The Closed Gate

Reality Seed #2

by Philip Charles Stephens

It is the year 2613. A scientific vessel at the edge of the solar-system has discovered a derelict ship — ancient, alien, and containing a secret so dangerous the entire sector has been quarantined. Interlocutor Lexi Sonota has arrived to investigate after fifteen months in stasis, but with her wife dying from a rogue nano-virus back on Terra, and her superior withholding something from her, all her strength and experience may not be enough to keep her alive. Alone and billions of miles from home, Lexi will discover the universe is far bigger than she ever imagined and infinitely more terrifying.

Genres: Alternate Universe, Science Fiction, Horror

59 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2014

About the author

I am an author and ghost-writer based in New Mexico but originally from Mersea Island, England. I’m a huge fan of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, counting Philip K Dick, Iain M Banks, Stephen King, Lovecraft and Tolkien amongst my influences, but I’m a lover of literature in general.

I’m primarily interested in the tension between the rational, defined universe of our modern age and the mysterious, unknowable dimensions of thought. Before religion and philosophy, humanity understood the world through stories told around the fire, and I think of fiction as a lens through which the world is revealed to us in different ways. Dark metal, decaying ecosystems, and cybernetic consciousness. A brave new world or an ancient hell — you decide.

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second story in the short trilogy shoots us off into space and first contact with all my favorite little tropes all mixed into one. The fact that it mixes SF and horror together is a special treat. We move away from the mil-sf in the first and grab a pretty atmospheric Alien-meets-nanotech mix.

So, what did I think? Nothing too special but it works better with the continuations of his other specific story tropes. The empathetic circuits are quite cool. The fundamental themes underlying these two are even better than the surface bits. :)

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Charles Stephens (@Wizzlebeaks on Twitter) has some up with compelling second novel in his "Reality Seed" trilogy. Moving outwards from earth to the ninth ring of the solar system, domain of the dwarf planet Pluto, and tied to the first novel by Turner, a plutocrat, Interlocutor Lexi Sonota is sent to research a derelict spaceship of undefined origin.

The author consistently writes about a very plausible future technology of artificial intelligences (and the legal framework around them), nano technology, and space travel. Rather than Captain Kirk's chair on the bridge, each ship has a "command throne" through which the captain connects to his ship and staff.

Also, unexpectedly, some Wylde magic is introduced dipping the novella into the shimmering pool of Fantasy before landing solidly back in Science Fiction.

How will the third novella in the series tie all three of the stories together. It's coming out this year and I would pre-order it, if it were already available.

[Reese Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought The Closed Gate was a step up from Glyphein! It was just as beautifully written, but with a whole new setting, characters, and conflicts. Future technology has come even further; now it is built intrinsically into the bodies of military officers, and allows them to control everything from piloting their ships to putting themselves to sleep at night. The author weaves these details effortlessly into the plot, so I never felt like I was stepping out of the P.O.V. or getting an info dump to learn anything.

During the course of the novella, the protagonist, Lexi, faces some fantastic moral dilemmas that increase the tension and keep the reader riveted. The concept of the closed gate was awesome and utterly unique. I felt this novella was more complete and easier to follow than the first one. I’m left wondering how, or if, they’ll be connected as part of the same series…which is both frustrating and intriguing. I can’t wait to read the third installment.

[David Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky, cool, #scifi, left me wanting more!

I chose to read THE CLOSED GATE based on the striking cover without realising it was book 2 of the Reality Seed trilogy. It's an excellent blend of Scifi and Horror and is written in a very atmospheric way. The story hangs around a central protagonist in Chief Interlocutor Lexi Sonota travelling to the limit of our solar system to meet an Alien presence called The Hive.

Best bit: a superb description of an horrible mess of an explosion in a Nano-tank

It's confidently written and I like the style of the author's prose, I'm off to read book 1 and look forward to book 3

[A.R. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Closed Gate, Philip Charles Stephens, 2014. The second piece of the Reality Seed trilogy is even better than the first, in my opinion. I especially like the metaphysical and philosophical questions that arise during the tense and dangerous first encounter with the alien, very alien, Hive. As with the tough soldier, Skedic, in Glyphein, the heroine of this story, Lexi Sonota, is interesting and convincing. Rating a story like this is difficult, because the true test is how the pieces will fit together in the sequel. From the quality of the writing so far, I expect great things.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Futuristic thriller that takes place in the outer reaches of space where Lexi Sonota is investigating a spaceship which holds secrets that are dangerous and unknown. At the same time, Lexi is worried about her wife who may be dying back in their home of Terra. The author takes readers into an unknown future and has captured the character of Lexi in wonderful form. Strong, yet compassionate, with an intelligence that also combines with common sense, This is a quick read but the author tells a whole story in a short space and brings characters to life in this sci-fi suspense.

[Allen Cooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this book, Phillip Charles Stevens has proven that he is one of New Mexico's most promising science fiction writers.