Gates of fire

by Elwyn M. Chamberlain

"Three young Americans smuggle a million hits of LSD into India for Reasons both idealistic and venal . . . sweeping mystical enlightenment, compelling characters... Brilliant writing in this rather spooky and very sexy first novel."
- Detroit Free Press

Genres: Fiction

350 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Elwyn Moody "Wynn" Chamberlain was an American artist , film maker and author. Described by The New York Times as a "pioneer realist painter", Chamberlain has two works, Interior: Late August (1955) and The Barricade (1958), in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Reviews

[John Arnold]

This novel has multi interesting characters, exciting plot, simultaneous stories going on, a large helping of imaginative sexual situations, action, crime, and murder. It also has a great sense of adventure. But most of all what it has is the setting of India itself (people, culture, physical geography well-described and educational); and most powerfully a series of intense guru-led mystical experiences that are mind-blowing.

[Serge]

One of the only books I have ever read to capture the non-rational mystical environment of India and what happens when Westerners try to navigate that world. Amazing read!

[Maya Shenoi]

Quite psychedelic and crazy!

[Chas Bayfield]

A classic 1970' s soft porn airport novel. An American couple immerse themselves in India with varying degrees of satisfaction and danger. I read all the rude bits as a teenager, then the whole novel again as an adult and realised that the rude stuff is pretty much all it has to offer.

[Kuldip S Attalia]

Very Entertaining. The View of Europeans on Mystical India

[Lysergius]

An interesting variation of the journey to the east, with a vicious twist at the end...

[Winter Sophia Rose]

Riveting, Insightful, Memorable, Page-Turning Read! I Loved It!