Gateway

By: Frederik Pohl

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Robert J. Sawyer

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Gateway opened on all the wealth of the Universe...and on reaches of unimaginable horror.

When prospector Bob Broadhead went out to Gateway on the Heechee spacecraft, he decided he would know which was the right mission to make him his fortune. Three missions later, now famous and permanently rich, Robinette Broadhead has to face what happened to him and what he is...in a journey into himself as perilous and even more horrifying than the nightmare trip through the interstellar void that he drove himself to take!

BONUS AUDIO: In an exclusive introduction, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer explains why Gateway is one of science fiction's all-time greatest novels.

PLEASE NOTE: Some changes were made to the original text with the permission of the author.

©1977 Frederik Pohl (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1978
• Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1978
• John W. Campbell Memorial Award, Best Novel, 1978

Enthralling

Great story. Captivating and very imaginative. Frightening and exciting. No wonder this book won both the Hugo and Nebula awards!

Best of the best

Scary good and scary interesting fascinating physics and its implications. May be a bit crude for some taste in parts

Whoa! Inventive and thought provoking.

Gateway wasn't the most action packed book, but somehow still kept my attention. Great story that really makes the listener think. Not another book i can compare this too which makes it very different but still a great book. The main character isn't the most likeable person but this adds to the realism of the characters and the story. Hoping the the next book has a little more action. Could end up being a great series.

Humans are such special entities in our universe

The book has what I think is the most interesting character I've ever come across in fiction, Siegfrid von Shrink (or at least that's what the main character calls him). I found myself eagerly anticipating all of their sessions and I, the listener, was never disappointed when he was present in the story.

The book is also interesting for another reason. It's a rare book where the whole purpose for the book is really stated in the last line of the book (don't worry, I'm not giving away a spoiler, but by all means make sure you listened to the last line).

I definitely don't want to give away too much, so I'll speak circumspectly, the book explores what it means to be human and tells us why we are special in the universe and all of this comes together with the last line in the book.

I enjoyed the book, but it's definitely not pure sci-fi in the classical sense, and just dances around the physics and the science except for the character of Siegfrid von Shrink. He makes the book highly listenable and worth a credit.

Bi-Polar space tale.

This was an interesting piece of I think science fiction. The book is very bi-polar (I appoligize to those who know the clinical definition). The book chapter by chapter phases between a "current time" sessions with a psychoanalyzing computer, and a mans journey into space as a prospector. So, you get two books in one. A journey through a troubled mind, and a journey through space. I enjoyed space much better.

Don't shrink away from this one.

This is a classic novel that I recommend to SF fans. The plot is a bit simple by today's standards, but probably not for when it was written in the late 70s. It is well written with good scene and character descriptions, and good dialogue. One thing that stood out to me halfway through the book was the influence of the 60s and 70s, namely easy sex with scores of women, pot, and psychotherapy. I was highly entertained with Bob/Rob/Robbie's sessions with Sigfrid. Alternating between the sessions and the past was well done. While I considered Bob to be a total loser, I found myself wanting to know his story, and why he had a nervous breakdown. I wish there was more science and alien discovery in the novel, and that what is there were more accurate - - a common comment and criticism I have of SF novels, both new and old.

Narration: Oliver Wyman is excellent. I think I enjoyed the novel more because of him than I would have otherwise.

Very pleasantly surprised

As I started listening, I couldn't understand why this book had gotten so many accolades. But it speaks for itself. "Wow!" Was what I said after the final line of the book. Powerful. And worth the read. Oh! And with some pretty amazing soliloquy and characterizations as well.

More psychology than sic-fi

While this story takes place in outer space and involves future technology, the real heart of it is psychological. The main character has to confront his past actions and experiences. The narration captured this very well, including when the hero is an unreliable narrator.

An original Sci-Fi plot…You must hear this!

Frederick Pohl and his best series, you have to hear this. The most imaginative plot for the time which spans the whole series of books. Please buy this only if you truly like Sci-Fi and have imagination that enjoys wonders. Pohl’s Gateway world is original and engaging. Yes it was written a few decades ago (1977) and has some dated technology, but H.G. Wells is still very readable today so don’t let that deter you.
A must read for anyone in the Sci-Fi reader club. Gateway won the 1978 Hugo Award for Best Novel,] the 1978 Locus Award for Best Novel, the 1977 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and the 1978 John W. Campbell Award.
The narrator, Oliver Wyman does a good job but his narration his average to good delivery is over shadowed by the story. Get the entire series.

"And one day, the stars dissapeared..."

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES. I have to say I HATE dyspopia..period. And I wasn't sure about the slight dystopia plot..but I think some of the reviewers complained it was too technical...and you had me at technical. The characters become family. You cry at the loss. You are alarmed by the humanity...but not surprised at humans as a whole utter failure on this planet and leave the story being not so sure if they have learned abything...but gosh this book makes you ponder very deep and disturbing thoughts.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Actually, the Martian. You will see why when you read it.

Which character – as performed by Oliver Wyman and Robert J. Sawyer – was your favorite?

I think both narrators did excellent jobs. And I like when there is a female and male narrator for the different parts...helps shake things up a bit.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"And one day, the stars dissapeared..."