Customer Reviews

Gates Of Creation

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book because of its obvious influences on Roger Zelazny's AMBER books, but Farmer's material suffers mightily in comparison. The characters in GATES are caricatures--I've seen characters developed much more fully in the space of a single comic book than this-- and the plot consisted of nothing more than a series of hokey hurdles for the main character to jump--even as he repeatedly, redundantly, insults and criticizes his relatives. Over and over. Farmer also suffers here from "tell, don't show." Rather than watching the characters figure things out, we are often simply *informed* of this by the text. How disappointing. Unlike a previous reviewer, I don't wish to spoil the ending, but I have to question how someone can claim Urizen is a great villain when he scarcely even appears in the book. This is pulp material at its most mediocre and only the last few pages saves it from utter failure. Read the Amber books instead.

The plot is intriguing, the characters are well-developed, the worlds are delicately designed, and you don't even suspect Vala (if you're like me) until Jadawin starts mentioning her. Matter of fact, I would have suspected Theotormon more than her. Not that that's a bad thing - you look back and notice things that she'd done that had been suspicious, and wonder why you missed them, when Jadawin didn't. All in all, a very well-written book, that I would reccommend, but it's not the best he could have done with it.

The idea of private universes is an idea I like very much.The villan Urizen was fantsic! I recommand this book to everyone!