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Gateway #1
Gateway
Tyler Stone has always been a loyal soldier, a good soldier, for the Xen Empire and—based upon recent events in his life—it seems as though the world in which he’s always lived has finally started to pay him back. A promotion, an engagement to a beautiful (and powerful) woman, and the restoration of his family's honor.
But this newfound prestige comes with a price, and Stone is soon ordered to carry out a fool's mission by a commander who is unfit to lead. Amidst the decimation of his battalion, his eyes are opened to the truth via a most unlikely source, a woman, from the same people who are his sworn enemies.
As he struggles to understand the nature of the war his home planet has been waging for so many generations, Stone must accept that his fate is his responsibility alone.
He is willing to die for his country; is he willing to kill for it too?
But this newfound prestige comes with a price, and Stone is soon ordered to carry out a fool's mission by a commander who is unfit to lead. Amidst the decimation of his battalion, his eyes are opened to the truth via a most unlikely source, a woman, from the same people who are his sworn enemies.
As he struggles to understand the nature of the war his home planet has been waging for so many generations, Stone must accept that his fate is his responsibility alone.
He is willing to die for his country; is he willing to kill for it too?
341 pages, ebook
First published September 11, 2014
100 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Brian Dorsey
21 books77 followersBrian Dorsey is the author of the new Science Fiction series Gateway. He is a retired Naval Officer and currently a nuclear engineer with a Naval Shipyard. In his spare time he is an adjunct history instructor and writes science fiction and nonfiction history.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 26, 2015
Very impressive first book in a new science fiction series. Not specifically space opera and not necessarily pure military scifi, I have read that Mr. Dorsey refers to it as military space opera. This is a perfect description. Gritty and real, Brian is able to bring a sense of realism to his story, I'm sure due to the fact that he is a Navy veteran and has "been there and done that".
I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more!
I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more!
May 7, 2016
Brian Dorsey is a new author of excellent space opera. His hero, a member of the nobility, and the heroine, not a member of the First Families nobility, are elite soldiers in long war. Each has to face problems of class (and gender, too, for Lt. Emily Martine) which staying alive.
Dorsey writes ferocious hand to hand combat, tactics and small battle scenes. Why I marked it down a star is my perception that he could do more with character development. However, I've read a successor book by the time of writing this review:
and found Dorsey is hard at work developing the character of Lt. Martin.
Dorsey writes ferocious hand to hand combat, tactics and small battle scenes. Why I marked it down a star is my perception that he could do more with character development. However, I've read a successor book by the time of writing this review:
and found Dorsey is hard at work developing the character of Lt. Martin.September 12, 2014
Great book! After reading a couple of chapters you begin to believe you know the characters and world yourself. I recommend you start reading during the weekend, because Gateway is hard to put down -- you will want to stay up past your normal bedtime to read "just one more chapter."
May 20, 2016
Excellent read.
I really enjoyed the ground warfare and the political subterfuge in this book. Everything has been set up perfectly for the second book. Definitely worth the read, for anyone on the fence.
I really enjoyed the ground warfare and the political subterfuge in this book. Everything has been set up perfectly for the second book. Definitely worth the read, for anyone on the fence.
June 19, 2015
I downloaded "Gateway" completely on a whim. I love military sci-fi and am always looking for new books in the genre. This book popped up on a list of recommendations and I thought the blurb sounded fascinating, so I figured "why not?" I'm so glad I took that chance. This is easily one of the best books I've read in the genre...in fact, I'd even say it's the best book I've read in a while. It succeeds in all aspects and provides an entertaining, satisfying reading experience. Spoilers follow.
Tyler Stone is a dedicated soldier who loves his people and the Xen Empire. Although he's aware of some of the flaws in Alpha Humana's political structure, he genuinely believes in the superiority of his society...especially when faced with war from the Terillians, another group of humans that have a completely different set of values. He finds his loyalty tested when a member of the enemy's forces - a woman, no less - tells him a devastating secret about the empire that he's built his life and career defending. Will he continue to serve the Xen? Or will he turn his back on his people and side with the Terillians?
The story, to put it simply, is great. It's strong, well-paced, interesting, and unpredictable. I can't rave enough about it. It doesn't follow the typical military sci-fi tropes and always keeps you intrigued, flipping through the pages to read just one more chapter. Also, while it's intended to be the start of a series, it's a satisfying, complete story on its own. Dorsey doesn't resort to some of the normal tricks to get people to read the sequel. You know the kind I'm referring to: a cliff hanger ending, an ending that doesn't actually provide any sort of closure, a sudden turn in the last page that's meant to keep you reading..."Gateway" is above needing those gimmicks. If you don't want to commit to a series, you can finish this book and feel like you got a solid story out of it. I don't know who wouldn't want to read the next novel, though. There are too many intriguing concepts and ideas that are presented to not want more, and I was certainly hooked by the epilogue. This is one of the tightest, most complete plots I've seen in a single book in a long time, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
What really makes "Gateway" stand out is the writing. Dorsey's writing style is wonderfully fluid and easy to read. He has a knack for describing his world without being verbose, which gives us a book that has a rich setting complete with history, culture, and technology for the various groups presented with none of the fluff that often accompanies such depth. Dorsey never dumps information on the reader and keeps things moving at a fluid pace, seamlessly weaving background information into the story without bogging the book down. The dialogue is natural and snappy, never feeling forced or stilted. The characters speak and converse the way one would expect real people to and I found myself often impressed by the easy flow of the many discussions and prose. The author also succeeds in setting up the various scenarios, again without making anything feel forced or contrived. Situations flow into one another and have consequences that then lead into something else; the writing is so smooth that it's difficult to want to put the book down, not just because the story is exciting, but because the writing and presentation is so enjoyable. In short, Dorsey's writing helps everything fall into place, fitting the puzzle pieces of the book together to create a cohesive, genuinely satisfying story.
I very much enjoyed the world presented in "Gateway" - it's just the right blend of futuristic and modern...that is, it is advanced enough to be clear that it's very much in the future, but is still grounded enough to be familiar so the reader isn't lost in strange new technology. The different races are interesting and unique and the two human groups are vastly different from one another. As mentioned above, Dorsey does a fantastic job of integrating his descriptions of the tech and cultures into the story, so you definitely get a strong feel for the world while being enthralled with the plot. I'd even go as far as to say that this is one of the best developed sci-fi worlds I've read recently: it's interesting, it's different, and it's portrayed in a manner that makes it feel fully realized without taking away from the characters and story.
On a random, story-related note, I found it very refreshing that the protagonist came from the group that had more restrictive views. A lot of the sci-fi I've read features a protagonist from a more progressive society with gender equality and merit-based leadership positions (at least as far as the military is concerned...politics is always a mixed bag no matter the universe, it seems) with the antagonists being, well, not as forward thinking in their views. So it was a nice change to see the sides flipped, and I think Alpha Humana's ways being presented so positively through Stone's eyes in the beginning makes both his personal journey and the story as a whole more interesting. With Stone's life being such a caustic blend of politics and military, it's fascinating to see his opinion gradually shift as he learns more about both his and the Terillians' cultures.
Character-wise, "Gateway" features a truly believable cast of characters. You'll only need to read a couple chapters before you're completely caught up in who they are and what they're doing. Dorsey breathes life into each character and I was pleased to see that archetypes were avoided, leaving us with an intriguing group of individuals. Many of the characters are painted in shades of grey: most of the "good" guys aren't squeaky clean and many of the "bad" guys have individual positive attributes. There are also characters that come off as so deliciously despicable that they're enjoyable to read for that reason alone. I was pleased to see that most of the characters have varied backgrounds that have realistically shaped who they've become - sadly, it seems like not all authors realize that a character's past can greatly affect them...Dorsey isn't one of these authors. There wasn't a single character that I thought was boring or underdeveloped; they're all just right and, I was pleased to note, all of them experienced character growth throughout the novel (again, it's surprising how often I find myself complaining about this in other novels). I'm invested in Stone, Mori, Emily, and the rest of the characters and can't wait to see where the next book takes them.
On a personal note, I have to applaud the author for managing to change my opinion of certain characters. Honestly, both Emily and Mori rubbed me the wrong way when they were introduced - they were a little too aggressive and "in your face" for me. I'm generally the type of person that has an opinion formed about a character pretty quickly from the first impression I get from them (yes, shame on me...) and it's fairly difficult for my opinion to be swayed, but this book managed to do it. By the end of the novel, I was not only rooting for these two characters to survive and succeeded in their individual journeys, but they had also become some of my favourite heroines in sci-fi. They're both incredibly strong female characters with depth and individual growth and the author does a fantastic job of presenting them in a manner that's both believable and interesting.
My one, singular complaint with this book deals with the romance. I'm typically the type of person that wants romance kept far, far away from the books that I'm reading. I usually don't like it, but deal with it because it's incredibly rare to find a novel that doesn't feature romance in some form. "Gateway" is no exception. I'll preface my complaint by saying that I ended up enjoying the dynamic between Stone and Mori...but I ultimately felt like their falling in love happened a bit too fast. Granted, they're stuck together on a barely settled planet for a couple weeks, but it seems like their relationship doesn't really happen until Mori tells Stone about her past and her family, they save a village from slavers, and then bam! They're madly in love to the point that Stone can't fathom living without his Terillian companion. Like I said, I actually really enjoyed their romance after the annoyance of how quickly it developed wore off, but I'd have liked to see a more gradual development, especially given how devoted to the Xen Empire and his way of life that Stone was. It's a fairly minor gripe considering how well the pair works together and, based off of that, how believable their relationship is. For those who enjoy romance, you'll probably love it regardless. For those like me who aren't a big fan of it, you'll probably like it, too; while it leads to a major turning in Stone's beliefs, Dorsey doesn't let it dominate the story. Make no mistake, it's important, but there are a lot of other significant things going on, and the author is careful not to let Stone's romance eat up more pages than it should. There are also some other interesting relationships, such as that between Emily and her ex-husband, that aren't what you'd expect and I found myself quite intrigued with them despite my normal dislike for all things romantic.
"Gateway" has a little something for everyone. Compelling main character that actually grows throughout the story? Check. Interesting secondary characters that don't operate in simple black and white terms? Yup. An unpredictable, well-paced story that keeps you turning pages and doesn't rely on gimmicks to get you read the next book? Absolutely. Solid world-building without info-dumping? Check. Great writing? Check. An intriguing balance of politics and military? Check. Military action and adventure? Definitely. Interesting new technology and science? Check. Romance? Yes. Varied races and cultures? Check. Strong female characters? You bet. What more can I say? This book is amazing and I'm glad I took a chance and read it. I'd happily recommend it to anyone...so what are you waiting for? A five star read.
This review is also posted on Amazon.com.
Tyler Stone is a dedicated soldier who loves his people and the Xen Empire. Although he's aware of some of the flaws in Alpha Humana's political structure, he genuinely believes in the superiority of his society...especially when faced with war from the Terillians, another group of humans that have a completely different set of values. He finds his loyalty tested when a member of the enemy's forces - a woman, no less - tells him a devastating secret about the empire that he's built his life and career defending. Will he continue to serve the Xen? Or will he turn his back on his people and side with the Terillians?
The story, to put it simply, is great. It's strong, well-paced, interesting, and unpredictable. I can't rave enough about it. It doesn't follow the typical military sci-fi tropes and always keeps you intrigued, flipping through the pages to read just one more chapter. Also, while it's intended to be the start of a series, it's a satisfying, complete story on its own. Dorsey doesn't resort to some of the normal tricks to get people to read the sequel. You know the kind I'm referring to: a cliff hanger ending, an ending that doesn't actually provide any sort of closure, a sudden turn in the last page that's meant to keep you reading..."Gateway" is above needing those gimmicks. If you don't want to commit to a series, you can finish this book and feel like you got a solid story out of it. I don't know who wouldn't want to read the next novel, though. There are too many intriguing concepts and ideas that are presented to not want more, and I was certainly hooked by the epilogue. This is one of the tightest, most complete plots I've seen in a single book in a long time, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
What really makes "Gateway" stand out is the writing. Dorsey's writing style is wonderfully fluid and easy to read. He has a knack for describing his world without being verbose, which gives us a book that has a rich setting complete with history, culture, and technology for the various groups presented with none of the fluff that often accompanies such depth. Dorsey never dumps information on the reader and keeps things moving at a fluid pace, seamlessly weaving background information into the story without bogging the book down. The dialogue is natural and snappy, never feeling forced or stilted. The characters speak and converse the way one would expect real people to and I found myself often impressed by the easy flow of the many discussions and prose. The author also succeeds in setting up the various scenarios, again without making anything feel forced or contrived. Situations flow into one another and have consequences that then lead into something else; the writing is so smooth that it's difficult to want to put the book down, not just because the story is exciting, but because the writing and presentation is so enjoyable. In short, Dorsey's writing helps everything fall into place, fitting the puzzle pieces of the book together to create a cohesive, genuinely satisfying story.
I very much enjoyed the world presented in "Gateway" - it's just the right blend of futuristic and modern...that is, it is advanced enough to be clear that it's very much in the future, but is still grounded enough to be familiar so the reader isn't lost in strange new technology. The different races are interesting and unique and the two human groups are vastly different from one another. As mentioned above, Dorsey does a fantastic job of integrating his descriptions of the tech and cultures into the story, so you definitely get a strong feel for the world while being enthralled with the plot. I'd even go as far as to say that this is one of the best developed sci-fi worlds I've read recently: it's interesting, it's different, and it's portrayed in a manner that makes it feel fully realized without taking away from the characters and story.
On a random, story-related note, I found it very refreshing that the protagonist came from the group that had more restrictive views. A lot of the sci-fi I've read features a protagonist from a more progressive society with gender equality and merit-based leadership positions (at least as far as the military is concerned...politics is always a mixed bag no matter the universe, it seems) with the antagonists being, well, not as forward thinking in their views. So it was a nice change to see the sides flipped, and I think Alpha Humana's ways being presented so positively through Stone's eyes in the beginning makes both his personal journey and the story as a whole more interesting. With Stone's life being such a caustic blend of politics and military, it's fascinating to see his opinion gradually shift as he learns more about both his and the Terillians' cultures.
Character-wise, "Gateway" features a truly believable cast of characters. You'll only need to read a couple chapters before you're completely caught up in who they are and what they're doing. Dorsey breathes life into each character and I was pleased to see that archetypes were avoided, leaving us with an intriguing group of individuals. Many of the characters are painted in shades of grey: most of the "good" guys aren't squeaky clean and many of the "bad" guys have individual positive attributes. There are also characters that come off as so deliciously despicable that they're enjoyable to read for that reason alone. I was pleased to see that most of the characters have varied backgrounds that have realistically shaped who they've become - sadly, it seems like not all authors realize that a character's past can greatly affect them...Dorsey isn't one of these authors. There wasn't a single character that I thought was boring or underdeveloped; they're all just right and, I was pleased to note, all of them experienced character growth throughout the novel (again, it's surprising how often I find myself complaining about this in other novels). I'm invested in Stone, Mori, Emily, and the rest of the characters and can't wait to see where the next book takes them.
On a personal note, I have to applaud the author for managing to change my opinion of certain characters. Honestly, both Emily and Mori rubbed me the wrong way when they were introduced - they were a little too aggressive and "in your face" for me. I'm generally the type of person that has an opinion formed about a character pretty quickly from the first impression I get from them (yes, shame on me...) and it's fairly difficult for my opinion to be swayed, but this book managed to do it. By the end of the novel, I was not only rooting for these two characters to survive and succeeded in their individual journeys, but they had also become some of my favourite heroines in sci-fi. They're both incredibly strong female characters with depth and individual growth and the author does a fantastic job of presenting them in a manner that's both believable and interesting.
My one, singular complaint with this book deals with the romance. I'm typically the type of person that wants romance kept far, far away from the books that I'm reading. I usually don't like it, but deal with it because it's incredibly rare to find a novel that doesn't feature romance in some form. "Gateway" is no exception. I'll preface my complaint by saying that I ended up enjoying the dynamic between Stone and Mori...but I ultimately felt like their falling in love happened a bit too fast. Granted, they're stuck together on a barely settled planet for a couple weeks, but it seems like their relationship doesn't really happen until Mori tells Stone about her past and her family, they save a village from slavers, and then bam! They're madly in love to the point that Stone can't fathom living without his Terillian companion. Like I said, I actually really enjoyed their romance after the annoyance of how quickly it developed wore off, but I'd have liked to see a more gradual development, especially given how devoted to the Xen Empire and his way of life that Stone was. It's a fairly minor gripe considering how well the pair works together and, based off of that, how believable their relationship is. For those who enjoy romance, you'll probably love it regardless. For those like me who aren't a big fan of it, you'll probably like it, too; while it leads to a major turning in Stone's beliefs, Dorsey doesn't let it dominate the story. Make no mistake, it's important, but there are a lot of other significant things going on, and the author is careful not to let Stone's romance eat up more pages than it should. There are also some other interesting relationships, such as that between Emily and her ex-husband, that aren't what you'd expect and I found myself quite intrigued with them despite my normal dislike for all things romantic.
"Gateway" has a little something for everyone. Compelling main character that actually grows throughout the story? Check. Interesting secondary characters that don't operate in simple black and white terms? Yup. An unpredictable, well-paced story that keeps you turning pages and doesn't rely on gimmicks to get you read the next book? Absolutely. Solid world-building without info-dumping? Check. Great writing? Check. An intriguing balance of politics and military? Check. Military action and adventure? Definitely. Interesting new technology and science? Check. Romance? Yes. Varied races and cultures? Check. Strong female characters? You bet. What more can I say? This book is amazing and I'm glad I took a chance and read it. I'd happily recommend it to anyone...so what are you waiting for? A five star read.
This review is also posted on Amazon.com.
June 26, 2024
Kind of an Old Man's War mixed with Starship Troopers (without the bugs), with some romance thrown in to make it more contemporary. Nothing really wrong with it, though it does get a bit preachy in places. But not special either.
I won't read the rest of the series.
I won't read the rest of the series.
September 24, 2016
Really, Really Wanted to Like, But Couldn't...
"Gateway," is an eBook I really, really wanted to like. It's military SciFi, written by a vet, and has a heart wrenching dedication. Sadly, the eBook just didn't meet any basic expectations of entertainment.
The storyline slogged through, until I bailed-DNF at 15%-is about a far future human, stilted, suffocating, aristocratic empire modeled on the Roman Empire, about to resume a war, after an uneasy peace treaty with an adjoining human civilization. There is a neutral zone, where special ops battles have been ongoing between the two (2) belligerents, and occupants within, have been subjected to heinous acts of slavery, piracy, and violence.
When space operas or military SciFi use Roman names, troops carry swords, Byzantine governments populated with Nero-like marionettes, or lead characters need to beseech their fiancé's father for a kiss and hug hello from their intended, you lost me. It's B-movie material from the 1950's, grafted onto 21st century SciFi. Just doesn't cut the mustard.
The eBook is not recommended and was accessed via Kindle Unlimited.
"Gateway," is an eBook I really, really wanted to like. It's military SciFi, written by a vet, and has a heart wrenching dedication. Sadly, the eBook just didn't meet any basic expectations of entertainment.
The storyline slogged through, until I bailed-DNF at 15%-is about a far future human, stilted, suffocating, aristocratic empire modeled on the Roman Empire, about to resume a war, after an uneasy peace treaty with an adjoining human civilization. There is a neutral zone, where special ops battles have been ongoing between the two (2) belligerents, and occupants within, have been subjected to heinous acts of slavery, piracy, and violence.
When space operas or military SciFi use Roman names, troops carry swords, Byzantine governments populated with Nero-like marionettes, or lead characters need to beseech their fiancé's father for a kiss and hug hello from their intended, you lost me. It's B-movie material from the 1950's, grafted onto 21st century SciFi. Just doesn't cut the mustard.
The eBook is not recommended and was accessed via Kindle Unlimited.
October 7, 2014
I loved the military part of this story as well as the characters. There was an interesting balance between earned rank and privilege due to family status. The main protagonist had to navigate both these realms and it was interesting to see how the story unfolded and which way the character would lean when these two worlds conflicted. By the end of the book there was quite an interesting array of secondary characters that I can't wait to read more about in subsequent books. I am especially eager to learn more about Emily's character and see how it plays out, especially with regard to Tyler Stone and the decisions he's made. It was a great first book and it definitely left me wanting more. I will be eagerly awaiting the next in line!
August 9, 2015
I was not so keen at the start of the book. I thought it was a bit Romans in Space, and the female characters annoyed me. Why are all three of the female characters stunningly beautiful? And why does the woman in the military have a trademark ponytail when that would make her vulnerable while fighting? But by halfway through, I was gripped by the plot, and really wanted to know what happened next. Tyler Stone and the female characters develop and become more interesting and complex. Tyler finds out more about his society, which made it more palatable for me, and I realized I'd not been comfortable with some things: this was well done, as it was not obvious from the start. I want to read the next book to find out what happens!
September 21, 2014
It's nice to see a great author take the framework for a good story and breath life into realistic characters in a way that makes it a great read. The deeper you go the more engrossed you become in the heroes you love and the antagonists you hate. I hope to get more insight into the Terillians in future books. Well thought out and well written!
December 13, 2014
Great Book! The combination of Political and Military is spot on. Brian does a great job developing interesting characters that draw you in and make you want to know more. The universe that he made is large and complex, it draws you in, but is not so hard to follow that it detracts from the story. I am excited for the next book!
September 19, 2014
Dorsey does an incredible job of transporting us to this world he has created. The characters are developed in a very realistic way and you will find yourself drawn into the atmosphere of the story that Dorsey unfolds. You will NOT be disappointed!!!!
October 1, 2014
This book caught my attention from the beginning, the more I read the harder it became to set the book down. As I read the book, the story came alive as if I was watching a movie. Now I'm wait for the second book.
September 11, 2014
I think this is an excellent first novel. I enjoy the political versus military struggle. You quickly become attached to Tyler Stone and his internal fight. I am looking forward to the sequel!
May 29, 2015
Loved it and can't wait for the next one.
August 19, 2015
Enjoyed this one. It's a military, space, sci-fi novel packed with action and intriguing characters.
Thanks for the copy, Brian!
Thanks for the copy, Brian!
June 3, 2018
Knowing that Brian Dorsey's background is that of a naval officer, I expected more space battles and tactics. Instead, his story focuses more on the actions of a special ground unit, more akin to the Marines. A parallel story focuses on the political intrigue in a society where position and rise in rank depend more on family lineage than on merit. The combination of the two makes for a fairly unique story which reads like a Leigh Bracket pulp scifi novel mashed up with a David Weber military scifi novel...as if The Sword of Rhiannon and March Up Country spawned a baby where there are more strong female characters.
Gateway was one of several "first" novels I read right around the same time. In comparison to a couple of these other first efforts, Gateway's prose and pacing felt a little more polished. I expect this will only get better as the series progresses.
Gateway was one of several "first" novels I read right around the same time. In comparison to a couple of these other first efforts, Gateway's prose and pacing felt a little more polished. I expect this will only get better as the series progresses.
October 20, 2018
3.5 stars. Uneven but OK
Read
September 19, 2024DNF
I realized that I am not into space opera books like this.
I realized that I am not into space opera books like this.
September 26, 2016
Interesting
But not finished. I wonder what will happen to the so-called traitor and his whore but we can suspect. Only the next book will tell.
But not finished. I wonder what will happen to the so-called traitor and his whore but we can suspect. Only the next book will tell.
October 25, 2015
Gateway was a fun read. Character and world development were decent. I'm sorry, but the editing was annoying. I noticed numerous typos and errors throughout the book. So many in fact that I actually became angry. Angry because the story premise was interesting, but chock full of mistakes which made reading difficult. I put the book aside twice for a few days each time because I was so annoyed. I guess if you don't mind (or don't even notice) all the errors, it's a good book.
October 26, 2016
A good start to a new series...
A good plot with some solid character development. Could do with a wee bit more proofreading, there were some obvious grammatical moments. That being said, it was a good read.
A good plot with some solid character development. Could do with a wee bit more proofreading, there were some obvious grammatical moments. That being said, it was a good read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews