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Gates of Eternity #1
Gates of Hell
Kyle Washaki 'Wash' Williams thought his life couldn’t get any more complicated. Then the aliens showed up…
After his mom died from cancer, Wash gave up his girlfriend and his dream of being a career Army officer to stay home and take care of his father, a former Special Forces soldier stricken with PTSD. Wash works three jobs just to pay the bills, and one of them is at the ranch of the man who’s engaged to his ex-girlfriend, Jimmy Bonner.
Sound rough? He thought so too…until a portal to a hell-world of giant, insectoid aliens opens behind the ranch house, sucking Wash and Jimmy into the nightmare domain of the Hive Mind, a monstrous, underground blob of brain tissue that stretches across multiple planets through the Gate System.
It exists only to spread itself across the universe. And its next target is Earth.
Will Wash be able to defend the planet from conquest by a swarm of giant alien insects? And will Jimmy be able to put aside his rivalry with Wash to fight for Earth, or will he decide that an alien horde is the perfect tool to dispose of his old enemy?
The answer lies on the other side…of the Gates of Hell.
After his mom died from cancer, Wash gave up his girlfriend and his dream of being a career Army officer to stay home and take care of his father, a former Special Forces soldier stricken with PTSD. Wash works three jobs just to pay the bills, and one of them is at the ranch of the man who’s engaged to his ex-girlfriend, Jimmy Bonner.
Sound rough? He thought so too…until a portal to a hell-world of giant, insectoid aliens opens behind the ranch house, sucking Wash and Jimmy into the nightmare domain of the Hive Mind, a monstrous, underground blob of brain tissue that stretches across multiple planets through the Gate System.
It exists only to spread itself across the universe. And its next target is Earth.
Will Wash be able to defend the planet from conquest by a swarm of giant alien insects? And will Jimmy be able to put aside his rivalry with Wash to fight for Earth, or will he decide that an alien horde is the perfect tool to dispose of his old enemy?
The answer lies on the other side…of the Gates of Hell.
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2022
About the author
Rick Partlow
243 books381 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 20, 2022
I was interested until the bad guy turned out to be an incompetent, underachieving, lazy child that the book's first bad guy should have killed out of hand just like all the other humans it encounters. Partlow gives absolutely zero reason or justification why he's spared while everyone else is executed immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
Damn good book. It was a great starting point for something special. The world, though on Earth...mostly, is greatly built around this new chaos erupting. I really can't wait to read more. This audio book was a part of an Audiobook Humble bundle, and the whole bundle was great. Definitely looking forward to more of Partlow's works!
October 9, 2022
fast paced action
This book has lots of action and suspense. Follow the plight of wash as he fights the hive mind to rescue the girl and save earth
This book has lots of action and suspense. Follow the plight of wash as he fights the hive mind to rescue the girl and save earth
October 8, 2022
Great Book
This was a great start to a new series. I want to have more books soon and hope the series carry’s on.
This was a great start to a new series. I want to have more books soon and hope the series carry’s on.
October 8, 2022
OK book
There were some odd word choices that keep bringing me out of the story, like ,'pinched in' instead of 'pitched in'.
The thing I disliked about this story was the Greeks that grew up on another world spoke the same as us and used the same terminology as us except for their names.
Also, they have been fighting aliens for two thousand years and have equal or less technology than is?
The last negative was the bad guy. He was just too over the top, too much like a Hollywood villain.
There were some odd word choices that keep bringing me out of the story, like ,'pinched in' instead of 'pitched in'.
The thing I disliked about this story was the Greeks that grew up on another world spoke the same as us and used the same terminology as us except for their names.
Also, they have been fighting aliens for two thousand years and have equal or less technology than is?
The last negative was the bad guy. He was just too over the top, too much like a Hollywood villain.
December 2, 2022
ick Partlow is one of my favorite military science fiction authors. He always write a good story with lots of action that keeps the reader interested. This book is kind of like his previous although I had to say it's kind of a "cookie-cutter" that's probably been used by a lot of writers. Oh, it's a good story, but really predictable in what's happening from moment to moment.
We start off learning about a young man named Kyle Washakie Williams who lives and works in and around the town of Riverton, Wyoming. Oh, he goes by the name "Wash" most of the time which is probably from his middle name and his mothers Shoshone heritage. Why he couldn't just go by Kyle is a mystery to me, but I guess not to our author. Anyway, Wash and his Dad, Harry Williams, ex-Army Special Forces Operator and now recovering drug addict not too long from being released from prison. I tell you this because is somewhat explains why a young man of Wash's age would want to remain in a dead-end town like Riverton. He's Dad is in poor health. How he got this way will be explained, but it's back of his Dad that Wash passed up a chance to go to the West Point or any other college where he could have made something of himself.
So, here he now works three part-time jobs trying to keep him and his Dad in their home that they've owned for a long, long time. The house needed fixing up badly, but they didn't have anywhere near the money to do so. He was off to go fix the Bonner's truck which was something he wanted to do, but they paid well for his services. The Bonners were one of the few rich folks in this part of Wyoming, but they had an attitude problem and their Son, Jimmy, was plain and simply trouble. He and Wash had grown up together, but Jimmy didn't seem to quite grown all the way up. He was just spoiled if anyone asked. He got all the money from his Mom he wanted just by asking and he got no respect for anything from his Dad. Of course, Jimmy never really did anything that could have earned his Dad's respect anyway.
Wash and Jimmy were never really friends. They had different lives and Jimmy always thought he was better than anyone else because he had money. Now he had Wash's girl. Brenda was once tight with Wash, but he had dropped her when he decided to stay at home and not go to the same college she was going to and which they had planned to do for a long time. She became angry and disappointed in him and drifted over to Jimmy because her Mother wanted that in the first place. Her Mother wanted Brenda to marry into money so she'd have some in her old age. Kind of a typical setup.
So of course, Wash and Jimmy hated each other. It wasn't unusual for Jimmy to come round where Wash was working on the Bonner ranch just so he could rub it in that he was working for him when he was actually working for Mr. Bonner. This time they did get in a fight and that's where the book really starts off.
Ok, now none of this happens in the first part of the book, so you're going to be or were confused as to what's happening starting off. Well, you'll get it figured out eventually and all the parts start making sense. I won't go into details, but both Wash and Jimmy find themselves on a very strange and deadly planet. Wash fights his way back to Earth, but Jimmy doesn't fight so good. What does happen to him is kind of ridiculous, but this wouldn't be much of a story if it didn't happen this way.
One thing I will criticize Mr. Partlow about is his use of foul language pretty much right from the start. I mean, I'm not a prude having been in the Navy and Army so I know a lot of four-letter words, but there is a time and a place for such language. Talking to an alien for the very first time and having them feeding my language into a computer translating device would not be the time to be cussing and foul-mouthed. It sounds like an idiot speaking English or some version of it. So, there's a lot of bad language in this book, but I just think most of it is unnecessary. When writing about Army guys doing Army stuff, yeah, OK, but not when your a civilian talking to each other. Most people just don't cuss in normal conversations, right?
This appears to be the start of a new series. Book 2, "Gate of Hope" is now available on Amazon and I'm putting it on my reading list.
We start off learning about a young man named Kyle Washakie Williams who lives and works in and around the town of Riverton, Wyoming. Oh, he goes by the name "Wash" most of the time which is probably from his middle name and his mothers Shoshone heritage. Why he couldn't just go by Kyle is a mystery to me, but I guess not to our author. Anyway, Wash and his Dad, Harry Williams, ex-Army Special Forces Operator and now recovering drug addict not too long from being released from prison. I tell you this because is somewhat explains why a young man of Wash's age would want to remain in a dead-end town like Riverton. He's Dad is in poor health. How he got this way will be explained, but it's back of his Dad that Wash passed up a chance to go to the West Point or any other college where he could have made something of himself.
So, here he now works three part-time jobs trying to keep him and his Dad in their home that they've owned for a long, long time. The house needed fixing up badly, but they didn't have anywhere near the money to do so. He was off to go fix the Bonner's truck which was something he wanted to do, but they paid well for his services. The Bonners were one of the few rich folks in this part of Wyoming, but they had an attitude problem and their Son, Jimmy, was plain and simply trouble. He and Wash had grown up together, but Jimmy didn't seem to quite grown all the way up. He was just spoiled if anyone asked. He got all the money from his Mom he wanted just by asking and he got no respect for anything from his Dad. Of course, Jimmy never really did anything that could have earned his Dad's respect anyway.
Wash and Jimmy were never really friends. They had different lives and Jimmy always thought he was better than anyone else because he had money. Now he had Wash's girl. Brenda was once tight with Wash, but he had dropped her when he decided to stay at home and not go to the same college she was going to and which they had planned to do for a long time. She became angry and disappointed in him and drifted over to Jimmy because her Mother wanted that in the first place. Her Mother wanted Brenda to marry into money so she'd have some in her old age. Kind of a typical setup.
So of course, Wash and Jimmy hated each other. It wasn't unusual for Jimmy to come round where Wash was working on the Bonner ranch just so he could rub it in that he was working for him when he was actually working for Mr. Bonner. This time they did get in a fight and that's where the book really starts off.
Ok, now none of this happens in the first part of the book, so you're going to be or were confused as to what's happening starting off. Well, you'll get it figured out eventually and all the parts start making sense. I won't go into details, but both Wash and Jimmy find themselves on a very strange and deadly planet. Wash fights his way back to Earth, but Jimmy doesn't fight so good. What does happen to him is kind of ridiculous, but this wouldn't be much of a story if it didn't happen this way.
One thing I will criticize Mr. Partlow about is his use of foul language pretty much right from the start. I mean, I'm not a prude having been in the Navy and Army so I know a lot of four-letter words, but there is a time and a place for such language. Talking to an alien for the very first time and having them feeding my language into a computer translating device would not be the time to be cussing and foul-mouthed. It sounds like an idiot speaking English or some version of it. So, there's a lot of bad language in this book, but I just think most of it is unnecessary. When writing about Army guys doing Army stuff, yeah, OK, but not when your a civilian talking to each other. Most people just don't cuss in normal conversations, right?
This appears to be the start of a new series. Book 2, "Gate of Hope" is now available on Amazon and I'm putting it on my reading list.
October 21, 2022
Gates of Hell indeed!
When the gateways to other worlds opened, Wash Williams gained his reason for living! His worst enemy - the spoiled rich kid Jimmy Bonner, who had consistently ruined Wash's life - always seemed to get his way, even getting Wash's girl to agree to marry him! Then the gate opened and monsters came through from other worlds where an endless army of demons waited to destroy Earth and everything living on our planet. When a fight between Jimmy and Wash ended with Jimmy falling through the gate into Hades where James Bonner became the wired-in leader of the demons and the Hive-mind that controlled them. Jimmy (he hated that familiarisation of his given name) immediately launched an invasion of Earth with an unlimited army of demons, snatched his fiance Brenda, and sent a horde of demons after Wash.
The characters are distinctly good or evil, not much in between. Easy to love or hate, the main characters are moved to action. And action is indeed well described with a familiarity for the weapons of up close massive destruction and long range death from distance. Furious combat sequences filled with blood and gunsmoke, death and dismemberment, are realistically portrayed. The storyline is one of survival. Survival of a few characters, others not so lucky. I can't wait for part 2 to be released! This is s great read!
When the gateways to other worlds opened, Wash Williams gained his reason for living! His worst enemy - the spoiled rich kid Jimmy Bonner, who had consistently ruined Wash's life - always seemed to get his way, even getting Wash's girl to agree to marry him! Then the gate opened and monsters came through from other worlds where an endless army of demons waited to destroy Earth and everything living on our planet. When a fight between Jimmy and Wash ended with Jimmy falling through the gate into Hades where James Bonner became the wired-in leader of the demons and the Hive-mind that controlled them. Jimmy (he hated that familiarisation of his given name) immediately launched an invasion of Earth with an unlimited army of demons, snatched his fiance Brenda, and sent a horde of demons after Wash.
The characters are distinctly good or evil, not much in between. Easy to love or hate, the main characters are moved to action. And action is indeed well described with a familiarity for the weapons of up close massive destruction and long range death from distance. Furious combat sequences filled with blood and gunsmoke, death and dismemberment, are realistically portrayed. The storyline is one of survival. Survival of a few characters, others not so lucky. I can't wait for part 2 to be released! This is s great read!
March 30, 2026
Not the best book I've ever read, but not bad. The multiple points of view were not handled too well and it got a tad confusing at times. I'd rate this higher, but I immediately lost interest close to half way through the book once the big bad turned out not to be this alien hive mind, but the rich spoiled brat dude with daddy issues. The way this happens is so laughably stupid too. Both the alien Hive Mind and Jimmy are cartoonishly evil for the dumbest of reasons. There's an over reliance on tropes and stereotypes which makes things sort of predictable, and there's also a lot of plot conveniences which get the eyes rolling. This being book one in a series doesn't leave me wanting to read any more in the series.
December 3, 2022
A really god read!
A really good read. There is nothing I would consider remotely original. The book starts with a familiar earth ending crisis detailing several groups that will either worsen the problem with others trying to save the planet. Partlow does an extraordinary job in jumping between the groups and is able to maintain a rapid pace that jeeps the reader absorbed and turning rose pages as fast as possible. I think it's A great read and I am ready to read the next in the series!!
A really good read. There is nothing I would consider remotely original. The book starts with a familiar earth ending crisis detailing several groups that will either worsen the problem with others trying to save the planet. Partlow does an extraordinary job in jumping between the groups and is able to maintain a rapid pace that jeeps the reader absorbed and turning rose pages as fast as possible. I think it's A great read and I am ready to read the next in the series!!
December 9, 2022
Pure Mil Sci-fi excellence
With so much mil sci-fi out there I have always found Partlow a particularly good read across all his books so far and this is no exception. With the expected earth invasion scenario and a twist added in with some interesting characters this looks to be more of the same good action.
Outside the usual military jargon this is a nice easy shoot em up miltary adventure which should do well.
With so much mil sci-fi out there I have always found Partlow a particularly good read across all his books so far and this is no exception. With the expected earth invasion scenario and a twist added in with some interesting characters this looks to be more of the same good action.
Outside the usual military jargon this is a nice easy shoot em up miltary adventure which should do well.
December 31, 2022
An interesting variant of alien invasion story
Wash is already living in a kind of Hell, having been forced by his conscience into giving up on his dreams, his girl & most of anything that gives life meaning as he tries to keep his father sober from the pain of his mother’s drawn out battle with cancer.
He suddenly finds himself in a very dangerous situation on an actual alien planet. Then his life gets very complicated.
Wash is already living in a kind of Hell, having been forced by his conscience into giving up on his dreams, his girl & most of anything that gives life meaning as he tries to keep his father sober from the pain of his mother’s drawn out battle with cancer.
He suddenly finds himself in a very dangerous situation on an actual alien planet. Then his life gets very complicated.
November 1, 2022
Bughunting through stargates
We have a real opportunity here for colonial marines in stargate command. Not all worlds are beast worlds, and some may hold other cultures besides Greco Roman. And bugs of course. Wonder if it would be love or hate for operators running into samurai or Vikings?
We have a real opportunity here for colonial marines in stargate command. Not all worlds are beast worlds, and some may hold other cultures besides Greco Roman. And bugs of course. Wonder if it would be love or hate for operators running into samurai or Vikings?
October 24, 2022
Things are never so bad they can't get worse
Another riveting tale from Rick Partlow. When a DARPA experiment accidentally opens gates to other worlds, humans meet "other humans" and fight bug-eyed monsters. Moving immediately to the next in the series.
Another riveting tale from Rick Partlow. When a DARPA experiment accidentally opens gates to other worlds, humans meet "other humans" and fight bug-eyed monsters. Moving immediately to the next in the series.
November 3, 2022
Not what I expected...
But even better!! Once again you knocked iti out of the park! Both the Plot & characters draw you in and make you love or hate them from the start!Can't wait for the next volume!
But even better!! Once again you knocked iti out of the park! Both the Plot & characters draw you in and make you love or hate them from the start!Can't wait for the next volume!
November 11, 2022
A good book to read .
You are taken on a journey that will leave you wondering if this could really happen. People found a gate had strange writing on it , they decided to fire it up and all broke lose. The author keeps you wanting more well done with the book.
You are taken on a journey that will leave you wondering if this could really happen. People found a gate had strange writing on it , they decided to fire it up and all broke lose. The author keeps you wanting more well done with the book.
January 12, 2023
Meet the aliens and they are you
Very interesting combination of video games, sci-fi aliens, and military war game simulations combined with first encounter politics. This is an intriguing beginning to the “Gates of Eternity “ series. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Very interesting combination of video games, sci-fi aliens, and military war game simulations combined with first encounter politics. This is an intriguing beginning to the “Gates of Eternity “ series. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
November 16, 2023
Really interesting universe
This was a really interesting story in a really interesting universe. There was a lot of action, dimensions, not quite aliens, aliens, and a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book and recommend it and am glad it is part of a series.
This was a really interesting story in a really interesting universe. There was a lot of action, dimensions, not quite aliens, aliens, and a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book and recommend it and am glad it is part of a series.
April 14, 2025
This book was really good! I love how it kept me engaged and entertained from start to finish. The storyline is strong and left me wanting more with every chapter. For the first book in a series, it’s definitely impressive. I’m excited to dive into the rest. Easily a five-star. Highly recommended!
November 6, 2022
New and original alien invasion story
I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. The antagonist was very original and I found it unexpected.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. The antagonist was very original and I found it unexpected.
November 8, 2022
Have a good story. The characters were not well developed at times. I still enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it
November 12, 2022
this was a very good read
It moved along at s quite fast pace. A lot of different characters that were easy to follow. Never bogged down.
It moved along at s quite fast pace. A lot of different characters that were easy to follow. Never bogged down.
November 21, 2022
A good read.
A good read, enjoyed reading it and the further into the book I got the more I wanted to read. Will find book 2 and find out how the story continues.
A good read, enjoyed reading it and the further into the book I got the more I wanted to read. Will find book 2 and find out how the story continues.
November 23, 2022
Not sure if this was suppose to be a fantasy or horror store but either way I did not care for it.
December 27, 2022
Portals
This was a good quick read. Interesting concept there is lots of room for character development. Looking forward to the next book.
This was a good quick read. Interesting concept there is lots of room for character development. Looking forward to the next book.
January 23, 2023
It's good
The story, the characters, the aliens... All well done.
The military sci-fi is quality.
Good stuff - read it. You won't be disappointed.
The story, the characters, the aliens... All well done.
The military sci-fi is quality.
Good stuff - read it. You won't be disappointed.
December 7, 2024
He has a weird thing with LA and cholo gangbangers.
June 10, 2025
Great main character. Lots of falling through portals. Lots of good action. James Patrick Cronin is dependably good on audio. I think I'll continue with the series.
October 20, 2022
Solid.
No real complaints.
A couple slow moments but overall it had good pacing.
A teeny bit unrealistic but nothing too bad IMO. It’s sci-fi so ya know, it’s expected.
Looking forward to book 2.
No real complaints.
A couple slow moments but overall it had good pacing.
A teeny bit unrealistic but nothing too bad IMO. It’s sci-fi so ya know, it’s expected.
Looking forward to book 2.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews