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The Gate of Time
Roger Two Hawks, an American Iriquois Indian, was shot down over Ploesti, Roumania near the end of World War II; only the Navigator, O'Brien, survived with him.
Then, strangely, they were in a foreign land, where no known 20th Century language was spoken, where the people seemed to be living in another time, where men carried bows and arrows.
Then the realization struck: somehow they had entered a parallel universe, through a temporarily opened gate in the atmosphere.
Somehow, they must get out; and then O'Brien was deadlll
Now, would the nightmare begine...or what?
Then, strangely, they were in a foreign land, where no known 20th Century language was spoken, where the people seemed to be living in another time, where men carried bows and arrows.
Then the realization struck: somehow they had entered a parallel universe, through a temporarily opened gate in the atmosphere.
Somehow, they must get out; and then O'Brien was deadlll
Now, would the nightmare begine...or what?
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
2 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Philip José Farmer
592 books883 followersPhilip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois.
Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.
Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 1, 2016
The plot is the basic one of a man shifted to another world/ dimension that is not as advanced in tech as his homeworld. His advanced knowledge is used to give a tech advantage in war to his new adopted people. Basically a spin on "A Conneticut Yankee in King Author's Court". Good solid SiFi writing and a nice read, just what you should expect from a master writer in the field. So it should get 3 stars right? Well this is Philip Farmer and you get more than the average story. The complex, detailed history he develops for the new Earth our hero finds himself in is fantastic. A very well thought out and developed history of this alternate bumps this book up to 4 stars. If you have never the rich imagination of a Farmer story then this is a great book to start you journey into the worlds of Farmer. I wish there had been sequals. Highly recommended
March 14, 2017
Do trećine je bila ludo zanimljiva, no onda je počeo šou. Dijalozi kao što su:
- Jesi li ikada čitao SF?
- Da. Zašto pitaš?
- PA tamo se spominjeu paralelni svjetovi. Mislim da smo mi u jednome.
- Ima smisla. Hajdemo istražiti.
Dovode do ludila i pucanja. Radnja se, zapravo, prebila na naivnosti, ali pripisat ćemo to 1966. godini kada je knjiga nastala. Do kraja romana sve je vrlo konfuzno i opisuju se trenutne radnje bez reda i smisla.
Indijanac Dva Sokola i njegov prijatelj, za vrijeme 2. svjetskog rata, padaju padobranima kroz dimenzijski procjep i prelaze u paralelni svemir gdje je odnos snaga drugačiji nego na Zenlji 1. TAj svijet zovu Zemlja 2.... ma zapravo, nemojte čitati ako baš nemate želju poput mene da pročitate sve od Kentaur izdanja :)
- Jesi li ikada čitao SF?
- Da. Zašto pitaš?
- PA tamo se spominjeu paralelni svjetovi. Mislim da smo mi u jednome.
- Ima smisla. Hajdemo istražiti.
Dovode do ludila i pucanja. Radnja se, zapravo, prebila na naivnosti, ali pripisat ćemo to 1966. godini kada je knjiga nastala. Do kraja romana sve je vrlo konfuzno i opisuju se trenutne radnje bez reda i smisla.
Indijanac Dva Sokola i njegov prijatelj, za vrijeme 2. svjetskog rata, padaju padobranima kroz dimenzijski procjep i prelaze u paralelni svemir gdje je odnos snaga drugačiji nego na Zenlji 1. TAj svijet zovu Zemlja 2.... ma zapravo, nemojte čitati ako baš nemate želju poput mene da pročitate sve od Kentaur izdanja :)
February 14, 2015
Мех. Имајући у виду да је овај Фармер нешто много познат у свијету фантастике, очекивао сам више. Није ово незанимљиво, али подсјећа на хамбургер у Мекдоналдсу, који поједеш, а ко да ништа ниси појо, е тако некако. Ради се о два пилота из другог свјетског рата (један савезнички, полуиндијанац, а други швапски) који пролете кроз некакву временску капију и заврше на алтернативној земљи у којој су обје Америке под водом. Тај свијет, наравно уз одговарајуће неминовне измјене као што је недостатак коња, гуме и сл., налази се временски негдје на почетку дваедесетог вијека и код њих се управо дешава некакав еквивалент првом свјетском рату. Није тешко погодити да и позитивац и негативац, захваљујући томе што су из будућности (па макар то била и будућност неког другог свијета), врло брзо постају интересантни зараћеним фракцијама.
На крају баладе ово се своди на мање-више потпуно генеричку ратну књигу, са ето нешто мало те као алтернативне историје да зачини ствари. Али ни у једном тренутку се не дешава ништа баш претјерано интересантно и све је описано некако штуро и безвољно. Постоји неколико мјеста у књизи гдје је прича имала потенцијал гранања (што везано за догађаје у свијету, што везано за развој лика главног протагонисте), али у сваком од тих гранања Фармер бира најбезбједнију и најдосаднију варијанту. Нећу да улазим у детаље ових детаља због спојлера. У сваком случају, изгледа као да је Фармер одрађивао некакав уговор са издавачем, па на брзину склепао нешто. Још ће много воде да потече Босном прије него што се дотични поново нађе на екрану мог Киндла.
На крају баладе ово се своди на мање-више потпуно генеричку ратну књигу, са ето нешто мало те као алтернативне историје да зачини ствари. Али ни у једном тренутку се не дешава ништа баш претјерано интересантно и све је описано некако штуро и безвољно. Постоји неколико мјеста у књизи гдје је прича имала потенцијал гранања (што везано за догађаје у свијету, што везано за развој лика главног протагонисте), али у сваком од тих гранања Фармер бира најбезбједнију и најдосаднију варијанту. Нећу да улазим у детаље ових детаља због спојлера. У сваком случају, изгледа као да је Фармер одрађивао некакав уговор са издавачем, па на брзину склепао нешто. Још ће много воде да потече Босном прије него што се дотични поново нађе на екрану мог Киндла.
March 20, 2018
Фантастичний твір про альтернативний хід історії. Головний герой американський індіанець висаджується з парашутом у Румунії під час Другої світової війни, але опиняється у якійсь країні, населення якої також індіанцями.
June 24, 2019
An Iroquois American fighter pilot, named Roger Two Hawks, is shot down during WW II air raid on a German base, but falls through a "time gate" into an alternate Earth (Earth II). Earth II is in its own version of World War II, but is a lower level of technology, more-or-less late 19th century. Earth II lacks the Americas (except for a chain of islands corresponding to the Rockies and Appalachians. Earth II's cultures are loosely based on Earth's (that is, our Earth, but the languages and cultures are different. Two Hawks immediately figures out what has happened, due to his love of reading science fiction. (!)
Two Hawks joins up with guerrilla fighters battling the Perkunisha empire, roughly the equivalent of the German Third Reich which attempting to take over the entirety of Europe and eventually the world. There is a lot of violence, fighting, torture, etc., narrated in an accelerated, matter-of-fact manner.
As it turns out a German pilot, named Raske, from the same dogflight also falls into the same Earth II reality. Two Hawks and Raske (and the gunner from Two Hawks airplane, O'Brien) are in great demand by the few people who realize they are from a technically more advanced culture, since they can recreate Earth I's technology to help win the war. Raske aligns with the Perkunishans, Two Hawks and O'Brien go back and forth a bit, but eventually end up opposing Perkunisha.
The biggest drawback to the book is that the narrative style and tone seem very old fashioned. It reads like a 1920's or 30's style book. (It is copyright 1966.) The violence, torture, hardship, etc., all happens with no emotion and no impact. The character development is almost nil; the main protagonist is an unemotional and detached. His love interest is also a complete cipher. And characters are killed off willy-nilly. On the plus side, however, the author clearly took a great deal of effort to include authentic (or at least it sounds authentic) elements of Iroquois culture, and to design alternative languages and place names.
Two Hawks joins up with guerrilla fighters battling the Perkunisha empire, roughly the equivalent of the German Third Reich which attempting to take over the entirety of Europe and eventually the world. There is a lot of violence, fighting, torture, etc., narrated in an accelerated, matter-of-fact manner.
As it turns out a German pilot, named Raske, from the same dogflight also falls into the same Earth II reality. Two Hawks and Raske (and the gunner from Two Hawks airplane, O'Brien) are in great demand by the few people who realize they are from a technically more advanced culture, since they can recreate Earth I's technology to help win the war. Raske aligns with the Perkunishans, Two Hawks and O'Brien go back and forth a bit, but eventually end up opposing Perkunisha.
The biggest drawback to the book is that the narrative style and tone seem very old fashioned. It reads like a 1920's or 30's style book. (It is copyright 1966.) The violence, torture, hardship, etc., all happens with no emotion and no impact. The character development is almost nil; the main protagonist is an unemotional and detached. His love interest is also a complete cipher. And characters are killed off willy-nilly. On the plus side, however, the author clearly took a great deal of effort to include authentic (or at least it sounds authentic) elements of Iroquois culture, and to design alternative languages and place names.
December 26, 2020
This was bad. Like, really bad. The only good thing I can say about this is that the premise of the parallel worlds is solid and Farmer has a few interesting ideas how these worlds differ. But even for SF, his writing, character development and plot is terrible.
March 10, 2018
Досить непоганий роман про паралельні реальності. Протагоніст попадає на паралельну Землю, географія, якої відрізняється. Також народи та цивілізація, яких спіткала прикра доля у нашій історії, панують на паралельній Землі та перебувають у стані війни (свого роду світовій війні). Воюючі держави боряться за Ту Хокса, який володіє зняннми про вищі технології, які зможуть змінити хід війни.
July 16, 2017
I liked the parallel universe the characters were thrown into. The author put a lot of thought into worldbuilding. The adventure was well paced, with good action scenes. It was a shame the characters lacked a personality, which was a shame especially because the main character could have been a very interesting guy. I thought he was a bit too quick in understanding everything, always picking up just the right information, and always leaping to the right conclusions. I liked O'Briens and Raske's storylines very much.
March 11, 2017
Classic Farmer, in the sense that there's a LOT here reminiscent of his Riverworld sequence - real world figures in an alternate, more primitive world using their modern day knowledge to fast-track science, a detailed world-building based on a fascination with anthropology and linguistics, and a decent fast-paced yarn that gets a bit unstuck when any male/female interaction rears its head. There's even a rogue-ish German who slowly shifts from adversary to ally.
But for all that, the Riverworld sequence is no bad thing to emulate, and the themes interesting to revisit, not least of all Farmer's dim view of man's brutality. And it is a ripping yarn (with a decent, surprising ending). Highly enjoyable.
But for all that, the Riverworld sequence is no bad thing to emulate, and the themes interesting to revisit, not least of all Farmer's dim view of man's brutality. And it is a ripping yarn (with a decent, surprising ending). Highly enjoyable.
February 24, 2020
Entertaining and fun adventure of a Native American WWII bomber pilot "Two Hawks" and his turret gunner shot down and mysteriously landing in an alternate earth. If you like world-building and fun adventure then this one's for you plenty of thoughtful alternate earth development and fighting action to keep you reading.
The story is about Two Hawks and his turret gunners adventure in this new earth and if you read it to the end there is a multiverse twist. This is the first story I have read from Farmer and I almost rate this a four but overall it was just entertaining so it stays a three.
The story is about Two Hawks and his turret gunners adventure in this new earth and if you read it to the end there is a multiverse twist. This is the first story I have read from Farmer and I almost rate this a four but overall it was just entertaining so it stays a three.
January 20, 2020
Nice litle book
October 6, 2021
Review TBA
October 13, 2022
Ending was a little flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2015
The Gate of Time (1966) 176p by Philip Jose Farmer.
I don't know if it's the one L or his middle name being Jose, but in my mind I have always pronounced his name Phi-LEAP. It's probably why I had his books in my collection and never read any until last September. To Your Scattered Bodies Go was excellent. It was the first volume of the Riverworld series, since I don't [yet] have The Fabulous Riverboat, it took me a few months to pick up another of his books.
In The Gate of Time, Roger Two Hawks is recounting his tale. He was on a mission to bomb some refineries in Ploesti during World War II when his plane was hit, the plane was going down, he felt a lurch, and then he and one other surviving crew member, O'Brien, parachuted to the ground. while they are going down they see a German plane also crashing.
After a couple of chapters it become apparent that they are on some sort of parallel Earth, one that was maybe 30-50 years behind technologically. Later we find out that there is no American Continent on this world, just a few islands where the Rocky mountins are. This has affected the migration pattern from millenia ago. The [he doesn't say Indians, but uses a diffent term] istead of going into the Americas, go the other way and settle somewhere in Europe. We find out there there is some sort of war going on, but the participants are slightly different, and the technology is inferior.
At one point Two Hawks is put into a mental hospital and he takes that time to learn a lot about this world, and that's how we [the reader] learn.
At another point he is captured or enduced to work for the German counterparts of this world. He meets who we presume is the pilot of that other plane that went down. This German has been helping them start an airforce. These countries have been using dirigibles, a plane would be a major tactical advantage.
I'll stop there, but you know from the beginning that Two Hawks is talking to a reporter/writer, and it's not in the same world where they are right now. It was a very enjoyable book, but I was thinking the title was kind of misleading. So I'm at the used book store and I see Two Hawks from Earth. It's the same book, Farmer has added 10,000 words. So don't bother with The Gate of Time, pick up Two Hawks from Earth instead.
I don't know if it's the one L or his middle name being Jose, but in my mind I have always pronounced his name Phi-LEAP. It's probably why I had his books in my collection and never read any until last September. To Your Scattered Bodies Go was excellent. It was the first volume of the Riverworld series, since I don't [yet] have The Fabulous Riverboat, it took me a few months to pick up another of his books.
In The Gate of Time, Roger Two Hawks is recounting his tale. He was on a mission to bomb some refineries in Ploesti during World War II when his plane was hit, the plane was going down, he felt a lurch, and then he and one other surviving crew member, O'Brien, parachuted to the ground. while they are going down they see a German plane also crashing.
After a couple of chapters it become apparent that they are on some sort of parallel Earth, one that was maybe 30-50 years behind technologically. Later we find out that there is no American Continent on this world, just a few islands where the Rocky mountins are. This has affected the migration pattern from millenia ago. The [he doesn't say Indians, but uses a diffent term] istead of going into the Americas, go the other way and settle somewhere in Europe. We find out there there is some sort of war going on, but the participants are slightly different, and the technology is inferior.
At one point Two Hawks is put into a mental hospital and he takes that time to learn a lot about this world, and that's how we [the reader] learn.
At another point he is captured or enduced to work for the German counterparts of this world. He meets who we presume is the pilot of that other plane that went down. This German has been helping them start an airforce. These countries have been using dirigibles, a plane would be a major tactical advantage.
I'll stop there, but you know from the beginning that Two Hawks is talking to a reporter/writer, and it's not in the same world where they are right now. It was a very enjoyable book, but I was thinking the title was kind of misleading. So I'm at the used book store and I see Two Hawks from Earth. It's the same book, Farmer has added 10,000 words. So don't bother with The Gate of Time, pick up Two Hawks from Earth instead.
May 18, 2016
Произведение, после растянутого на полумесяц прочтения которого мне пришло на ум единственное - закрыть книгу, даже не пытаясь взглянуть на "Пробуждение каменного бога".
С чем бы сравнить?
Неужели это как Стивен Кинг для литературы ужасов - Филип Фармер в среде фантастов с его "Вратами времени"?
Два Сокола, Раске, Ильмика - что это? Посредственное отечественное фэнтези? Переводчику, видимо, оживлять-то и нечего было.
Три измерения одной планеты с разнящейся историей - то, о чём узнаёшь под самый конец - звучит как неполноценное оправдание всего того, что ты насилу потреблял прежде. Да, это литература потребления, не иначе.
Американский и германский лётчики встречаются в параллельной реальности, где история обнаружила другой ход - они всё ещё испытывают неприязнь по отношению к друг другу; причём первый в куда большей мере, нежели последний; это, чёрт возьми, так патриотично, так политично, так социально-направленно, что я задаюсь вопросом, не писал ли Фармер данную работу на заказ какой-нибудь благотворительной организации для ветеранов?
Там постреляли, тут полетали, а вот и поплавали - неотёсанная женщина-аристократка, стереотипично женственный нацист и человек "без лица" в главной роли - вовсе, казалось бы, произвольный элемент (хотя может и "просто не была концепция уловлена") вмешался в виде коренных племён и древних народов (что, кстати, единственный положительный момент - попытка мизерно, но таки альтернативничать без нежеланной фамильярности с историей).
...
Опять же, здесь нет плохого отзыва. Нет критики - есть субъективная оценка ВСЕГО ПОДОБНОГО.
Читая Фармера, прихожу к опасению перед разочарованием при возможном чтении Эдгара Берроуза, в среду которого ни разочка прежде не заглядывала.
Да, ещё одно. Очень напоминают произведения Филипа фильмы таких компаний как...сейчас, вспомню...а, чёрт, Full Moon, вспомнил одну только - ещё то ли Брайаном Юзной попахивает, то ли только братьями Бэнд. Ладно, дело не в сравнениях. Если бы была малейшая необходимость назвать плохую книгу на фантастическую тематику, не тыкала бы, как принято, в Сергея Лукьяненко, а назвала бы данный экземпляр. Но, опять же это "но" - всего на свете не читал никто на свете!
С чем бы сравнить?
Неужели это как Стивен Кинг для литературы ужасов - Филип Фармер в среде фантастов с его "Вратами времени"?
Два Сокола, Раске, Ильмика - что это? Посредственное отечественное фэнтези? Переводчику, видимо, оживлять-то и нечего было.
Три измерения одной планеты с разнящейся историей - то, о чём узнаёшь под самый конец - звучит как неполноценное оправдание всего того, что ты насилу потреблял прежде. Да, это литература потребления, не иначе.
Американский и германский лётчики встречаются в параллельной реальности, где история обнаружила другой ход - они всё ещё испытывают неприязнь по отношению к друг другу; причём первый в куда большей мере, нежели последний; это, чёрт возьми, так патриотично, так политично, так социально-направленно, что я задаюсь вопросом, не писал ли Фармер данную работу на заказ какой-нибудь благотворительной организации для ветеранов?
Там постреляли, тут полетали, а вот и поплавали - неотёсанная женщина-аристократка, стереотипично женственный нацист и человек "без лица" в главной роли - вовсе, казалось бы, произвольный элемент (хотя может и "просто не была концепция уловлена") вмешался в виде коренных племён и древних народов (что, кстати, единственный положительный момент - попытка мизерно, но таки альтернативничать без нежеланной фамильярности с историей).
...
Опять же, здесь нет плохого отзыва. Нет критики - есть субъективная оценка ВСЕГО ПОДОБНОГО.
Читая Фармера, прихожу к опасению перед разочарованием при возможном чтении Эдгара Берроуза, в среду которого ни разочка прежде не заглядывала.
Да, ещё одно. Очень напоминают произведения Филипа фильмы таких компаний как...сейчас, вспомню...а, чёрт, Full Moon, вспомнил одну только - ещё то ли Брайаном Юзной попахивает, то ли только братьями Бэнд. Ладно, дело не в сравнениях. Если бы была малейшая необходимость назвать плохую книгу на фантастическую тематику, не тыкала бы, как принято, в Сергея Лукьяненко, а назвала бы данный экземпляр. Но, опять же это "но" - всего на свете не читал никто на свете!
November 14, 2016
One of the best, most well thought-out alternative novels ever. The hero is Native American, and being multicultural and multilingual helps. A lot treasure from a master.
October 20, 2023
Farmer is one of my favorite writers. I never read this book before I glad I did .
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews