Beyond the Blue Event Horizon

By: Frederik Pohl

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Frederik Pohl was on a streak when this Hugo Award-finalist novel was published in 1980. Now back in print after an absence of nearly a decade, this unique science fiction novel is as fresh and entertaining as ever. The story begins when the hero of Gateway finances an expedition to a distant alien spaceship that may end famine forever. On the ship, the explorers find a human boy, and evidence that reveals a powerful alien civilization is thriving on a transport ship headed right for Earth….

©1980 Frederik Pohl (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Certainly very few books have ever held my attention in such an iron grip right up until the last paragraph, built so irresistibly to such a satisfying series of blockbuster punch lines, left me so breathless with admiration, achieved such truly cosmic scope.” ( Analog)

“The kind of mind-opening conceptualization that makes the universe seem very vast and beautiful indeed. In short, this is a book that fulfills SF’s ability to entertain intelligently.” ( The Chicago Sun-Times)

A slightly disappointing continuation.

What did you like best about Beyond the Blue Event Horizon? What did you like least?

While the Hee-chee story line is a great one, this book seems to have been written as a means to an end; it is an underwhelming and anti-climactic bridge between the first and third novels in this series.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have preferred a more satisfying ending.

Which scene was your favorite?

Don't want to give it away, but the "prayer fans" revelation was interesting.

Did Beyond the Blue Event Horizon inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to avoid further sequels, unfortunately.

Decent sequel

The story for me was slow at a lot of points but it was a worthwhile continuation of the story if you liked gateway.

Another Fine HeeChee Novel

The astrophysics is a bit dated, but a good story. The is a bit long, but sets you up for the next installment.

'Gateway' sequel

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. It just seems to meander. Characters aren't engaging.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was glad it was over so I could listen to something better.

Did Oliver Wyman do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes.

Do you think Beyond the Blue Event Horizon needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No!

Great read

Read this when it first came out. it stands the test of time. Really enjoyed the audible version.

awesome classic science fictiom

Good storyline narrated well. thoroughly enjoyed it. now looking for the next one in the series

Disappointing story. Outstanding performance!

The story is disappointing because its predictable and dull. The reader’s performance breathes life into the story and the characters. The reader’s performance made this book worth listening to.

The story finally came alive in its last three chapters.

okay

A pale shadow of Gateway. it's fine..quite slow in parts....redeeming performance and could have developed interesting characters but it's almost like he got bored with his own story.

Not as good as Gateway

I got thru the book. I'm a huge fan of the Heechee but this one isn't written as well as the first. It moves the story along and is the weakest of the three in my opinion.

Follow-on to Gateway with more Heechee

Beyond the Blue Event Horizon is Frederik Pohl's sequel to Gateway. Robin Broadhean has sponsored an expedition to a recently discovered Heechee food factory at the edge of the solar system. A small crew of four makes the four year journey and not only find the food factory, but a young human who migrates between the food factory and another Heechee ship called Heechee Heaven. On Heaven are the Dead Men who turn out to be simulacras of lost Gateway pilots as well as old ones who appear to be degenerated Heechees. The crew is captured and Robin, after dealing with multiple business issues makes his way out there in a Gateway vessel and rescues the the crew, brings the food factory home, and solves the mystery of Heechee controls. The ending suggests the mysterious Heechee have been toying with humanity in order to create a buffer between them and something even more powerful.

Pohl throws quite a bit of science into the story with much discussion about black holes. He creates AI avatars that provide legal and accounting services as well as a digital Albert Einstein. The Heechee prayer fans turn out to be information storage devices as well as another Heechee technology to digitize a person. A 'dream chamber' has been used to direct human evolution. The last chapter is from the perspective of the Heechee captain who oversaw the Earth project with the idea that the Heechee are on the run from an entity with the power to rearrange the fundamental constants of the universe and they were hoping to set up humans and other intelligent species as a buffer.

The narration is well done with excellent character distinction and overall quick pacing. The Albert Einstein accent is nicely done, but can get a bit annoying.