The first book in the Multiverse series doesn't spend much time in setting the scene as we are dropped straight into the middle of the action as a Sharonian exploration team member makes an unfortunate first contact with a member of an Arcanian expedition. With both parties dead, working out who's fault it was would be impossible and neither side expected to meet another civilisation in the first place so both sides were afraid of what the other would do. It's not quite a 'cast of thousands' novel, but the book (and series) swaps points of view between those at the sharp end of the action, to those in political control (particularly on the Sharonian side), though this isn't as jarring here.

Although the two authors have their distinctive voices, they mesh quite well in this book though I suspect David rather preferred the Sharonian side to the Arcanians - both sides have different levels of technology and mental skills - the Sharonians have Talents that resemble 'traditional' psionic skills, and a level of technology around the late Victorian era, whilst the Arcanians employ magic and have developed creature out of legends such as dragons and unicorns, and a level of technology about the late medieval period and the inability of either side to come to terms with their opponents' skills is one of the drivers of the conflict that drives the series ( )

Quite possibly the worst David Weber novel that I've read to date. Clocking in at 1236 pages, a good 900 of those would have been better used as compost than filling this book.

Pointless politics, petty rivalries, and meaningless repetition fill the majority of this novel. ( )

Hell’s Gate by David Weber and Linda EvansBook one of the Multiverse series is a most engrossing 1200 pages. Evan’s and Weber portray two unique civilizations on a road to conflict. Arcana bases their technology on magic. Sharona has psychic talents but bases their technology on science. The multi-universal aspect is that both civilizations have discovered portal to alternate earths that have no populations until they confront each other. David Weber and Linda Evans do a superb job in describing two dissimilar cultures and those cultures’ idiosyncrasies. As they alternate back and forth from culture to culture you find your sympathies vacillating as well. The beauty of their work is that you truly find things that are both laudable and stimulating for each culture. They are being drawn into conflict by serendipitous contacts and malicious behavior in spite of their root similarities. I can not wait to read the next volume, “Hell Hath No Fury”. I highly recommend it and all of David Weber’s Work. ( )

Hell’s Gate by David Weber and Linda Evans

Book one of the Multiverse series is a most engrossing 1200 pages. Evan’s and Weber portray two unique civilizations on a road to conflict. Arcana bases their technology on magic. Sharona has psychic talents but bases their technology on science. The multi-universal aspect is that both civilizations have discovered portal to alternate earths that have no populations until they confront each other.

David Weber and Linda Evans do a superb job in describing two dissimilar cultures and those cultures’ idiosyncrasies. As they alternate back and forth from culture to culture you find your sympathies vacillating as well. The beauty of their work is that you truly find things that are both laudable and stimulating for each culture. They are being drawn into conflict by serendipitous contacts and malicious behavior in spite of their root similarities. I can not wait to read the next volume, “Hell Hath No Fury”.

I highly recommend it and all of David Weber’s Work. ( )

A book about misunderstandings, deceptions, and machinations. Not so much about fighting.

This does not have much of the action that I typically associate with David Weber. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's definitely not what I was expecting based on other information I've seen about this book. From the looks of things, the next book in the series (Hell Hath No Fury) may be a bit more active, but this whole series may end up being more of a diplomatic/political conflict type of series with a few battles thrown in. Due to the nature of the world setting, this almost has to be a fairly slow paced story.

There is a lot of talk between characters, and a lot of character development, and a lot of world development through character dialogue. This made it more difficult for me to get into than is typical for me when reading some of his other books. And by the time is felt I was hooked and really getting into it, it ended, with nothing really resolved, although there was plenty of stuff built up for the next book.

Overall, I am kind of disappointed that this didn't live up to my expectations, but I like it well enough (or my curiosity has been piqued enough) that I will be reading the next book to see how/if things get resolved. ( )