Hell's Gate

Multiverse, Book 1

By: David Weber, Linda Evans

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 38 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

They thought they knew how the universes worked. They were wrong!

In the almost two centuries since the discovery of the first interuniversal portal, Arcana has explored scores of other worlds - all of them duplicates of their own. Multiple Earths, virgin planets with a twist, because the ''explorers'' already know where to find all of their vast, untapped natural resources. Worlds beyond worlds, effectively infinite living space and mineral wealth. And in all that time, they have never encountered another intelligent species. No cities, no vast empires, no civilizations, and no equivalent of their own dragons, gryphons, spells, and wizards.

But all of that is about to change. It seems there is intelligent life elsewhere in the multiverse. Other human intelligent life, with terrifying new weapons and powers of the mind...and wizards who go by the strange title of ''scientist''.

©2006 David Weber & Linda Evans (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Hell's Gate

A great beginning of an amusing book series. You really cannot go wrong with dragons, telepathics, and wizards. This is a story for those that enjoy an elaborately woven plot lines that bridge multiple books.

to long

this book is to long and detailed. needs more action and fewer protogonists. you keep forgetting who is who.

Great narration

Really good book you get a lot for your dollar on this one. The narrator was the best I've ever heard.

Weber does it again

I have seen several less than flattering reviews on this title, that don't seem to understand what David Weber does. He doesn't just tell a story. He builds richly detailed words that he puts stories into. The world in a story for some authors is little more than a set for a stage play, for others it can be likened to a movie anywhere from black and white to color. Mr. Weber's worlds are in 4k high def.
This series is about the clash of two very different civilizations that each span multiple universes, and have those civilizations based on radically different foundations, magic and mechanical technology. We see both sides of that divide as the story progresses. As the story unfolds we see layer after layer of each side in their militarys, societies, politics, and belief systems. Some may see it as TMI. but you can't really understand the various factions and their motivations at the main characters must deal with through the story arc with out it. I think some may miss that details reveled in this first book are building a foundation that is needed to understand events in later books in the series.
We get an ensemble cast of characters, who are forced to develop quickly as events around them spin out of control. That out of control spin is partially the result of misunderstandings of events. In other cases it is the differences in societal mind sets having difficulty, and in some cases out right fear, of just how different the other side really is. Add to that groups on each side that are trying to manipulate events to their on advantage. Let's not forget Murphy taking a hand in events by putting some real idiots in the wrong place at the wrong time to add some seasoning to this stew.
This series reminds me of what Frank Herbert did with Dune, in the complexities of plot lines within plot lines to the point you can reread the story several times and find new aspects that you missed in previous reads.

Well written, and well told story. One snag...

Larry here.
The place names, and the names of persons are so very hard to keep pace with. Three times I was tempted to give up in confusion, having to relisten to segments over, and over again; I was still confused. The story, & reading were so well done I hung in there in spite of that challenge.
Yes, I'm moving on to the next novel in the three novel series; that good...
Well done! 👍

great concept

great concept for a book. really enjoyed the first 2/3rds the politics bored me some but was still good. the military side and exploration of the portals were a great twist to exploring 'new' world's. the different tech levels very intriguing, hoping for more on that in future books. can't wait to start book 2

Tedius

28 hours of character development and Multi Universe building , you would think could be engrossing but somehow it all comes out fairly boring. getting through all the details of individual workings and political maneuverings lying deceit and stupid mistakes is just plain tedious. I put this book down at least a dozen times and ultimately worked all the way through it just to give the author's a chance to do something interesting. Unfortunately it never happened. In fact nothing much ever happens in this book and I doubt that anything will happen in future books in this series.

great first contact

If you enjoy the detail of a military story and a very interesting first Contact book with an interesting twist on gifts and talents.

Could have been half as long.

I feel like I was dragged over the coals of an abandoned CJ Cherryh Novel.
There is more history and blah blah in this book than remotely required. On more than one occasion I found myself saying "Shut the * up." and more often "I don't care"
It isn't necessary. 4000 years of history isn't required to push thus story along. It distracts from story line.
I find myself saying "I will NOT be paying for the last 2 books." hopefully the library will have copies.

Good to Bad

I really enjoyed this story, but the ending really upset me. The book is basically one big prologue.