Last Man Through The Gate

by Tim C. Taylor, Andy Bigwood (Illustrator)

Codrin has money, even status. A professor, no less. Not bad considering he’s only a Shreb. Until one day he loses it all, and has no choice but to gamble his family’s fate on a one-way ticket across the Gate. On the other side, in another world, he'll build a new life.Except there is something wrong with the Gate…Steampunk collides with time-travel to inspire this story of isolation, hope, and revelation.At 22,000 words, this Greyhart Press novella would be about 90 pages in paperback.“Like some hybrid of Van Vogt and Charles Harness, Tim C. Taylor surprises us with worlds at strange angles to ours, and to each other, in a delicious piece of writing which ramps up excitingly through time distortions, grief, conflict, and peril, to paradoxical revelation. An excellent and provocative read.” — Ian Watson on Last Man Through the Gate

Genres: Science Fiction

77 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

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Tim C. Taylor lives with his family in an ancient village in England. When he was an impressionable boy, between 1977 and 1978, he encountered several mind-altering substances: 2000AD, Star Wars, Blake's 7, and Dungeons & Dragons. Consequently, he now writes science fiction novels for a living.

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise of this book that race conflict might cause an otherwise prominent member of society to have to seek employment on the frontier, which in this case is another dimension that can only be reached through a portal. Codrin is the last man to make it through the portal before it needs to be shut down because time is running at different speeds in his new home and his old one. Desperate to have his family join him, Codrin and other emigrees work to turn the gate back on. They eventually convince the government to turn the gate on, but when Codrin is sent through as emissary, years have passed and his family is dead. Similarly, on his return an hour later, years have passed, and feeling threatened by the changes, Codrin escapes into one of the side paths that exist in the space between the worlds. There he meets a kindly gentleman who gives him a book.

As I said, interesting premise. But I was shocked when the story ended, since Codrin's experiences in the nether spaces seem to just be beginning. The author's note suggests this was originally a short story, and I can't help but wonder if it would have worked better if it had remained one. Or if instead of expanding to novella length, the story might have worked better as a full length novel. There were several elements that didn't feel developed enough. The discovery of an earlier civilization below the city was never followed up on and Codrin's experiences in the netherspaces are not related. I would have liked to see some explanation of how time and space were working to create the portal, the netherspace, and the sense we get that alternate worlds might be existing in the same spaces. At novel length, some additional character development would have been possible as well and this might have made the characters' actions a bit more explicable in places.

Loved the premise, just wanted a bit more story!

[Bill Thibadeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quite interested in this novella as I started reading. The storyline of the gate was a great premise that unfortunately failed to go anywhere. I wanted there to be more of a story but that would have meant a novel instead of a novella.

I do not think very much of the character development. I never felt anything for any of the characters.

The ending left we waiting for the ending to happen. It just ended. I was expecting to see a single page that said - ....continued in the next installment.... but that didn't happen.

Did I enjoy the story? Yes I did but was left wanting more. I think the author has skill and I will endeavor to read other works by him.

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this as a free book from Librarything in exchange for an honest review.

I like science fiction. So I went in really wanting to like this book. There are good things about it. It's interesting and kept me reading, which seems harder and harder these days. For the most part, it's well written and free of grammar errors. I was invested enough to want to know if the main character would ever find his family.

But after the first part, it kind of gets confusing. I might have spent more time figuring out the ins and outs of the time travel of the Gate, but I was distracted by the Russian sounding names and then the odd juxtaposition of Shrebian mind connection. It was like Dostoyvesky in the future. And I never got to connect or like any other character than the main one.

And then the ending just didn't do it for me. I'm okay with insinuating some things for the reader to figure out on his/her own, but not getting any satisfactory answers was disappointing.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cordrin Alteanu is a Shreb, who’s crossed a time gate from his home city of Jastrevich to the Free States, part of the New World. He’s hoping to make a new and better life for him, his wife and two daughters but discovers he’s effectively been sold into slavery. Joining his comrades, they rebel and try to get back through the gate, but time moves differently and it’s now 60 years later at Jastrevich and Codrin’s only living relative is a grand-daughter. I’m not a big sci-fi buff but this dragged me in a treat - I enjoyed the story and Tim developed the world and the characters within it well. Definitely worth a read!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read 'The reality war' series by Tim C Taylor you will welcome this story that offers a glimpse into the Elstow Abbey Time Station. I would suggest reading this first and then pick up 'The Reality War' books. I enjoyed this SF read, short enough for a single sitting but yet enough depth to keep it thoroughly interesting. This novella is well written and engaging. I particularly enjoyed journeying with the main character whose story of hope and loneliness is quite haunting.

[Randall · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I'm finished" as in "I put this aside because I couldn't stand the writing and the story wasn't interesting enough for me to overcome it and, hence, am unlikely to ever read this story to completion."

The exposition is hard to swallow. The thoughts and observations of the protagonist ring false nearly from word one.

Just NOT for me.

[Lesley McCullough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read however I was just getting into the story and interested in the characters when it ended all too soon. Very descriptive and atmospheric but as it stands I felt too much was left unanswered, plenty of scope for a sequel. Would make a bette read if fully developed into a novel.

[Denise]

Never finished. Could not get into it.

[Pam K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book though the member giveaway program.
I found it hard for me to connect to the story or any of the characters. Couldn't finish the book. Sorry.