% straight, but like to fantasise about shagging his male colleagues because his mum shoved a thermometer up his arse when he was a kid and he found it comforting'. Just WTF.