Stargate

by Stephen Robinett

The Jenson Gate had opened the way to instantaneous transportation all around the Earth and had paved the way for Norton's interstellar Gate. Floating in space, the partially completed Norton Gate would one day transport man to other star systems and bring sample segments of distant planets to our own solar system. First, though the Gate had to be finished. But Norton had died before the Gate was perfected, and so Merryweather Enterprises hired Robert Collins as the new Project Engineer. And Robert's new job catapulted him into the middle of a titanic duel between two super-corporations—an all-out battle for control of the Gate that could end in the destruction of the whole human race . . . !

Genres: Science Fiction

186 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Leif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarcastic and funny.

Some clever writing. A couple of great characters...specifically, an old man who is basically a badass.

Totally enjoyable.

[Gabriel Benitez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tengo algo muy importante que decir sobre este libro Y un agradecimiento muy grande a su autor. Hace mucho tiempo cuando yo acababa de salir de la universidad tardé más de un año buscando empleo. Nadie me quería emplear porque me veían muy joven. Yo era foráneo y vivía en casa de mi tía y una tarde llegué sumamente deprimido porque no pude conseguir un trabajo para el que había aplicado. Ya me había dado por vencido: mejor regresaría a la casa y buscaría la manera de ver qué rumbo tomaría mi vida ahora. Así que realmente me sentía muy mal. Llegué a la casa me encerré en el cuarto y me tiré en la cama. Agarré un libro que tenía sobre la mesa. Se trataba de Puerta las estrellas, de Stephen Robinett. Yo ni siquiera conocí al autor pero estaba tan harto que comencé el libro a ver si podía olvidarme un rato de todo. No me acuerdo bien de la historia pero sí me acuerdo que se trataba de un tipo sin trabajo —como yo— que por azares del destino acaba convertido en una especie de agente intergaláctico. En medio de una vorágine de sucesos el pobre tipo, un amigo común y corriente, tiene que vérselas con pruebas que lo sobrepasan. El libro me agarró y no pude parar de leer hasta el final de la historia cuando ya era muy de noche. Pero cuando acabé me encontré extrañamente reconstituido. La depresión se había ido y la historia me había hecho sentir mucho más positivo. Seguí buscando trabajo y a la primera semana tuve mi primer empleo en mercadotecnia en una empresa de comunicación celular.
Pero fue Gracias a ella que pude levantarme completo y con fuerza para continuar.
Así que muchas gracias Sr. Robinett. Aunque sé que ya no se encuentre entre nosotros quiero decirle que estoy muy agradecido por lo que hizo esa tarde por mí. Tal vez su novela no haya ganado el Hugo, pero me dió lo que necesitaba para seguir.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young engineer Robert Collins finds himself unemployed, but thanks to the machinations of a friend finds himself applying for the job of project leader at Merryweather Industries, builders of the first large-scale Jenson gate - a matter transporter. He is surprised to find himself hired and discovers that his predecessor, a genius named Norton, ws killed in a hit-and-run accident, and that his body has vanished. Most is eventually recovered - except for his brain. Robert takes charge of construction of The Big Gate in low-Earth orbit but finds that information is leaking from the company to a rival, who a large gate would put out of business. Norton’s death starts to look less and less like an accident. Merryweather himself lures an old ‘fixer’ named Smith back to the company to help Collins troubleshoot but Robert finds that the shoot part may be literal. Meanwhile, an astronomer working for the rival company, finds that they have coordinates set for the Crab nebula, a distant and lifeless stellar remnant from a supernova. It makes no sense. When it does start to click it is way late in the game as the rival company appears to be run by a complete madman named Spieler, and if he manages to take control of the stargate his plans are so insane that he may just destroy the entire planet! Nicely plotted tale of industrial espionage and technological breakthroughs from Stephen Robinett (Tak Hallus), leavened with believable characters and motivations. Don’t expect too much interstellar happenings though. Completely unrelated to the movie of the same name, it is still well worth a read!

[Xabi1990 · Rating 2 out of 5]

5/10. Solo leí este libro del autor.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Nothing espectacular but fun and entertaining to read.

[Ricardo Izquierdo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro entretenido sobre espionaje industrial y ciencia ficción. Se lee fácil y es ameno, no es la gran cosa pero entretiene.

[John Ayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book that reminded me a lot of Heinlein, except that when the shooting started the hero didn't

[Alien · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young engineer gets a job offer from a company that builds matter transmitters. He is supposed to be a project engineer for the construction of a huge transmitter that will be used for mining of minerals from other solar systems. His predecessor´s dead body disappeared. And then the body parts show up.

I liked the beginning. Being an engineer myself, I could relate to the young protagonist who is frightened of the responsability of his new job. This part was realistic and the characters were likeable. The "science" around the matter transmitter unfortunately is B.S. And then the plot gets more and more unbelievable. In the end I would say it´s not more than 2.5 of 5 points.

[Sanya Weathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been a four star, but the end was oddly unsatisfying. The story was a wonderful blend of science and action, though. A fun, fast read.

[Howard]

13

[Chris Maguire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read with some fun twists. Believable characters, good supporting characters.