Customer Reviews

Gateways

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There are OK stories in here, some by excellent authors. There are a couple of stories that I didn't finish bothering to read. And there are *many* stories that are Young Adult/teenager "coming of age" stories, at a level of predictability that gets boring after a while. I wouldn't call this book a waste of money - it was more readable than not - but it was a disappointment compared to what the theme could have led to.

A few highlights and "lowlights" for consideration:
"The Two Sheckleys" - Robert Sheckley got asked to write a story for this anthology, and wrote a parody of himself writing a story, tossing in every cliché he could. There are funny moments, but it's not nearly as funny as he thinks it is, and sometimes a clear note of contempt for the whole concept leaks through.
"Postcards" by Rebecca Moesta - one of the completely predictable teenage themed and teenage aimed stories.
"The Trigger" - another predictable coming-of-age story, where the note of science fiction - a sudden disappearance to another, unexplained world - is completely incidental; the same story could have been written without any SF at all, and made the same point. Rich parents try to provide daughter with everything that money can buy; daughter rebels. It's not badly done, but it's not really science fiction/fantasy, either, since the story would be exactly the same without the other world.
"Spring Break" - another Young Adult story, but this one is silly enough to actually be funny. I enjoyed it. Lightweight, no point, teenage protagonists - but very funny.
"By The Rules" - another Young Adult story, with college protagonists engaged in RPGs, but a slightly different plot from standard, this was enjoyable, if predictable (again) - and I suppose a lot of adults who are still RP-ers would enjoy the comeuppance given to someone who always takes the same, completely predictable, role, and who always insists on running the game.
"Circle of Compassion" - this one I really liked. A war story, no teenagers, an unusual solution to a challenge, and an ending that hints that this may become part of a larger novel or a series set in the universe it occurs in. Asian historical setting instead of teenage America a nice change of pace.
"The Doorway in Stephensons Store" (the lack of apostrophe is deliberate) - a nice story, jump-back-in-your-own-timeline theme, nice ending.

Okay, that's a sampling. There are 19 stories in all; you might find that you liked more of them than I did, and possibly you are younger than I am and so the many coming-of-age stories are of more interest. As an alleged grown-up, I'd say: buy this one, read through it quickly, and plan to give it to a science-fiction reading teenager of your acquaintance thereafter, rather than keeping it for your permanent collection.