Beneath The Gated Sky (Beyond the Veil of Stars) (Paperback)

by Robert Reed (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews
Part sequel to, part expansion of Beyond the Veil of Stars (1994). Unlike Reed's usual practice, however, the hypercosmic complications come first: The Earth is connected to billions of other worlds via microscopic wormholes, or ``intrusions,'' that allow beings to pass through; on the other side they're reborn into the bodies of the planet's dominant species. The Cosmic Event Agency recruited Cornell Novak and others as explorers, hoping to grab advanced alien technology. During one trip, Cornell met Porsche Neal; she turned out to be an alien from planet Jarrtee, a refugee and part of an extended family of interplanetary travelers known as the Few. Porsche and Cornell plan to expose the wicked activities of the CEA, but, unfortunately, Porsche's cousin Trinidad betrays them. So with their families held hostage, Porsche and Cornell are forced to help Trinidad and the CEA kidnap Jarrtee's finest minds. Porsche, meanwhile, learns that Trinidad isn't a Few at all, but a hostile alien Other--a species whose purpose is to stir up wars and depopulate planets so that they can move in and take over. The unbelievable cosmic setup aside: aliens of real depth and conviction, well-articulated plotting, above-average characters, and an absorbing narrative--all add up to Reed's best outing so far. Anticipate at least one more volume in the same vein. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
This sequel to "Beyond the Veil of Stars" will intrigue and entertain all the way to its riveting end. Porsche and Cornell fall in love as they infiltrate an alien world for the sake of humanity. Having survived their harrowing ordeal, they return to Earth, only to discover a conspiracy so profound that it casts doubt on those they've trusted with their very lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (July 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312864779
• ISBN-13: 978-0312864774
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,477,946 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reed's best book yet. A superlative sequel to Veil of Stars, September 4, 1997

By	Andrew S. Cruse "andrew2" (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beneath The Gated Sky (Beyond the Veil of Stars) (Hardcover)

Beneath the Gated Sky is a wonderfully conceived and joyously written followup to the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Beyond the Veil of Stars.

In this outing, Reed seems to concentrate more on the character of Porsche. I found Porsche to be a rather one-dimensional, predictable character in Beyond the Veil of Stars. In this book, however, a great deal is told from Porsche's point of view. As such we get a greater glimpse into her psyche, which makes for a much more rewarding read.

Perhaps Robert Reed's greatest strength as an author is his ability to introduce stunning scientific ideas while still maintaining believable situations and believable, likeable characters. Beneath the Gated Sky is no exception. Reed expands greatly upon the ideas first put forth in Beyond the Veil of Stars. To go into any detail about his extensions would be to take away the thrill of discovery, so suffice it to say that Beyond the Veil of Stars is just the tip of the iceberg.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful, cutting edge Sci-Fi. A Must buy., June 22, 2008

By	Holofernes "Holofernes" (United States) - See all my reviews

Concerning both "Beyond the Veil of Stars" and "Beneath The Gated Sky", Mr. Reed is one of the better "new" sci-fi writers in the field... if you like original ideas, exploration themes, shape-shifter plots, or that "high lonesome" feeling of old Bradbury novels, this might be for you.

Reed's 2 related novels in this series will make you ~think~, and perhaps dream, of alternate realities. I have re-read both books numerous times since. They are quite original, and devastatingly believable.

Please Mr. Reed, write a third book in this series!