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The Gates: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 4,728 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Bursting with imagination and impossible to put down, this “wholly original” (People) and “refreshing” (San Francisco Chronicle) novel from New York Times bestselling author John Connolly is about the pull between good and evil, physics and fantasy—and a quirky boy, who is impossible not to love, and the unlikely cast of characters who give him the strength to stand up to a demonic power.
Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween, which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Road. The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself, they create a gap in the universe, a gap through which a pair of enormous gates is visible. The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out...
Can one small boy defeat evil? Can he harness the power of science, faith, and love to save the world as we know it?
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"Imagine, if you will, that Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett had a love child. That child turned out to be Christopher Moore. His godparents consisted of Douglas Adams, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost. Then you might conceive of the brilliance that is John Connolly's The Gates. Wickedly funny, awesome characters...reading this was like reading an offshoot of "Good Omens". I hope John Connolly continues to write books like this!"
— Traci (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A laugh-out-loud funny tale…With its endearing protagonist, rollicking plot, and dollops of weird but mostly true science, The Gates has a shot at becoming a middle-school Halloween classic.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“The plot appeals to all of us who, on occasion, hear ‘tentacles being folded’ under our beds. But it’s the tone, the details and the allusions Connolly layers into the story that make it such a delight.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
“Connolly plays this potentially spooky scenario strictly for laughs, larding the narrative with droll jokes, humorous asides and the slapstick pratfalls of Nurd, an amusingly incompetent subdemon…This light fantasy will strike even adult readers as divertingly whimsical.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Any reader who appreciates the imaginative fantasy of Neil Gaiman or the gentle wit of Christopher Moore will find a kindred spirit here.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Wickedly funny in the way of Douglas Adams, Connolly tells the story of a British schoolboy who happens to see strange goings-on through the basement window of a neighbor's house...Jonathan Cake…draws each character with precision, spotlighting that dry Brit humor that works so well in the right hands. And Cake is adept at bringing the whole cast to vivid life…Even the cops and clergymen, trapped by rampaging monsters, are cleverly drawn. Cake does adults, kids, and demons with an equally droll tone. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A 2010 Barry Award Nominee for Best Novel
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
The Gates Listener Reviews
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" Uneven. Overall it was a whimsical and fun, a quick summer book. The humor was sometimes strained which held the novel back. "
— Ex, 2/9/2014 -
" This is a fun, silly read but it was a good break from the usual genres I pick. "
— Shelley, 2/3/2014 -
" I really tried to like this, but all I managed was not to actively dislike it. The kids are smart and likeable, the grown-ups do not get in the way too much. The villains are evil, but not everyone who should belong to the villainous party is actually bad. CERN and scientists. Scientists who take an e-mail sent by an 11-year old boy seriously. That's all good. But it didn't get me excited (and believe me, I can get quite excited about children's books). It somehow felt unfinished. I believe this to be the first part of a series and maybe further developments will add complexity and suspense, but I don't think that I will keep reading. There are so many other books and there's so little time. "
— Jana, 1/29/2014 -
" Highly entertaining!! "
— Lee, 1/16/2014 -
" This is the second book i've read by Connolly. He's very entertaining. He writes what could be considered horror but with a humorist perspective and it's not R rated so it appeals to young adults as well. "
— Jason, 1/6/2014 -
" 11-year-old Samuel Johnson and his dachshund witness neighbors create a gap in the universe, through which the gates of Hell are visible. "
— Debbie, 1/5/2014 -
" Awesome for kids. For adults.... eh, not so much. "
— Charlene, 1/3/2014 -
" Excellent and funny. you read this and you will have no fear if the gates of hell do open! "
— Glen, 12/26/2013 -
" Very quirky and funny for a book classified as "horror". "
— Lucia, 12/13/2013 -
" Cute story, reminded me a lot of Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman. "
— Christen, 12/24/2012 -
" Satanism, particle physics, and a Dachshund, what's not to like? This was such a fun read. "
— Donna, 10/17/2012 -
" I generally enjoyed this book a lot ! It was really funny but not as great as the book of lost things! But I still had a lot of fun reading this book! "
— Sabrina, 10/14/2012 -
" Wicked, wicked sense of humour...... "
— Foxytocin, 8/12/2012 -
" Funny book. If you like Christopher Moore, you will enjoy the snark meets horror of The Gates. Demons of hell were never more sympathetic. "
— Elke, 6/27/2012 -
" Was as fun a read as "Good Omens": Good stuff! "
— Kimmyh, 3/4/2012 -
" Very interesting and unique humour (but good) "
— Phailin, 5/21/2011 -
" This is not the type of book that I normally read, but I'm glad I did. The book was entertaining, unpredictable, the main character Samuel Johnson was very likable, and the story kept you interested until the end. "
— Tyler, 5/18/2011 -
" I haven't enjoyed a book in a while as much as I have enjoyed this one. The demon names alone are worth reading this. "
— Susan, 5/14/2011 -
" A boy and his dog discover the gates of hell opening. A fun and light-hearted read. "
— Jocelyn, 5/11/2011 -
" More like 2.5 stars. I liked the protagonist, but I thought the author's voice was a little condescending, and the serious tone of The Book of Lost Things worked better for me. "
— Miko, 5/11/2011 -
" I probably would have enjoyed this more twenty years ago. "
— Seth, 5/10/2011 -
" I found it slightly reminiscent of a Raold Dahl book, very clever, for youngsters with discerning taste. I recommend it for kids and adults looking for a quick read. "
— Letty, 4/30/2011 -
" A fun and entertaining read. I hope we get to meet Nurd again. "
— Katie, 4/28/2011 -
" A cute and humorous book about a boy named Samuel Johnson and his encounters with his demon possessed neighbors. I absolutely loved the footnotes because it would give random historical background or scientific facts, but I wish there were more! "
— Kay, 4/21/2011 -
" funny, and a delight to read! "
— Auriel, 4/19/2011
About John Connolly
John Connolly is a New York Times bestselling author known for his detective Charlie Parker mysteries and supernatural and fantasy novels. His twenty-five novels, nonfiction, and short stories have won the Agatha, Barry, Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, as well as being finalists for the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year, H. R. F. Keating Award, and Bram Stoker Award.