Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Ballantine Books (1980), Edition: 1st, 327 pages
Description
In Book Two of the Heechee Saga, Robinette Broadhead is on his way to making a fortune by bankrolling an expedition to the Food Factory--a Heechee spaceship that can graze the cometary cloud and transfor the basic elements of the universe into untold quantities of food. But even as he gambles on the breakthrough technology, he is wracked with the guilt of losing his wife, poised forever at the "event horizon" of a black hole where Robin had abaondoned her. As more and more information comes back from the expedition, Robin grows ever hopeful that he can rescue his beloved Gelle-Klara Moynlin. After three and a years, the factory is discovered to work, and a human is found aboard. Robin's suffering may be just about over.... THE HEECHEE SAGA Book One: Gateway Book Two: Beyond the Blue Event Horizon Book Three: Heechee Rendezvous Book Four: The Annals of the Heechee… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member helver
The continuing saga of Robinette Broadhead... In this installment, Robin is living a life of luxury. He has wealth, power, influence, unlimited computer time and a gorgeous and brilliant wife who provides him with computer programs that fulfill any of his desires that she cannot. In all, life is
In the first book, I had equated Robin Broadhead with Thomas Covenant - forever paralyzed into action; an anti-hero. In this volume, though, he is caring, compassionate, brave, resourceful... he's still a little indecisive and requires a mild kick in the ass to get moving, but once he decides to take action, he takes it well. I was much happier with the new Robin - apparently a lot of his insecurities and madness was transferred to poor old Payter Herter. And while the circumstances surrounding his death were a revelation to everyone, I was relieved that we (as readers) were relieved from having to relive Payter's manic focus on his own eroding mortality.
And while other reviewers commented on how much they enjoyed the first book keeping all of us ignorant of the Heechee, I was very interested to have that veil removed. At this point, I'm looking forward to volume three... I'd love to see what happens inside the black hole.
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very very good for Robin. Unfortunately, it's not quite so good for an expedition that Robin has funded to explore a Heechee Food Factory. The Herter-Hall group runs into far more than they had planned for and ends up in a world of hurt. And who should come to the rescue but our good friend, Robin.In the first book, I had equated Robin Broadhead with Thomas Covenant - forever paralyzed into action; an anti-hero. In this volume, though, he is caring, compassionate, brave, resourceful... he's still a little indecisive and requires a mild kick in the ass to get moving, but once he decides to take action, he takes it well. I was much happier with the new Robin - apparently a lot of his insecurities and madness was transferred to poor old Payter Herter. And while the circumstances surrounding his death were a revelation to everyone, I was relieved that we (as readers) were relieved from having to relive Payter's manic focus on his own eroding mortality.
And while other reviewers commented on how much they enjoyed the first book keeping all of us ignorant of the Heechee, I was very interested to have that veil removed. At this point, I'm looking forward to volume three... I'd love to see what happens inside the black hole.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
After his success and failure in the previous book, Robinette Broadhead is rich, but haunted by his losses. The Heechee Gateway is better understood now, at least more locations are mapped out, though the technology is still not something humans can reproduce.
Continuing along the lines of book
Continuing along the lines of book
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one, this is still a fascinating story and a scifi classic. Well written and with characters you want to learn more about. Show Less
LibraryThing member teafancier
pretty standard action story - competently enough written.
LibraryThing member sturlington
I'm not sure which novel in this series I liked better, Gateway or its sequel, Beyond the Blue Event Horizon. Gateway was a stranger, more philosophical and probably more innovative novel. This novel had a more plot-driven and straightforward story that wasn't quite as murky as the first in the
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series. It could easily stand alone, as the key plot points of Gateway are re-introduced. However, it does truly end on a cliffhanger, and a baffling one, at that. This series about ancient aliens and deep space travel is still holding my interest, so I expect I'll plow ahead and read the third book. Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Robinette continues his quest to rescue his wife in this interesting continuation of the "Gateway" universe. I like the book, as well as understanding a little better how depressing the whole construct is to an optimist about human affairs.
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
Not as good as the previous book, but still enjoyable. I think that the story is good, but the technology described was a bit... lacking in this modern day age when everybody owns there own personal mini computers that doubles as a communication device. I do like the artificial intelligences in
Other things - the wannabee sex life of the 14 year old kid got old, fast. At least the adults in the ship acted like adults - and kept boundaries. Otherwise, for a book written in 1980, the characters were well written and sensible. I especially liked that the leader of the survey crew was female.
Highly recommended, but you should read the first book in the series before this one.
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this story, they were well developed and added something to the story. This was technology that actually seemed plausible in the future.Other things - the wannabee sex life of the 14 year old kid got old, fast. At least the adults in the ship acted like adults - and kept boundaries. Otherwise, for a book written in 1980, the characters were well written and sensible. I especially liked that the leader of the survey crew was female.
Highly recommended, but you should read the first book in the series before this one.
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
Not as good as the previous book, but still enjoyable. I think that the story is good, but the technology described was a bit... lacking in this modern day age when everybody owns there own personal mini computers that doubles as a communication device. I do like the artificial intelligences in
Other things - the wannabee sex life of the 14 year old kid got old, fast. At least the adults in the ship acted like adults - and kept boundaries. Otherwise, for a book written in 1980, the characters were well written and sensible. I especially liked that the leader of the survey crew was female.
Highly recommended, but you should read the first book in the series before this one.
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this story, they were well developed and added something to the story. This was technology that actually seemed plausible in the future.Other things - the wannabee sex life of the 14 year old kid got old, fast. At least the adults in the ship acted like adults - and kept boundaries. Otherwise, for a book written in 1980, the characters were well written and sensible. I especially liked that the leader of the survey crew was female.
Highly recommended, but you should read the first book in the series before this one.
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LibraryThing member dbsovereign
I enjoyed _Gateway_ more as this book got a bit too thick with the technical stuff, but still found it enjoyable.
LibraryThing member Phrim
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon tells the continuing story of Robin Broadhead, whose exploits as a down-on-his-luck prospector have turned him into a very rich man--one of the most influential on the planet. With his new-found wealth, Broadhead has funded an expedition to a new-found Heechee derelict
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outpost--a "food factory" which has the capacity to end human famine. The mission hits a snag when these expedition members encounter actual aliens, along with a maladjusted human boy who was raised by them. I found that the introduction of living aliens took away from much of the wonder and mystery of the first book, especially as some of the chapters are told from their point of view. Again, most of the characters were fairly unlikable (particularly the alien-raised boy); however, Broadhead himself, in his new life as a meddling millionaire, became very interesting to follow. This is a mixed bag overall, but it fails to capture the mysterious tenor of the first book. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This is the sequel to Gateway. In it an expedition is undertaken to investigate an alien spaceship beyond the orbit of Pluto. Bob Broadhead joined in the expedition because of his experiences as told in Gateway. Will this help him find the woman he loves?
LibraryThing member ikeman100
Frederik Pohl can tell a Science Fiction story.
As with "Gateway" I was completely drawn into this book. I didn't always like what I was reading but I couldn't put it down. The more I read the more I wanted to read. This author has a keen sense of the human creature and he may tell you more than you
His stories make you curios and leery about "what's out there" and what we will do if we find out.
As with "Gateway" I was completely drawn into this book. I didn't always like what I was reading but I couldn't put it down. The more I read the more I wanted to read. This author has a keen sense of the human creature and he may tell you more than you
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want to know.His stories make you curios and leery about "what's out there" and what we will do if we find out.
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LibraryThing member TobinElliott
If the whole book had been written like the last couple of chapters, this would have been a five-star rating.
Unfortunately, the first three-quarters, while having the odd flash of entertainment, was reasonably boring. Even if Pohl had gone for more of a Ringworld-type feel, with uncertain explorers
And there was, like Gateway before it, an unusual amount of time spent discussing sex. It would have been fine had this led anywhere. I mean, you had a very young girl trying her best for four years to seduce her sister's husband. You have a young survivor who's so ridiculously horny that the first time he sees a woman, he whips it out and jacks himself off.
So when Pohl finally brings these two together? They wait. The girl suddenly, inexplicably gains a mature attitude.
But it wasn't just with them. Robin's wife actually risks bodily danger to be able to hump her husband.
To me, if felt like much of this was written by a very horny fifteen-year-old virgin.
On the other hand, the last three chapters of the novel, unfortunately telling much more than showing, took us on a whirlwind expansion of the entire universe. We learn much about the Heechee and what they can do. It's worldbuilding and it's fascinating.
So, as I said, had Pohl been able to incorporate those elements much sooner, and stayed away from the boring day-to-day minutae of Robin's life, and added more zip into the exploratory sections, I would have enjoyed the book.
On a side note, it's stunning how dated this book has become, from the mentions of all the tapes still used in computers and video, to the one chapter that details a few seconds of the inner workings of one of the computer personalities ad nauseum. I'm sure it was all very cool and fascinating when the book was first released, but it's actually torturous to read now.
Because of this book, I have serious doubts as to whether I'll read any more of the Heechee saga.
Unfortunately, the first three-quarters, while having the odd flash of entertainment, was reasonably boring. Even if Pohl had gone for more of a Ringworld-type feel, with uncertain explorers
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discovering new and exciting things. Yes. There was a bit of that, including the revelation of the Heechee prayer fans, but overall, it felt mostly stilted and dull.And there was, like Gateway before it, an unusual amount of time spent discussing sex. It would have been fine had this led anywhere. I mean, you had a very young girl trying her best for four years to seduce her sister's husband. You have a young survivor who's so ridiculously horny that the first time he sees a woman, he whips it out and jacks himself off.
So when Pohl finally brings these two together? They wait. The girl suddenly, inexplicably gains a mature attitude.
But it wasn't just with them. Robin's wife actually risks bodily danger to be able to hump her husband.
To me, if felt like much of this was written by a very horny fifteen-year-old virgin.
On the other hand, the last three chapters of the novel, unfortunately telling much more than showing, took us on a whirlwind expansion of the entire universe. We learn much about the Heechee and what they can do. It's worldbuilding and it's fascinating.
So, as I said, had Pohl been able to incorporate those elements much sooner, and stayed away from the boring day-to-day minutae of Robin's life, and added more zip into the exploratory sections, I would have enjoyed the book.
On a side note, it's stunning how dated this book has become, from the mentions of all the tapes still used in computers and video, to the one chapter that details a few seconds of the inner workings of one of the computer personalities ad nauseum. I'm sure it was all very cool and fascinating when the book was first released, but it's actually torturous to read now.
Because of this book, I have serious doubts as to whether I'll read any more of the Heechee saga.
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LibraryThing member Gkarlives
This is the sequel to the Hugo winning book Gateway, which greatly expands on the universe of the series. We get to encounter more mysteries and more of the people tangled up in the hunt for the Hechee. We also get a glimpse at the ancient aliens who are at the center of it all. This is an
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important read for fans of Gateway and Frederik Pohl. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 1981)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 1980)
British Science Fiction Association Award (Shortlist — Novel — 1980)
Language
Original publication date
1980-02-18
ISBN
0345286448 / 9780345286444
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