Gateway
by Frederik Pohl · first published 1977
65% recommend35% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Pulp-style 70s sci-fi about humans exploring a hollowed-out asteroid station full of mysterious alien Heechee ships. Praised for its sense of mystery and psychological depth, and as a great brush with aliens.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Heechee Saga
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Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
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Frederik Pohl's essay is great. By 1987, he had been writing science fiction for nearly 50 years and I think had become embittered by the course of 20th century history. Read Gateway (which I think came out that same year) to see his vision of 21st century Earth -- humanity lives on an overpolluted planet, with only a tiny portion of the population able to have access to "Full Medical"…
on “1987 Time Capsule Predictions by Sci-Fi Writers About 2012 ” ↗Discovered Gateway when I was about 13. What a story to expand a young mind! Beyond The Blue Event Horizon and Jem, which I re-read earlier this year, also made big impressions. His role in supporting other authors can't…
on “Frederik Pohl has died” ↗Anvil of Stars is my favorite book in this genre. It can be read without reading the prequel. Gateway by Frederic Pohl is also a great brush-with-aliens book although technically not first contact.
on “China's Race to Find Aliens First” ↗…Vance. His "Planet of Adventure" series, Alastor series or Demon Princes novels are classics. His command of language and dialogue is unparalleled. Every modern sci-fi author cites him as an influence. Gateway by Frederik Pohl is another underrated one from the 70s although the sequels are disappointing. The Forever War Joe Haldeman and Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers are also indispensable.
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗…surgery that gradually turns him into the smartest man alive. Lots of focus on how empathy, humility and respect has to go alongside pure knowledge. And also that mentally handicapped are people too. Gateway by Frederik Pohl - Sci-fi from the 70s. Quite good. A comet is discovered, full of million-year old ships pre-programmed for roundtrip flights to unknown destinations. Next year I'd like to look more…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023” ↗…Bruner Adiamante - LE Modesitt Jr Souls in the Great Machine by Sean McMullen Known Space series by Larry Niven and ALL of his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle Midshipman’s Hope by David Feintuch Gateway - Fredrick Pohl Lord Valentine’s Castle by Robert Silverberg
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite sci-fi books?” ↗…level than other sci-fi writers. Notably the list subverts the category of "novel" by adding a lot of things (comic books, concept albums) that aren't really novels. I think Fred Pohl is missing (say Gateway) and also Joe Halderman (Worlds!). I'd rather see any Frank Herbert book but Dune (say Whipping Star or The Santaroga Barrier.) On the other hand, put a sci-fi fan in charge of making this list and…
on “New Wave Sci-Fi: 75 Best Novels of 1964–1983” ↗I think so. ;-) Just like "The Forever War" is a reply to "Starship Troopers", "Worlds" is a reply to "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". I would put "Worlds" in a category like Pohl's "Gateway" (but not the sequels to Gateway) in that it reads more like literature than genre fiction. The copy of Worlds that I have has a false copyright date (I think 1954) and I was thinking "... they didn't…
on “All You Zombies” ↗…start with a few I think would be wonderful as TV adaptations and look forward to hearing other suggestions: 1. The Foreigner series by C.J. Cherryh 2. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King 3. The Gateway Series by Fred Pohl What novels/stories/series would you like to see turned into TV treatments? [0] https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/03/ars-plea-someone-make-this-into-a-series/
on “Ask HN: What Stories Would Make for a Good TV Adaptation?” ↗I'm glad to see Gene Wolfe just squeaked onto the list, but IMO the New Sun series ranks up there with Dune. Pohl's "Gateway" and Gibson/Sterling's "The Difference Engine" would have been nice additions, too. Otherwise, it's a nice starting point. There are a few titles I hadn't heard about that I'll be reading, if I can find…
on “The Best Science Fiction Books (According to Reddit)” ↗Philip K. Dick (Ubik, Man in the high castle, Flow my tears the police man said) Frederik Pohl (Gateway, the Space Merchants) Ursula K. Le Guin (The Dispossessed, Left Hand of Darkness) Iain M. Banks (Culture novels) You will find many Sci-Fi treasures by just going through http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗> Pohl's "Gateway" (but not the sequels to Gateway) Side note: am I the only one who loved "Gateway", when the Heechee and their ships and artifacts were mysterious and almost unknowable -- the whole "we think ships of…
on “All You Zombies” ↗Fredric Pohl scifi fans might enjoy Hechee Rendesvous, which is near the end of the Gateway series. Somone finds a way to live inside both Kugelblitzen and black holes I think.
on “Eldar Black Holes” ↗…Hamiltons 'Greg Mandel Trilogy' and 'The Night's Dawn Trilogy', his later stuff didn't engage me that much. The Blade Runner sequels from K.W. Jeter. Some Philip K. Dick, there is too much of it!1!! Gateway and following from Frederik Pohl. Some of Poul Anderson, John Varley, Jerry Pournelle, Vernor Vinge (Deepness in the Sky, etc) And so much more...
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗…reasons, but again they require a lot more thinking and making that work in an open world game as opposed to a story led one would probably be tricky. One interesting other approach is Frederik Pohl's Gateway. It's set on an alien space station far from earth in a future where humanity does not have FTL, but this alien race that mysteriously left thousands of years ago did have FTL. The lack of FTL + Gateway's…
on “Pioneer: a game of lonely space adventure” ↗