Gates of Creation

If you are looking to buy this, it is part of a multiple book saga. Don't buy it, buy a more complete edition. THE WORLD OF TIERS: The Maker of Universes; The Gates of Creation: Volume One. contains this volume (#2) and the first one. The World of Tiers: Volume Two has the next three in the series. Previously, I read Farmer's 'Dungeon' series in which he plays the role of editor (The Black Tower (Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon, Vol. 1)), and the plot structure is essentially the same. An unlikely or reluctant hero is thrust into a diabolical maze spanning universes or realms or dungeon levels, whereby he must overcome unique puzzles and dangers while being alert for treachery by his companions, who would very like to kill him. While this is a pulp science fiction novel from 1966, Farmer manages to make it read like an adventure story by making his characters ignorant scavengers. They don't understand how their own supra-advanced universe making technology works, but they can use it to live like immortal Lords. Plotwise, our hero Wolff-Jadawin, former cruel Lord now become human as of book one, must defy his father Urizen to rescue the woman he loves. Urizen somehow spirited her away from Jadawin's fortess inside his own universe, despite the impenetrable defenses and traps therein. Inside his demented father's trap, he encounters his brothers and cousins, similarly lured, and together they must band together to save themselves. One has been turned into a seal-man for cowardice, and the rest are essentially useless. They must cross through the hexagonal golden world-gates inside a maze of worlds, hoping that they'll encounter the correct entrance to their father's fortress, full of deadly perils. There, they must kill him and save themselves. Oh, and all their wondrous technologies have been striped from them; they must rely on wits alone. (Jadawin has a blaster, Vala a sword, and seal-man has a knife.) I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but it's a great adventure with plenty of twists. The characters are so flat that Farmer gets the various expendable brothers mixed up himself. (One is 'alive' instead of another after being killed off in an earlier trap). This doesn't matter! If you want to read an enjoyable adventure story with weird realms, strange challenges, and an end based on out-thinking a superior opponent who holds all the cards, you'll like this story too. Truly one of the great pulp novels from the '60s.