Hell's Gate Audiobook By David Weber, Linda Evans cover art

Hell's Gate

Multiverse, Book 1

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Hell's Gate

By: David Weber, Linda Evans
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
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They thought they knew how the universes worked. They were wrong!

In the almost two centuries since the discovery of the first interuniversal portal, Arcana has explored scores of other worlds - all of them duplicates of their own. Multiple Earths, virgin planets with a twist, because the ''explorers'' already know where to find all of their vast, untapped natural resources. Worlds beyond worlds, effectively infinite living space and mineral wealth. And in all that time, they have never encountered another intelligent species. No cities, no vast empires, no civilizations, and no equivalent of their own dragons, gryphons, spells, and wizards.

But all of that is about to change. It seems there is intelligent life elsewhere in the multiverse. Other human intelligent life, with terrifying new weapons and powers of the mind...and wizards who go by the strange title of ''scientist''.

©2006 David Weber & Linda Evans (P)2016 Audible, Inc. Military Science Fiction Fiction
Complex Plotlines • Rich Worldbuilding • Wonderful Voice Range • Incredible World • Detailed Characters • Ensemble Cast
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A great beginning of an amusing book series. You really cannot go wrong with dragons, telepathics, and wizards. This is a story for those that enjoy an elaborately woven plot lines that bridge multiple books.

Hell's Gate

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I have seen several less than flattering reviews on this title, that don't seem to understand what David Weber does. He doesn't just tell a story. He builds richly detailed words that he puts stories into. The world in a story for some authors is little more than a set for a stage play, for others it can be likened to a movie anywhere from black and white to color. Mr. Weber's worlds are in 4k high def.
This series is about the clash of two very different civilizations that each span multiple universes, and have those civilizations based on radically different foundations, magic and mechanical technology. We see both sides of that divide as the story progresses. As the story unfolds we see layer after layer of each side in their militarys, societies, politics, and belief systems. Some may see it as TMI. but you can't really understand the various factions and their motivations at the main characters must deal with through the story arc with out it. I think some may miss that details reveled in this first book are building a foundation that is needed to understand events in later books in the series.
We get an ensemble cast of characters, who are forced to develop quickly as events around them spin out of control. That out of control spin is partially the result of misunderstandings of events. In other cases it is the differences in societal mind sets having difficulty, and in some cases out right fear, of just how different the other side really is. Add to that groups on each side that are trying to manipulate events to their on advantage. Let's not forget Murphy taking a hand in events by putting some real idiots in the wrong place at the wrong time to add some seasoning to this stew.
This series reminds me of what Frank Herbert did with Dune, in the complexities of plot lines within plot lines to the point you can reread the story several times and find new aspects that you missed in previous reads.

Weber does it again

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this book is to long and detailed. needs more action and fewer protogonists. you keep forgetting who is who.

to long

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Really good book you get a lot for your dollar on this one. The narrator was the best I've ever heard.

Great narration

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This is an extremely well written and balanced novel set in two fully developed worlds that are widely at variance with one another. The characters on both sides are highly developed and likable. This is hard to do, but here it is done well and makes a great story.

Extremely Well Written & Balanced

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David Weber's stories are, as always engaging, and the narrator can make (or break) a story's impact on the reader. Mark gives a wonderful range of voices and personalities to bring these characters to life. Very enjoyable, indeed!

Excellent storytelling

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I have read many of David Weber's novels and this novel again shows his skill at describing complex military logistics and capabilities quite well. The problem or rather difficulty I had s neither civilization in this novel is based on a real world history so all personal and place names are without context. I wholeheartedly wish the two authors had followed the usual tactic of using current place names with suitable modification so that the map of the geographical settings had been easily understood. For example calling our Pacific ocean the Peaceful Ocean in one civilization and the Restful ocean in the other would clue the reader in to what location was being discussed. This was particularly irritating for me because I love maps and with a clear alternative name I have a much better picture of the environment and ecosystem where events are taking place. Unfortunately without those hints I am not sure if a particular desert or mountain range being described are the Mojave or the Sahara, Swiss Alps, or Andes. Without being able to "clue in" on the locations geography it is nigh impossible to know if the transport difficulties are due to the methods used or the locations involved. I really liked the novel despite this frustration so I gave it four stars, one off for frustration.

Very Complex

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story was not up to a David Weber standard. too much predictability at far too long-winded. I must have gotten spoiled with the Honor Harrington series.

weak story

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inter dimensional combat between two totally different civilizations. awesome! But first...Let's talk about the three major religions of one of the civilizations, since the 12 different factions from that civilization will need to form One government, we'll need to go in depth into their religious beliefs.
do you know that person that gets sidetracked while telling you a story? that is this for 32 hours. as Bill Cosby used to say, "I told you that story to tell you this story."
It's a pretty good story. It feels like the author has seen these two worlds and wants to tell us all about them. unfortunately, he only focuses on one of the worlds in this book. maybe the next book focuses on the other world. I'll never know.

we'll get there...eventually.

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Bravo!
Character depth and structure revealed masterfully. Interpersonal actions served plot development seamlessly with narrative.
Again, Bravo

Psychologically sophisticated & extremely well written!

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