Gates of the Universe
Just finished reading "Gates Of The Universe" by Robert Coulson and Gene Deweese, first published by Laser Books back in 1975.
I'm probably courting a bit of literary controversy by including "Gates Of The Universe" and other books in the long defunct line of Laser Books, which were published and released by Harlequin Books as their attempt to break in to the lucrative and popular realm of science fiction in my "Great Re-Reading Favorite Books of My Youth" project.
Laser Books series editor Roger Elwood still remains a devise person in the science fiction community up to the very day. Perhaps best known for the anthologies that he edited, his reputation as a chiseler who underpaid writers and withheld their royalties is well known and well documented. I also recall rumors that Elwood belonged to some sort of cult at the time, but I do not know if those rumors were true. I do know that Elwood fails the Andre Norton test - she only worked with him once or twice during her long career and she, to the best of my knowledge remained silent about him.
Laser Books were, and still to this day are, also controversial because of sloppy editing which resulted in cuts made to keep wordage down at the expense of the story. Still it should be noted that Laser Books allowed for many fine science fiction writers to get published and expand their writing careers. Also when Harlequin Books brought their Laser Books line to an end with the publication of the 59th book in the series, they gave the rights to all published and unpublished books back to the writers and allowed them to keep their advances.
Each Laser Book had cover art by Kelly Freas.
I first discovered Laser Books through ads in science fiction magazines. So when "Gates Of The Universe" was first released back in 1975, I discovered it on the shelves of the New Arrivals Section at Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I got my reading copy at Chamblin's Book Mine here in Jacksonville, Florida - the best bookstore in the Eastern United States.
"Gates Of The Universe" is a classic golden age style type of adventure story that finds Ross Allen [no relation] who is a science fiction writer with a day job as a bulldozer operator at a construction site discovering an impossibly large and incredibly smooth black boulder that turns out be a lost and ancient alien star gate way that transports both him and his machine to a distant world countless of light years away where he is hunted by primitives who use advanced technology under the guidance of an unknown mental influence. Allen is rescued by Orl - an intelligent dinosaur who comes from a highly advanced culture and the beautiful humanoid Kari. Soon the trio discover that they must help the artificial intelligence controlling travel with the star gates destroy an evil from another universe that has infected it or the entire universe will perish.
A great classic science romp.
Great Fun.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Gates-Universe...
I'm probably courting a bit of literary controversy by including "Gates Of The Universe" and other books in the long defunct line of Laser Books, which were published and released by Harlequin Books as their attempt to break in to the lucrative and popular realm of science fiction in my "Great Re-Reading Favorite Books of My Youth" project.
Laser Books series editor Roger Elwood still remains a devise person in the science fiction community up to the very day. Perhaps best known for the anthologies that he edited, his reputation as a chiseler who underpaid writers and withheld their royalties is well known and well documented. I also recall rumors that Elwood belonged to some sort of cult at the time, but I do not know if those rumors were true. I do know that Elwood fails the Andre Norton test - she only worked with him once or twice during her long career and she, to the best of my knowledge remained silent about him.
Laser Books were, and still to this day are, also controversial because of sloppy editing which resulted in cuts made to keep wordage down at the expense of the story. Still it should be noted that Laser Books allowed for many fine science fiction writers to get published and expand their writing careers. Also when Harlequin Books brought their Laser Books line to an end with the publication of the 59th book in the series, they gave the rights to all published and unpublished books back to the writers and allowed them to keep their advances.
Each Laser Book had cover art by Kelly Freas.
I first discovered Laser Books through ads in science fiction magazines. So when "Gates Of The Universe" was first released back in 1975, I discovered it on the shelves of the New Arrivals Section at Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I got my reading copy at Chamblin's Book Mine here in Jacksonville, Florida - the best bookstore in the Eastern United States.
"Gates Of The Universe" is a classic golden age style type of adventure story that finds Ross Allen [no relation] who is a science fiction writer with a day job as a bulldozer operator at a construction site discovering an impossibly large and incredibly smooth black boulder that turns out be a lost and ancient alien star gate way that transports both him and his machine to a distant world countless of light years away where he is hunted by primitives who use advanced technology under the guidance of an unknown mental influence. Allen is rescued by Orl - an intelligent dinosaur who comes from a highly advanced culture and the beautiful humanoid Kari. Soon the trio discover that they must help the artificial intelligence controlling travel with the star gates destroy an evil from another universe that has infected it or the entire universe will perish.
A great classic science romp.
Great Fun.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Gates-Universe...
No comments have been added yet.
