Customer Reviews

Portal

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

 

 

I loved the original version which I had on my old Commodore 64 growing up. I later worked very hard to find the updated Amiga version, but never did find a copy. Eventially the story was released online during the early version of the web, but that too has passed away. I'm thrilled to see that the story made it into print and is availible for purchase. I would have given it a 5 star rating, but without Homer blinking away in the corner letting me know that I've uncovered enough information for him to expand the story a bit more I just couldn't do it. This isn't an epic story, but the first time I personally read a Singularity tale and between that and the revolutionary style of the original format, this has remained one of my favorite story over the years.

If you made it as far as the review, well done. I had no idea so many books called Portal existed. This one apparently was based on a computer game, and boy would I have loved to play it. The story involves a lone space chap arriving back at a deserted earth wondering where everyone has gone. The story is told via computer flashbacks via an operating system called "Homer". The actual format of the story is quite confusing on first reading with some time at the crease needed before you "get your eye in". It reminded me a little of Frederik Pohls' "Gateway" a little in its style, but despite the fact that its genesis was a game, this really is a quite wonderful piece of twisting and turning sci-fi. It also throws up some nice little characters, one of my favourite being "Jimmy Radix", a war veteran disabled by a futuristic weapon that destroyed his ability to relate to time. Sounds a bit mad, but on the page, it is realistic and really quite sad. I suspect that this book would not be easy to get hold of, but it is really worth the effort. Well, I hope you agree it is, its really all about opinions isnt