Science Fiction: The Eleventh Gate By Nancy Kress

(Drivebycuriosity) - Nancy Kress belongs to my favorite science fiction authors. She owns the talent to develop a variety of scientific ideas into amazing stories & novels. Her oeuvre covers an impressive spectrum of sciences translated into speculative but plausible fiction. I enjoyed her Probability Trilogy, a space opera which blends quantum physics with action (amazon), and love many of her short stories.

This brought my attention to her newest publication: "The Eleventh Gate" (amazon ). The space opera is set in a far future. Humans have settled many planets which are light years distant from each other but could be immediately reached through a network of ten gates, a kind of wormholes. Then a eleventh gate is discovered which changes the balance between two dynasties which have been ruling the known universe. 

The novel focuses on the conflict between two mega-corporations, each controlled by a family dynasty. There is the Peregoy dynasty, where everything is controlled and taken cared for. Jobs were provided for all, capitalism was tightly regulated, order and respect were  enforced. "None of that, although it forced planetary peace and eliminated want, created the atmosphere need for creative innovation". On the other side stands the Landry corporation, "whose Libertarian world and unregulated capitalism allowed for virtually anything to be created, tested, and revised." 

 It seems that Mrs. Kress was inspired by Frank Herbert´s Dunes and mixed it with Ann Rand´s Atlas Shrugged. There are are also some traces of quantum physics, Buddhist philosophy and more. Unfortunately I got soon bored and didn´t care much about the struggles between powerful grandmothers & granddaughters, who represent their dynasties, and all their petty brawls. The book might entertain notorious Kress enthusiasts but her Probability Trilogy and her anthology "The Best of Nancy Kress" ( amazon) are much better gates into her amazing universe.