A long and winding, at times tedious journey unfolds through several worlds, filled with numerous adventures.

Each story segment, set in a new locale, is captivating as it develops the short storyline. First, the descriptive prose is added, painting a vivid picture of the setting and characters. Then comes the problem, which creates tension and keeps the reader engaged. Finally, the solution is presented, resolving the conflict and moving the story forward.

This pattern continues throughout the novel, almost to the point of being too freaky. However, in the end, there is a sense that everything will be alright.

Overall, it is a good enough read, offering an escape into a world of imagination and adventure. While it may not be a literary masterpiece, it has its moments of excitement and intrigue that will keep readers turning the pages.

This book was just okay.

I truly loved the idea that was behind the book. It had so much potential to be an amazing story. However, unfortunately, it seems that the author got distracted along the way.

The plot was not followed through properly. The characters in the book are poorly developed. As a result, you never really make any deep or real connection with them.

The beginning of the story was interesting enough to capture my attention. It gave the impression that it was going to take us on a wonderful and exciting journey. But instead, the author came up short.

Our explorers, instead of traveling through the many possible worlds that should have been accessible through the 'gate' system, got bogged down on just one world. And they got involved in the politics of that world.

This is where the story took a wrong turn. It moved from being a good science fiction tale to a story about politics that have been done before and were not too terribly interesting.

The ending was a huge let down. Overall, the book really wasn't worth the effort for me. Maybe it's because I am such a huge Stargate fan and I know what could have potentially been done with this plot. But in the end, I was left feeling cheated.

I really hated it. It was such a bothersome thing that I just wanted to avoid it at all costs.

Every time I had to deal with it, it felt like a huge burden on my shoulders.

I would rather do anything else than have to face this particular thing.

It seemed to drain my energy and patience, leaving me feeling frustrated and annoyed.

I don't understand why it had to be so difficult and unpleasant.

Maybe there was a better way to handle it, but I just couldn't seem to find it.

For now, I'll just try to stay away from it as much as possible and hope that it goes away on its own.

But deep down, I know that it's not going to be that easy.

So for now, I'll just have to endure it and try to make the best of a bad situation.

Hated it. Don't bother.

1.0 out of 5 stars

Maybe it's for the juvenile set?

August 1, 2009

Perhaps I'm simply too old to appreciate Williamson's "The Stonehenge Gate." It seems as if this book is more tailored towards juveniles. However, I must admit that I found the book to be completely unreadable. Right from the start, with the main characters' response to the initial impetus that sets the whole story in motion, I began scratching my head in confusion, wondering why they were behaving in such a manner. To make matters worse, the interpersonal relations between these so-called "close" friends are extremely shallow. Additionally, the out-of-the-blue events that are supposed to drive the plot forward just come across as hackneyed. In fact, this book reminds me of my old Tom Swift books, but without any of the charm. All in all, I can only rate it as a Bad 1 star out of 5.

Basically, Stargate SG1 is a show that I truly love.

It has always been a source of entertainment and excitement for me. However, when it comes to the book related to it, I have to say that it does not seem to be very well written.

The character development in the book is lacking. There is not much depth or exploration of the characters' personalities, motives, and emotions.

This makes it a bit difficult to fully engage with the story and the characters.

Despite this drawback, I still think the book is worth the read anyway.

It offers a different perspective on the Stargate SG1 universe and allows fans to further explore the story and its elements.

Even though the writing may not be perfect, there are still some interesting plotlines and ideas that make it an enjoyable read.

So, if you are a fan of Stargate SG1, I would recommend giving the book a try, despite its flaws.

I have to admit that I had some real issues with Jack Williamson’s novel Stonehenge Gate.

For one thing, the medical science in the novel is highly questionable. When the “Four Horsemen” come into contact with an alien species of human origin, one would expect to see either the natives, the explorers, or both being severely affected by diseases for which their bodies have no antibodies. This is a well-known phenomenon in our own history, as seen with smallpox and the South American population.

However, it must be noted that the fact that Mr. Williamson was able to write a decent novel at the age of 97 is in itself a remarkable achievement.

This novel reminds me of a throwback to the 1950’s space adventure genre. The characters, unfortunately, tend to be rather one-dimensional. There’s Will Stone, who spends the entire novel longing to go home, Derek Ironcraft, who views the entire trip as one grand adventure, Ram Chenji, who is constantly depressed, and Lupe Vargus, who doesn’t have a significant enough presence in the novel for me to give her a snarky nickname.

The worlds that these characters travel to are interesting and vividly described, and they are truly the stars of the novel. However, the storyline itself is rather thin and feels somewhat dated. The race relations on planet "Delta" don't seem particularly relevant in today's context and would have been more poignant in the 1960s.

I probably should check out Mr. Williamson’s other works before passing final judgment on him as a writer. But for Stonehenge Gate, I would have to give it a rating of 2.5 - 3 stars.

Williamson sold his first story in 1928.

This is an astonishing achievement, considering that it was such a long time ago.

Fast forward 77 years, and he is still actively involved in the literary world.

His dedication and perseverance are truly remarkable.

It kind of makes everyone else look like slackers in comparison.

Williamson's longevity in the field of writing is a testament to his talent and passion.

He has continued to produce quality work throughout the years, captivating readers with his stories.

His journey is an inspiration to aspiring writers everywhere, showing that with hard work and determination, one can achieve great things.

We can only imagine what other great works Williamson has in store for us in the future.

This is an outstanding adventure novel, the very last one that Williamson crafted prior to his passing.

Several of the reviews I have perused seem to imply that it draws inspiration from the Stargate television show, but I firmly believe this to be completely incorrect. Williamson was among the preeminent writers in the genre from the late 1920s all the way through nearly the next eighty years.

He penned the Legion stories, the SeeTee stories, "With Folded Hands," "Darker Than You Think," and had excellent collaborations with Frederik Pohl, and the list goes on and on and on.

My contention is that he influenced the authors who in turn influenced the authors who wrote the stories that the Stargate people "borrowed."

He was a peerless innovator who had no need to plagiarize a concept that had been around for countless years in the field. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this novel, in large measure due to the outstanding performance of the reader, Harlan Ellison.

His narration added an extra layer of depth and excitement to the already captivating story.

I truly relished this story. It was so captivating that I simply had to stay up late in order to discover what transpired.

I am extremely glad that my present research led to the uncovering of this title.

It's as if fate had intervened, guiding me towards this literary gem.

The anticipation that built up within me as I read each page was palpable.

I found myself completely immersed in the world created by the author.

The characters came to life, and their actions and decisions kept me on the edge of my seat.

This story has not only entertained me but also provided me with a new perspective and inspiration for my own work.

I look forward to exploring more stories like this in the future.

Weird! I'm a die-hard fan of science fiction and fantasy, but this book was just downright strange!

It was extremely hard to follow. The four main characters unexpectedly enter a parallel world that then morphs into several planets. They quickly get separated and end up on different planets.

The story then focuses on their attempts to find each other and all the strange things that occur along the way. However, the things that happen are described in a rather clinical manner, lacking in both interest and detail.

Miraculously, they somehow end up together in the end, but I still have no idea how that could have possibly happened. This book failed to provide any entertainment, information, or food for thought.

I would definitely not recommend it, as there are countless other science fiction and fantasy stories out there that are a much better use of your precious reading time and intellect.

Excellent story! A group of academics stumbles upon a remarkable discovery - a portal to other worlds. This astonishing find sets the plot in motion. The first member of the group, in a moment of misfortune, accidentally tumbles through the portal. Miraculously, he manages to find his way back, which prompts the explorers to take action. Then, a second member meets an even more perilous fate. He is captured by an alien creature and forcefully dragged through the portal. Now, the mission has transformed into a rescue operation. However, many questions remain unanswered. How many worlds can actually be accessed through this mysterious portal? And could the emerald amulet hold the key to its proper use? Will the explorers ever succeed in getting back home safely? With well-developed characters, a captivating plot, and thrilling action sequences, this story is truly a gem. It is highly recommended for all those who love adventure and science fiction.

In a video interview I discovered on YouTube with Jack Williamson, he elaborates on how the inspiration for this novel dawned upon him in a dream. Indeed, there are passages within the novel that possess a dream-like quality, being both inventive and filled with cosmic wonder. Additionally, there are some excellent riffs on classic sf elements, some of which Williamson's earlier works played a significant role in establishing in the first place. This is the positive aspect.

However, I found the writing to be uneven. Some passages were sparse, economical, and even bordering on poetic, while others were choppy and repetitive. I don't hold Williamson accountable for this as he was 97 when this, his final novel, was published. Nevertheless, the editor should have been more meticulous. This unevenness made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. The lack of any substantial character development compounded the problem. I understand that sf presented in a travelogue mode can manage with rather thin characters. However, I found the protagonist to be uninteresting, bland, and react in a negative way. The first-person narration exacerbated the situation, confining me to this particular point of view. I didn't have much concern about how things would unfold for him.

To be honest, although I liked the initial 40 - 50 pages quite well and relished how they harkened back to classic sf in a somewhat surreal manner, I nearly abandoned the novel when it transformed into a racial war saga. Fortunately, I persevered, as around Chapter 32 it begins to regain interest by addressing the mysteries set up earlier. It does conclude on a somewhat moving and introspective (albeit slightly unbelievable) note. I believe Publishers Weekly was accurate when they wrote, "Lush descriptions and a refreshingly brisk pace buoy the novel, but the characters are so uninteresting that disbelief soon becomes as hard to suspend as the space elevator that carries them between worlds." Overall, I'm afraid to say that I considered this to be a somewhat disjointed and underwhelming effort, and I would only recommend it to sf completists or historians.