What do you think?
Rate this book
The Forever Gate #1-5
The Forever Gate Compendium Edition
THE FOREVER GATE is a five-part novel. There are two ways to enjoy THE FOREVER GATE. The first is to buy all five parts in sequence. The second is to buy the COMPENDIUM, which includes all five short novels and costs less than the total price of the individual works.
This is the money-saving COMPENDIUM edition.
As Isaac Hooke's debut work, THE FOREVER GATE originally started life as a 21,000 word experimental science fiction novella. In the first two weeks of its release, that novella sold 1,000 copies without any promotion whatsoever. What began as an experiment turned out to be something of a cult hit. Isaac Hooke decided to expand upon the concept presented in the novella, and the serial was born. Each volume consistently shot to the top of the Amazon short-story best-seller list. Soon, book reviewers who ordinarily don't read indie works gave it rave reviews. People wrote fan fiction for it. On March 20, 2013, it won the Indie Book of the Day award. The serial quite literally developed a life of its own.
ABOUT THE FOREVER GATE:
3740 A.D. The ice age has immobilized the world. Colossal walls seal off the cities from the uninhabitable Outside. Humanlike entities called "gols" run society, and force the humans to wear collars that block the innate powers humankind has evolved.
What one man will do to save the woman he loves could destroy his world.
THE FOREVER GATE combines elements of science fiction & fantasy to create a unique world entirely unlike anything you've seen before. Here's what reviewers are saying:
"Picked up the first installment, as I often do with indies. When I finished that, I went right back and bought 2, 3 and 4, reading them right through."
"I have been an avid sci-fi reader since childhood, and THE FOREVER GATE really grabbed me. I love a story in which the nature of reality is questioned, and turns out to be stranger than almost anyone can imagine."
"THE FOREVER GATE made my blood pump, and gave me a lot to think about when I was finished. Which is basically all I'm asking for in a story."
"Isaac Hooke is two parts Philip K. Dick, one part Asimov, three parts Dan Brown, and four parts good fun."
THE FOREVER GATE COMPENDIUM. 5 SHORT NOVELS. 160,000 words. 628 pages. Strap yourself in, because the mind-bending thrill ride that explores what it means to be human has only just begun.
This is the money-saving COMPENDIUM edition.
As Isaac Hooke's debut work, THE FOREVER GATE originally started life as a 21,000 word experimental science fiction novella. In the first two weeks of its release, that novella sold 1,000 copies without any promotion whatsoever. What began as an experiment turned out to be something of a cult hit. Isaac Hooke decided to expand upon the concept presented in the novella, and the serial was born. Each volume consistently shot to the top of the Amazon short-story best-seller list. Soon, book reviewers who ordinarily don't read indie works gave it rave reviews. People wrote fan fiction for it. On March 20, 2013, it won the Indie Book of the Day award. The serial quite literally developed a life of its own.
ABOUT THE FOREVER GATE:
3740 A.D. The ice age has immobilized the world. Colossal walls seal off the cities from the uninhabitable Outside. Humanlike entities called "gols" run society, and force the humans to wear collars that block the innate powers humankind has evolved.
What one man will do to save the woman he loves could destroy his world.
THE FOREVER GATE combines elements of science fiction & fantasy to create a unique world entirely unlike anything you've seen before. Here's what reviewers are saying:
"Picked up the first installment, as I often do with indies. When I finished that, I went right back and bought 2, 3 and 4, reading them right through."
"I have been an avid sci-fi reader since childhood, and THE FOREVER GATE really grabbed me. I love a story in which the nature of reality is questioned, and turns out to be stranger than almost anyone can imagine."
"THE FOREVER GATE made my blood pump, and gave me a lot to think about when I was finished. Which is basically all I'm asking for in a story."
"Isaac Hooke is two parts Philip K. Dick, one part Asimov, three parts Dan Brown, and four parts good fun."
THE FOREVER GATE COMPENDIUM. 5 SHORT NOVELS. 160,000 words. 628 pages. Strap yourself in, because the mind-bending thrill ride that explores what it means to be human has only just begun.
600 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2013
257 people are currently reading
1175 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Hooke
102 books508 followersIsaac Hooke is the best-selling author of the Ethan Galaal series of thriller novels, as well as the SF-themed ATLAS trilogy. When Isaac isn't writing, publishing, and blogging, he's busy cycling and taking pictures in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He has a degree in Engineering Physics.
You can follow Isaac on Twitter @IsaacHooke and his website http://IsaacHooke.com.
You can follow Isaac on Twitter @IsaacHooke and his website http://IsaacHooke.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 27, 2013
When reading, or reviewing, a sci-fi book, it's almost automatic to try to compare it to another work that everyone knows. My advice? Don't. Even though there are clearly superficial similarities to "something that I will not mention for fear of spoilers," that's all they are- superficial, and this story is anything but. Like a well-bred tea rose, it opens up for you, one sweet petal at a time, each more intriguing than the last, until you finally arrive at the perfect center that is everything you expected it to be, and more.
The less said about the plot the better because there are many twists that new readers must discover for themselves. I will promise, however, that you will not at any point feel either cheated or disappointed by any of them. But now on to my favorite part: the characters. To put it simply, you will fall in love with them and will not want to leave them once the story is over. Hoodwink, Ari and Tanner are complete personalities, and as much as their stories and fates are interconnected, they have their own lives and dreams that make the reader experience the world from their different vantage points. That is how the story holds together in spite of all the twists and turns- the characters take you through it. If you are tired of sci-fi that is more interested in being clever and coming up with one great concept rather than telling a great story, this book is for you. It's not covering drastically new territory, but what it does, it does very well. Get the full Compendium edition and prepare to enjoy the ride!
The less said about the plot the better because there are many twists that new readers must discover for themselves. I will promise, however, that you will not at any point feel either cheated or disappointed by any of them. But now on to my favorite part: the characters. To put it simply, you will fall in love with them and will not want to leave them once the story is over. Hoodwink, Ari and Tanner are complete personalities, and as much as their stories and fates are interconnected, they have their own lives and dreams that make the reader experience the world from their different vantage points. That is how the story holds together in spite of all the twists and turns- the characters take you through it. If you are tired of sci-fi that is more interested in being clever and coming up with one great concept rather than telling a great story, this book is for you. It's not covering drastically new territory, but what it does, it does very well. Get the full Compendium edition and prepare to enjoy the ride!
February 17, 2016
I must admit that I stopped reading this book about halfway through the first volume, mainly because I got bored with continuing reading it. The premise was interesting - characters living on multiple levels simultaneously and managing their movements between levels. As someone else notes, it was reminiscent of the film 'The Matrix.' However, what made me less and less interested was the constant reliance on bloody swordplay as the heroes had to fight their way anywhere they traveled. I quit reading because I just did not care that much about what happens next - probably more bloody swordplay! I should really give it one star, but I'm awarding one bonus star (to bring it up to two stars!) for the fascinating basic scenario. I bet a writer with a better imagination could really make something interesting out of it!
April 6, 2016
This is an odd novel. (My father-in-law, when he didn't particularly enjoy a food would always say, "It has an odd taste..." Just saying.) I don't know if some of the ideas were borrowed from "The Matrix" - they appeared to be so. Or even some from recent science fiction movies - "Avatar", etc. It is about humans being overwhelmed by space aliens. It is a love story of a father for his daughter. It is about one of the aliens actually liking humans and not wanting to destroy them. It is about aliens in their space ship infecting golems. It is about "Inside", "Outside", and "Topside". It is about fantastic powers that flow from your fingers. It is about double-crosses, and triple-, and fourple. And clones.
This novel is a mishmash of several ideas. It isn't awful, but I labored to finish it. I lost interest in the characters and almost felt about them the way I felt about the movie "The Titanic" - I wished they all died. You know the book is not quite right, when you keep checking to see if you're almost done. I finished it, because it annoys me all to heck to quit in a book, but the ending didn't satisfy or make up for the rest of it.
This novel is a mishmash of several ideas. It isn't awful, but I labored to finish it. I lost interest in the characters and almost felt about them the way I felt about the movie "The Titanic" - I wished they all died. You know the book is not quite right, when you keep checking to see if you're almost done. I finished it, because it annoys me all to heck to quit in a book, but the ending didn't satisfy or make up for the rest of it.
June 19, 2013
I loved this book, I was hooked right from the first. It's a mind bender with action, humor, a little romance, a lot of the bad guys getting what they deserved, a little sadness and filled with LOTS of surprises! It shows that a man will do anything for the woman he loves. The story line was well developed without drowning you in details. The characters were strong and you couldn't help but fall in love with the lead ones, Ari and Hoodwink lead you on this action packed story. This was a five part novel and when end came, I wanted more! I highly recommend this to anyone that reads science fiction, fantasy books. You'll want more too!
June 6, 2013
This is a piece of literature that will expand your way of viewing the world you can "see" without you even knowing it happened! The characters drew me in right away and their subsequent trials to do "the right thing" always had me mentally cheering. Even the bad guys are fascinating! Sure you want to hate them, but how can you? Everybody wants to be top dog... can't hate them for it! Awesome read!
June 8, 2013
Wow! I wish I had an imagination like that. Very interesting characters and plot twists. Science fiction/fantasy must be fun to write because you can make your characters do anything. Some parts reminded me of "The Matrix" movies, but we moved well beyond that story. I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it to anyone.
May 8, 2013
Excellent read!! Like an onion hidden in a set of Russian nesting dolls! So happy one can get all the boocks at once now :) Highly recommend!
June 9, 2013
Wow was this a good read!! Part fantasy part science fiction and 100% awesome! I NEVER saw the twists coming! Very original and innovative!
January 30, 2019
An epic cjourney in science fiction
I could barely wrap my mind around this complex adventure, but couldn't put it down. So many species, human , machine ,and allein in a fast paced ever changing and brutal landscape. Not for the faint of. heart.
I could barely wrap my mind around this complex adventure, but couldn't put it down. So many species, human , machine ,and allein in a fast paced ever changing and brutal landscape. Not for the faint of. heart.
June 30, 2017
Not the easiest of reads but definitely better towards the end! Need some time without distraction to read this one.
September 9, 2017
Phew. What a whirlwind. It certainly drew me in, and the reveal/plot twist was really cool. Really good at describing the world (maybe a bit too much). A dystopian/apocalyptic series I might reread.
December 14, 2017
Kind of an odd book, rather Matrix-esque in a way.
September 26, 2018
Very enjoyable. Good escapism.
March 27, 2019
Really enjoyed this. The twists keep coming.
October 5, 2019
Fun, fast read. Needs some editing but the situations and world are imaginative and engaging.
March 8, 2017
Enjoyable read-highly recommended.
Shades of Philip K. Dick, David Freer, Eric Flint. A bit of everything for every science fiction fan. Well worth the price, and the time.
Shades of Philip K. Dick, David Freer, Eric Flint. A bit of everything for every science fiction fan. Well worth the price, and the time.
September 6, 2013
Better than competing books with average 4.7 star ratings
* This review contains no spoilers. *
This novel has about as much to do with the Matrix as Star Wars has to do with Star Trek because there's actors with prosthetics on their heads in it.
There's a multitude of good things to say about The Forever Gate, such as that it's far better than competing books in this genre (yes, including those with average ratings of 4.7 stars), and it's worth far more than it costs to buy in the Kindle store. This is the first indie novel I have ever read, and this is the first novel that I have ever been inspired to write a review for. If you're looking for a reason to own a Kindle, The Forever Gate is it. Again, disregard the reviews that try to compare it to the Matrix: it's as similar to the Matrix as Harry Potter's Quidditch is to The Wheel of Time's Battle of Dumai's Wells. This is a unique work.
The writing is exceptional, in that it conveys just the right balance of action, emotion and plot, while catching the reader in a tight net woven of suspense. Hooke's indefatigable concentration is remarkable, and he continually manages to compel the reader, always filling the pages with excellence and intrigue.
This story will inspire a gamut of emotions in you, as it did for me, from sheer joy and captivation, to excitement, all the way to bringing you to the brink (or over the brink) of tears. You will FEEL as you read. You will find yourself laughing out loud, sometimes at the deftly woven humor, sometimes at the fantastic twists and turns the plot takes. You'll feel sorrow for those who experience trials and traumas, and you'll feel exhilaration for the victories. You'll hate the villains and cheer for the heroes and heroines.
There were times in this book that I felt anxious about the life of the main character. Only a great story can make one worry about a fictional character. The fact that Hooke can do all this speaks volumes about his capacity as a storyteller, easily catapulting him into that realm that is the exclusive abode of the best Fantasy/Science Fiction writers.
I've become a fan, and truly hope there will be future books in The Forever Gate series, which will likely become a Fantasy/Science Fiction classic. The Forever Gate displays the same passion for character progression and sheer greatness of story as the classics, and the characters are swept away on a surprising journey.
It's sort of like going out to a formal dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant: The opening chapters draw you in and fire you for what's to come, like quaffing a fine aperitivo and downing a plate of antipasti with fresh caviar and crispy bruschetta. The meat of The Forever Gate is like a grand first and second course of gourmet fettucine all'amatriciana and split lobster paired with a side of rosemary foccacia and perfectly aged red wine. The glorious and unexpected ending is like a delicious dessert of torta di cioccolato bianco followed by a shot of limoncello digestivo. Such a feast is best enjoyed in good company, and I can think of no better company than Isaac Hooke's characters in The Forever Gate.
The author leaves one wishing for The Forever Gate to go on forever... It's really that good.
Beautifully done, Mr. Hooke!
* This review contains no spoilers. *
This novel has about as much to do with the Matrix as Star Wars has to do with Star Trek because there's actors with prosthetics on their heads in it.
There's a multitude of good things to say about The Forever Gate, such as that it's far better than competing books in this genre (yes, including those with average ratings of 4.7 stars), and it's worth far more than it costs to buy in the Kindle store. This is the first indie novel I have ever read, and this is the first novel that I have ever been inspired to write a review for. If you're looking for a reason to own a Kindle, The Forever Gate is it. Again, disregard the reviews that try to compare it to the Matrix: it's as similar to the Matrix as Harry Potter's Quidditch is to The Wheel of Time's Battle of Dumai's Wells. This is a unique work.
The writing is exceptional, in that it conveys just the right balance of action, emotion and plot, while catching the reader in a tight net woven of suspense. Hooke's indefatigable concentration is remarkable, and he continually manages to compel the reader, always filling the pages with excellence and intrigue.
This story will inspire a gamut of emotions in you, as it did for me, from sheer joy and captivation, to excitement, all the way to bringing you to the brink (or over the brink) of tears. You will FEEL as you read. You will find yourself laughing out loud, sometimes at the deftly woven humor, sometimes at the fantastic twists and turns the plot takes. You'll feel sorrow for those who experience trials and traumas, and you'll feel exhilaration for the victories. You'll hate the villains and cheer for the heroes and heroines.
There were times in this book that I felt anxious about the life of the main character. Only a great story can make one worry about a fictional character. The fact that Hooke can do all this speaks volumes about his capacity as a storyteller, easily catapulting him into that realm that is the exclusive abode of the best Fantasy/Science Fiction writers.
I've become a fan, and truly hope there will be future books in The Forever Gate series, which will likely become a Fantasy/Science Fiction classic. The Forever Gate displays the same passion for character progression and sheer greatness of story as the classics, and the characters are swept away on a surprising journey.
It's sort of like going out to a formal dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant: The opening chapters draw you in and fire you for what's to come, like quaffing a fine aperitivo and downing a plate of antipasti with fresh caviar and crispy bruschetta. The meat of The Forever Gate is like a grand first and second course of gourmet fettucine all'amatriciana and split lobster paired with a side of rosemary foccacia and perfectly aged red wine. The glorious and unexpected ending is like a delicious dessert of torta di cioccolato bianco followed by a shot of limoncello digestivo. Such a feast is best enjoyed in good company, and I can think of no better company than Isaac Hooke's characters in The Forever Gate.
The author leaves one wishing for The Forever Gate to go on forever... It's really that good.
Beautifully done, Mr. Hooke!
May 21, 2016
Excellent character and world building through the entire five books. So realistic that at times I felt I was there taking part in so much of the story. There were a couple of times when I thought I had lost my place in my Kindle (which never happens, thank goodness). But it was all for the good of humanity.
Please note that I did gladly miss several hours of sleep in order to read more and I love many of the characters while I absolutely hated the rest. Isn't that the best kind of book?
You will find no details in this review. Only how I feel about it, because I hate reading a review and then never reading the book because I just read all the highlights. I will leave all the joy of discovery for you to reveal at your own pace.
Disclaimer: I received this at no charge from the author (you can get it as well by going to his web site) and all though he did say reviews are appreciated they are not required. Having said that, I truly enjoyed this series and will buy the rest of it. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.
So, stop wasting your time reading this and go get this series
Please note that I did gladly miss several hours of sleep in order to read more and I love many of the characters while I absolutely hated the rest. Isn't that the best kind of book?
You will find no details in this review. Only how I feel about it, because I hate reading a review and then never reading the book because I just read all the highlights. I will leave all the joy of discovery for you to reveal at your own pace.
Disclaimer: I received this at no charge from the author (you can get it as well by going to his web site) and all though he did say reviews are appreciated they are not required. Having said that, I truly enjoyed this series and will buy the rest of it. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.
So, stop wasting your time reading this and go get this series
February 12, 2015
I was already a big fan of Isaac Hooke for his Atlas series, and this book is easily as good as those. It is a very deep story, set in multiple levels of reality. It kept me guessing where the story was going the entire book, and thats all you can really ask of a good book. The characters are great, including the heroes, the not so heroic, and villains alike. The plot is engaging and fast paced, with well plotted out and detailed fight scenes. The world building it top notch, especially considering the differences between the worlds. This book had sort of a Jack L. Chalker feel to it, like the Flux and Anchor and Well World books. That is a good thing in my opinion. Anyone looking for a twisting, turning, wild ride of a sci fi book would be well served with this one. Susanna Burney did a great job with the narration, really bringing the characters to life. Any fan of Jack Chalker's sci fi work will really enjoy this book.
February 23, 2016
Absolutely far-freaking out!
Disclaimer : received a free copy for a review.
As I wrote above - absolutely far-freaking out! The description as supplied by the publisher doesn't do justice to the actual writing by the author.
Where first it reads like a fantasy, it then morphs into a hard Science Fiction novel and then ropes in a philisophical boomerang! Just when you think you have this novel down it goes into not a right-turn but a vertical spin-roll! And it all holds together seamlessly!
The authors writing is paced perfectly for the scenes he is describing (being battles, home scenes or techno-speak). The underlying science is sound (as far as I can tell) - but for me it is the insertion of the current conundrum of whether we're real or just programs on a universe sized computer that seals the deal with the concept of levels of reality and the afterlife.
Definitely an author to follow!
Disclaimer : received a free copy for a review.
As I wrote above - absolutely far-freaking out! The description as supplied by the publisher doesn't do justice to the actual writing by the author.
Where first it reads like a fantasy, it then morphs into a hard Science Fiction novel and then ropes in a philisophical boomerang! Just when you think you have this novel down it goes into not a right-turn but a vertical spin-roll! And it all holds together seamlessly!
The authors writing is paced perfectly for the scenes he is describing (being battles, home scenes or techno-speak). The underlying science is sound (as far as I can tell) - but for me it is the insertion of the current conundrum of whether we're real or just programs on a universe sized computer that seals the deal with the concept of levels of reality and the afterlife.
Definitely an author to follow!
July 24, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became engrossed in this book. the author does a fantastic job of painting a vivid and surreal environment for the characters with just enough mystery to keep the reader turning the page. My imagination kept running wild with the events of the story. I would frequently pause and re-read entire sections of the chapter to ensure that I had absorbed as much detail as I possibly could. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, fantasy, and the unknown possibilities of the future. This series is now one of my all-time favorites.
July 13, 2013
I grabbed this from the Amazon Kindle lending library, because the premise sounded interesting. It started out good, and suddenly I felt like I was reading a rip-off of several other sci-fi books/movies. While disappointed, I continued reading it, since I didn't have any other books handy. What a great decision! While the story certainly shares elements of other, more familiar books/movies, it goes off in an entirely different direction. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't go into much detail, you'll have to read it yourself. Well-written, good characters, strong story!
December 13, 2014
Well done storyline
You must read all five books to get the whole story. The ending is reasonably satisfying, though it does leave room for a sequel. Not a bad thing really, but it leaves one main character with a less than perfect ending. My review has one star removed because of the philosophical tangent the author left in about life and reality. It did not enhance the story and jolted me out of the book. Still an excellent read that I really enjoyed. Read it. It was worth the time.
You must read all five books to get the whole story. The ending is reasonably satisfying, though it does leave room for a sequel. Not a bad thing really, but it leaves one main character with a less than perfect ending. My review has one star removed because of the philosophical tangent the author left in about life and reality. It did not enhance the story and jolted me out of the book. Still an excellent read that I really enjoyed. Read it. It was worth the time.
July 18, 2013
I borrowed this from the Amazon Lending Library and I guess that's why I finished it. It had most of the things I look for in a book ie; Sci-Fi, a strong female character, great world building, and it's something different but I didn't enjoy it. Somehow it lacked passion. I never connected with the characters. Never really cared whether they lived or died. I have no idea why that is. Plenty of other people loved it. The Hobbit is the same way for me, if that tells you anything.
December 7, 2014
This has the essence of a good book, but felt a little ragged at the edges. The characters are compelling, the plot twists are interesting, but the five parts don't really hold together. It's like someone built a five-story house by stacking 5 different first floors together. It's a big house with lots of rooms, but lacking the structural supports to tie everything together.
Still a very entertaining read though.
Still a very entertaining read though.
May 14, 2015
It's a fairly entertaining story. At times the author seems to try a bit too hard to build up all the different layers, but doesn't quite succeed at it.
It's not a bad book, and while at times I got a bit bored with it in the end it was interesting enough to finish.
As for the story itself, it's a mix of fantasy and science fiction with a couple of nice twists thrown into it. Not sure if I'd recommend it to anyone though.
It's not a bad book, and while at times I got a bit bored with it in the end it was interesting enough to finish.
As for the story itself, it's a mix of fantasy and science fiction with a couple of nice twists thrown into it. Not sure if I'd recommend it to anyone though.
April 18, 2016
Overall good book; a pretty good mystery that was telegraphed way too much throughout the book. I also would not recommend reading this and his Atlas series back to back; his writing style in both series gets a little annoying after a while.
The way he breaks up his paragraphs.
The way he ends almost all of his chapters on a cliff hanger.
And then switches to a different POV character.
But overall a fun read, and pretty good bang for your buck.
The way he breaks up his paragraphs.
The way he ends almost all of his chapters on a cliff hanger.
And then switches to a different POV character.
But overall a fun read, and pretty good bang for your buck.
December 2, 2016
My favorite genres are fantasy and space opera, closely followed by mystery and soft science fiction. This book promised to combine most of those into a compelling storyline. However, I lost interest by the time the hero began climbing. I wanted more explanation why the world inside the walls was oppressive and more history of the hero's reason for assuming responsibility for the criminal action. I removed this book from my Kindle having read only a single-digit percentage.
June 25, 2013
A fast plot makes up for characters I don't always like. It's maybe the most aggressive plot I've ever read. Incredible revelations. But the characters are so selfish and sour that I often only cared to see the bad guy lose, not really sure I want the good guys to win. In the very end, though, I found the finish satisfying.
Read
July 29, 2013Sign-Up to participate in a Book Blast for Isaac and The Forever Gate: The Compendium Edition via Book Nerd Tours!
We give you the content and giveaway - you post it and share it and we blast the whole community with this awesome book and author! The whole thing will take you 5 minutes!
http://www.booknerdtours.com/2013/ner...
We give you the content and giveaway - you post it and share it and we blast the whole community with this awesome book and author! The whole thing will take you 5 minutes!
http://www.booknerdtours.com/2013/ner...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews