Portals

by Douglas E. Richards

The gripping near-future thriller by the New York Times bestselling author whose books have sold over two million copies.

Hidden portals link Earth to numerous other planets. But why do they all contain human civilizations? And why does our nearest neighbor have its sights set on Earth?

Noah Harris and Ashley Flynn are field agents for a powerful organization tasked with protecting humanity from the misuse of game-changing technology. But when they discover hidden portals that link Earth to numerous planets, put in place ages earlier by transcendent beings, they are thrust into a maze of deception and intrigue they can't begin to understand. One that not only has them battling for their very lives, but which will decide the fate of worlds.

Because, inexplicably, each of the planets contain human civilizations. And the human rulers of our nearest portal neighbor, having already conquered their own world, have come up with a brilliant, twisted plan to conquer ours.

And only Noah and Ashley stand in their way . . .

Portals is a masterful near-future thriller, one packed with nonstop action, astonishing twists, and mind-blowing concepts.

"Richards is an extraordinary writer," (Dean Koontz) who can "keep you turning the pages all night long." (Douglas Preston)

"Richards is a worthy successor to Michael Crichton." (SF Book dot com)

NEAR-FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

STANDALONES
QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS

SERIES
WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)
OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel, Thriller, Unfinished, Mystery

ebook

First published September 1, 2022

About the author

Write to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.

Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.

Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.

Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.

A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.

Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.

SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONE NOVELS

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)

TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD

DEVIL'S SWORD

Reviews

[Peter Plantec · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t get through this one.

I have enjoyed 2 of Douglas Richard’s books. But the last two have gotten into long winded preachy sermons. In Portals it’s, way more about addictions than you will ever want to know. It goes on and on and on. The story gets dropped as he gets so entangled in his research on addiction. I wanted to pull my hair and yell "Stop!!!" I just could not reward any more. I really wanted like his work…and do to a degree, but he needs a lot more discipline and much better editing. Writing a good yarn is like killing your babies. You have to remove passages you love if they do not directly serve the story…and Richard’s has difficulty in this realm. Sadly I won’t be reading any more of his books.

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve nearly enjoyed (eh, not really, if I look back on them) the author’s other books, but there is just something wrong with this book. For a good few chapters I found myself wondering if this was parody or satire, or so intentionally campy as to be its own theme for the book. But it’s not. It’s just a bad story with bad characters and a terrible plot. Then again, Amped and Wired were also…well….crap.

It’s bad enough where I double-checked that this WAS actually Douglas E. Richards who wrote it, because there are some exceptionally bad authors out there making a living off of similar sounding names to established authors.

There is enough useless exposition as to make Tom Clancy get up out of his grave and start waving around accusations. The tech angle is…well…a joke. Even in the “near future” setting this is bad and not founded on enough solidity to make the leap to suspension of disbelief. The characters are just…wrong. The two main characters, Noah and Ashley, drop lines and backstory like a 50s SciFi writer who still lives in their mother’s garage at the age of 47. Also some cringe moments where Noah toes the line of “male author describing women in embarrassing ways.”

This is just a bad book. And there is a LOT of it for being so bad. Imagine, if you will, a thrown out script from the original Get Smart TV series in the 60s where the writers all got together to discuss this script and, while trying to be polite, eventually just realized, “No….we’re in agreement, this is just TOO campy and 1/8th-assed even for us.”

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portals by Douglas E. Richards is an exhilarating dive into the realm of speculative fiction. Richards masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the tantalizing concept of portals, seamlessly blending science and suspense.

As you read along, you'll find yourself captivated by the sheer imagination behind the idea of portals, while simultaneously experiencing a sense of uncertainty at the thought of their existence. Richards' ability to make the extraordinary feel almost tangible is what sets this book apart, leaving you yearning for more even as you grapple with the unsettling implications of its premise. I highly recommend "Portals" to anyone seeking a thrilling read that will leave them questioning the boundaries of reality.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

First off, whomever at the publishing company wrote the synopsis for the novel to catch ones attention should totally get a raise. The synopsis was spectacular and totally caught my attention in one of those kindle ads and made me buy this book and want to read it. Now, moving on with the review...

The synopsis of this novel was that there are essentially Stargate's to different planets, but they are all Earth (just by different names) and they have developed differently. An all powerful race decided to experiment with different Earths in different dimensions and see how they developed, whether in a positive manner or went extinct. This sounded really cool (I do love Stargate) and I was so excited about this novel. Then I started reading it.

The portals/other worlds part did not even show up in the novel until around 40% in (I was reading it on the kindle). And then, most of this novel when the action was taking place, was not when the action was taking place. Rather, the vast majority of the novel is when the characters are sitting at a conference table and DISCUSSING things that have occurred or the actions sequences that we didn't see, we are just hearing about. SOOOOOOO much of the novel was like this and it was so infuriating!

Then we get to the almost end and our characters are in quite a pickle, but....magically it is resolved and the novel seriously has a happily ever after ending. The one real saving grace of the ending is that it sounded interesting what the future could hold and the concept of Stargate/Star Trek type options....we just don't get to see any of that. And frankly, if the novel continued or series continued, it would probably be the same as this, where we don't see the action, rather, we just hear about it while the characters are having a conference.

This novel had so much potential and then just fell so damn flat because it was just boring to hear/read about the action, but experience so very little of it. I do not think I would pick up one of his novels again if this is his writing style. In addition to the weird conference room of the story the main character is such an arrogant narcissist throughout most of the novel and his voice just irritated me throughout. He always had this, "oh I will figure it out and it always comes out positive for me in the end," and it did, which was annoying. I will definitely have to pass on his future novels. But again, whomever wrote the synopsis of the novel to catch peoples attention, that person deserves a raise.

[Sean Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second of Doug’s recent novels to be written with first person narration, Portals opens with a much more actiony feel than Unidentified. I didn’t particularly click with Noah to start with, but he grew on me, and his logical deductions and inferences were dazzling and exciting to read about.

The portals themselves were cleverly done, and the intricacy of the connections and AI-monitored travel rules leave a lot of room for more novels set in this universe. I really hope Doug can fly with this, he’s done a few series before and, to my mind, Portals is ripe for future exploits someday. Yet again, Doug excels at manipulating the reader and characters both (although any time I see that someone died in a Doug Richards novel I now disbelieve it until there’s a genuine body). As this story progressed, I was engaged and excited. I read the first 2 parts and went to bed, the addiction specialist idea bubbling up in my head. I paused at the start of part 6 to go feed myself and kept churning everything over in my mind. And then I finished the whole thing after that, gleefully sucking down every twist and turn and totally enjoying myself.

[John R. Goyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to reading this for a while - the reviews and summary looked very promising. I find it hard to believe that so many people think highly of this book. The premise in the sales pitch is interesting, but a quarter of the way into the book it hasn't been developed yet. Instead we get such original touches as a super-capable secret agent with a fiendish sense of humor in the face of death, his female partner and, yes, lover, and their female boss. Unlike some other agency books where the tech is believably developed, here it exists only to impress and get them out of trouble. The writing is poor and shallow, though I admit the story moves along quickly. Too much formula and cliche by far for me, and I regret not getting to the "good" part, if it exists.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I got to the point where the bad guy literally laid out his evil plans I should have quit.

[Ms. Kay renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did AI write this?

It reads like a parody of male writing. Any minute now, I’m expecting to read, “the young blonde woman’s breasts bounced, boobily”. It’s that bad.

I’m giving up.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where to start with this one?

Noah is a supremely unlikeable character. He is literally a Reddit mod with a fedora hat on, trying to constantly prove to everyone how clever he is. He is the cleverest clever person to ever be clever, we get it. He's fucking exhausting.

His relationship with Ashley is largely paper thin and not at all believeable. Their "banter" made me roll my eyes and cringe. Sometimes both.

The plot itself was somewhat intriguing... Until it completely jumped the shark. Not only was the plot one long info dump, it was sanctimonious. It was a boomer extolling social media. We get it, social media bad. You are above that. You good. We bad.

None of the characters had any depth. The death of the doctor and Emma were abrupt and then glossed over. Whatshisface getting his literal face shot off didn't make me upset because he had about three lines. Noah saying he because a good friend and was sad to see him gone... Lol, where did this friendship build? Behind the scenes?

The plot magically resolves because Noah is so clever(!) and is the smartest in the room. This book suffers from Fast and Furious Syndrome - a book that wants to be lofty but ends up being not quite al dente. Too much info, too little character development, too much preachy. Leave that for the church.

The more I think about this book, the less I like it.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5! “Our greatest emperor, Caesar, is only linked to a salad. And he didn’t even invent it.”

To take science fiction, create a reality that is mind bending and funnel some knowledge in it is quite remarkable. I’ve loved every page of this book and I’ll be sure to read more by Douglas E. Richards, his style is quality but having the facts to back it makes it such a thrill.

The intelligence here is a pleasure and I did think that a couple of corners were taken initially. But once certain aspects unravelled I was taken aback even further by the sheer brilliance this world has to offer.

I wish I could have read it quicker but I’ve had plenty of time to ponder the goings on as well as what’s to come and what a pleasure that has been. More so, I’ve been able to recognise the inspiration taken from our very day to day lives that helped mould this book. It really is a shame we are in such a state of disarray, the majority of the time, but this book has helped me to see more than that.

Such a cool story, it rubs me the right way so much so I feel as though a new door has opened for me. I couldn’t ask for a better match to my tastes and if I wasn’t already fascinated, I am now.


“The best books, he perceived, are those that tell you what you know already” - George Orwell

And how I hope that is true here. The world is bleak but the potential is limitless. Thank you Douglas E. Richards for the optimism and for quelling that itch that took you to writing this book. From a new fan and a part-time hopeful pessimist, mainly just hopeful.

Thank you, it’s been a pleasure.

[conr · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book takes science fiction to another level. sometimes, while reading i was convinced that these events could occur in real life. insane twists kept me addicted to turning every page and rushing to figure out what was going to happen. technology in 2022 does have a way of making life both exceptionally easier while also contributing to an individual’s downfall. either way, this book was CRAZY, if you love science fiction, this will surely tickle that part of your brain tremendously.

[John C. Baratono · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh......

Poor continuity and character establishment. I do not see where all the positive ratings come from ! Hope his other books are better.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just didn't grab me.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nearly stopped reading halfway through.

The main character is unbearably cringe. His only character flaws are being too clever and too handsome. His only development consisted of him falling more in love with his fellow agent. And the narration reads like a horned up 17 year old. Constant m'lady energy, humble bragging, simping for Elon Musk, etc.

The story itself, at its core, is interesting. Portals leading to other worlds has a ton of potential. Too bad there is zero mention of them until like 40% the way through the book. I had to check the cover a few times to make sure I wasn't reading a James Bond fan fic.

The central theme -- also interesting, and has potential. But there's still the overarching problem of pacing. Once you muscle through the first 40%, the theme is mansplained to you for the next 20%, and is a thinly veiled social commentary.

You might be thinking wow, 60% the way through, not a lot of room left for the story to progress and lead to a climactic ending. Well you are correct. Despite other shortcomings, I actually enjoyed the worldbuilding, and I hung in there hoping it wouldn't go to waste. But here I am, disappointed, and wishing for what could have been.

[WhiteOwl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this book…but read it anyway thinking it would be good for me to try something different — science fiction. I loved Star Wars & similar films on the screen but didn’t think I would enjoy reading a book about AIs, technology, portals, beings from other planets, etc. But something happened with this novel. I wanted to know how scenarios might play out when Earth beings communicate with others from another planet - after all, our government is continually teasing us with the idea of ETs, UAPs, and life on other planets. This is a future to start preparing for! Fiction or otherwise!

In this novel, the main character Noah is a super soldier, Tech Ops guy. His working partner is a woman named Ashley, who he deeply loves…but it’s not corny. Addictions, violence and fear on our planet are topics. How portals function is a main theme - how and who manages them, where are they, are they consistent, are there rules when passing through them, etc.

I found this exploration fascinating. It was a page turner with crazy twists and ideas to ponder! Highly recommend as we go forward with our own dilemmas regarding other planets, AIs, ETs, and other humanoids.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author Blew My Mind!

I've read a lot of good books, but this one is spectacular. I loved reading every minute of it. Character development is excellent, but the plot is incredible.

I can only hope that we can figure out how to make it all work for ourselves one day
Anyone know when the next portal opens up nearby?

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-Provoking

Portals was a fun Sci-fi adventure, and even more so provided commentary on our world, particularly in terms of our addictions. Definitely will read more books by Douglas E Richard’s!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of this world

I stumbled upon this book most likely in amazon.com. Now that I have read it I am addicted to Douglas E Richards. Now I’m going down the list to start reading the rest of his books. This book Portals was so fascinating and almost believable. The possibility of traveling through a portal is something that maybe my grandchildren will experience. I recommend this book for pure entertainment and an eye-opener.

[Alexander Fedyunin]

DNF
не могу поймать ход мысли автора, не моя книжка

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Characters

A crazy supposition, but an engaging story. A witty protagonist with believable colleagues and a worthy villain. Also some commentary on the state of humanity today.

[Steve Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah and Ashley are field agents for a group tasked with protecting humanity from misuse of advanced technology. They discover portals linking Earth to other planets. They learn of a plan developed by aliens on the planet Corian to conquer Earth. Only Noah and Ashley stand in the way. Our heroes are too formidable and results become too predictable when they repeatedly overcome seemingly impossible odds. Noah comes off as an arrogant know-it-all. Ashley is also too perfect, but at least she has a good excuse, as the reader will learn. Can they save Earth? What can't they do? The book is creative and explores intriguing possibilities and dangers resulting from advanced technology. Some parts read like a college lecture. Some things don't make sense, however. For example, if there really were portals, it's doubtful they would come with so many random limitations and rules. The plot gets far-fetched and some technology feels like it was conceived only to smooth out rough spots in the story. Such can be expected in this genre, however. Overall, it's an entertaining read and quite the adventure.

[Douglas Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, it's me again. Once again, this isn't a review, just me trying to reach those who follow my reviews to let them know I have a new release out. This one is called Portals, and I think anyone who has enjoyed any of my other novels will likely enjoy this one also.

Thanks!

Doug

Douglas E. Richards

[PETE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much techno babble

I found it very difficult to get engaged in this book. There is too much pseudo science and techno babble for my taste.

[Ricardo Arrechea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A free Kindle book, through prime. The plot is a bit silly, kind of a fantastical sci-fi technology driven plot filled with deus ex machina over and over. It moves quick and is an easy read. After the book ended I enjoyed the section by the author on his research and motivations.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book ny this author that I did not love--stayed up late to finish this one!

Do you enjoy near future thrillers with some science fiction thrown in----and some things that might be happening right now? Portals is all of this and more. If you have never read any of this author's books you really don't know what you are missing! After the story ends he actually goes through and lets you know what might be real right now--what might be happening in the near future (scientists are working on it) or pure imagination. Lots of twist and turns and you will not expect them---

[Richard Burchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It’s not often that I can not put a book down. This awesome book is one you just can’t stop reading and thinking about. The action is non stop. The characters are lovable. Lots of twists and surprises. There are aliens of a kind; you need to read the book to understand. The concepts and tech are thrilling. The only thing that was disappointing was that at the end…. I wanted more. So my humble recommendation is to run quickly and buy this book to read. Y’all will love ❤️ it.

Rich

[Stanley A Feinblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel Through Time and Space to Multiple Worlds

This face-paced Sci-fi adventure is a love story, and a contemporary view on the benefits and curses of technology, politics, manipulation and showcases many human traits. Dream of going through portals from Earth to untold numbers of planets where humans exist. Ponder the differences from our society and decide if ours is the best, or if there are ways to make it better. I recommend this book.

[Rich Luxbacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food for thought

As all of Doug's novels this will grab your attention and keep you involved until the very end. The only issue I have with Doug's writing is his inclusion of romance in his novels (LOL) the hero always has has a women that is the most wonderful and beautiful woman alive. Sorry but give me a break.

[Frances Lawton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

From the beginning to the end I was captured with the whole concept of the story. Read it practically without putting it down in 3 days. Look forward to possible additions to this story involving looking and exploring new planets.

[Bob Stenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read with Sci-Fi intermixed with focus on many problems that are problems in todays society.