KAMN Show #23: Gateway
Welcome to Show #23!
The Ninjas discuss Frederick Pohl’s award-winning novel Gateway. Published in 1977, it won the Hugo Award in 1977, and the Nebula and John C. Campbell awards in 1978.
Summer fesses up to not finishing the book before the discussion, but interjects some tidbits discovered during some web searches that she did after becoming impatient. Joe really didn’t like the book, and David was disappointed by how slow the book moves.
Everyone really enjoyed the idea of the Gateway premise, and the mystery behind why such an advanced race as the Heechee just vanished is intriguing, but compared to more modern stories where the reader is placed in the middle of the action and may or may not learn all of the backstory as they go along, the fact that it’s a setup story detracts from how well-written it is and how detailed the universe is.
Side comment: The Hugos are strictly SF, while the Nebulas can be either SF or Fantasy. For quite some time, I had the thought that since the Hugos were SF only, the Nebulas leaned more towards the fantastical. The list of winners of both awards kinda knocks my preconception out of the water.
Listener Feedback: There is no listener feedback. Blue Ninja sent in a message about the “V” discussion, incredulous that Joe could think people could behave so stupidly, but we pretty much covered that. Hey Blue, catch up!
If you have a comment on anything we’ve discussed, let us know! You can call us at 206-666-5266, or send an email and let us what you think.
Books mentioned:
Promo: Time Traveler Show
Link: Wikipedia: Gateway
I know the consensus seemed to be that this was a “meh” at best, but honestly, after hearing this show I actually would like to read it now. Of course I still have Dune and Sundiver to get through (had those since before anybody knew what podcasting was; I’m not as fast a reader as I’d like to be).
Honestly, what I read of this one (and I will finish it) didn’t disappoint me. I was actually more impressed with the build-up of this universe than I was with what was done in Hyperion.
So compared with Hyperion, I’d call it “meh with potential” because I’m honestly not opposed to reading any of the sequels to find out what starts to happen next
I don’t think I’ve made up my mind yet about Sundiver and its sequels.
I read Gateway and found that the psycho-analysis part was distracting from the pulp feel for exploration of the universe. I have not read the other books in the series. Are they worth starting? I never got a good feel from listening to the podcast if reading the rest of the series is worthwhile.
Keep us the great work. Thanks.
Didn’t bother moving on the next one myself. Couldn’t tell you if it’s worth it or not.
I think the sequels are worth it – Pohl moves away from the psychoanalysis in the sequels and into standard scifi.
Granted, it is about fifteen year since I read them, so I am a little hazy on it, but at least the next two are worth reading. I think the last one dropped off a bit, but liked the next two.
I enjoyed the HeeChee Saga. This first one may seem a little slow, but I felt that it falls into that “Sense of Awe” Sci-Fi that unfurls slowly, like the first Rama.
***Possible Spoiler***
The black hole scene was very well written IMHO.
Ok, guess it wasn’t a spoiler.
I frist read Gateway as a teenager,and didn’t like it at all. Then I read it about five years ago, in the midst of some personal crises – and it hit me like a ton of bricks. IMHO, the ultimate point to the book is this: we must make decisions, and rather than getting locked up in regret, we must face the pain and move forward with this knowledge, because that’s what it means to be human.
I’ve since read “The Gateway Trip”, which consists of a couple short stories and what amounts to author’s notes regarding the HeeChee universe. It’s okay.
Oh, and Summer, at least check out “Startide Rising”, the second book in the Uplift series.
The first time I read this was in 1978. I was just about to get out of school. It was a time for me to make decisions that everyone said would effect the rest of my life. Maybe that made Bob’s fears more real to me. I’ve still got that worn hardback on the shelf in my den. It’s one of those books I keep handy for the times I need to stay up with a sick child or nursing along a big compile. I’ve read the others in the series. All were good but none ever had that same feel.