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John Connolly

The Gates: A Samuel Johnson Adventure: 1 Hardcover – 1 November 2009

by John Connolly (Author)

281 ratings

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A strange novel for strange young people.

Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund Boswell are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Hallowe'en. Which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Avenue.

The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with Satanism. But it just happens to coincide with a malfunction in the Large Hadron Collider that creates a gap in the universe. A gap in which there is a pair of enormous gates. The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out . . .

Can Samuel persuade anyone to take this seriously? Can he harness the power of science to save the world as we know it?

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Product details

Publisher : Hodder & Stoughton; 1st edition (1 November 2009)
Language : English
Hardcover : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 0340995793
ISBN-13 : 978-0340995792
Dimensions : 13.8 x 22.3 x 2.5 cm

Customer Reviews:
281 ratings

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Review

Brilliant. I loved every word of it. John has found a voice that compares favourably with Stephen King and Monty Python which is not an easy trick. The Gates is delightfully horrific and hilarious and will create legions of fans among the living and undead, who will be bloodthirsty for more. - Eoin Colfer

Destined to be another runaway success appealing to both young adults and their parent alike. - Sunday Independent

Incredibly enjoyable. - FHM

A demonic, darkly comic tale . . . satisfyingly peppered with science, history and amusing footnotes on everything from St Thomas Aquinas to quantum theory, and will go down well with readers of Eoin Colfer and Lemony Snicket. - Daily Telegraph

Book Description

Funny, scary adventure with a dachshund, demons, science - and footnotes

5 star		59%
4 star		24%
3 star		11%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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Jilly Lycett

The Gates

Reviewed in Australia on 3 January 2018

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I read this because I'm a John Connolly fan. It's a kids' book, the first of a new series obviously intended for young boys mostly. He is obviously sick of Charlie, Louis and Angel and seeking a new audience. A pity. Not a fan anymore.

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Colin

Horror for the young at heart

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2010

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How do you categorise John Connolly, crime writer - yes certainly. Supernatural writer - well yes most of his crime novels have had a supernatural overtone so supernatural crime writer then. What about his book of horror short stories, Nocturnes - so that makes him a supernatural, crime, horror writer. Then there is his fantasy/fairy tale The Book Of Lost Things - so he is definitely a supernatural, crime, horror, fantasy writer. And then there is The Gates, damn it.....tell you what, lets just describe Connolly as one of the finest genre writers working today and lets hope The Gates is the book that lets everyone see the breadth of that talent.

Samuel Johnson and his dog Boswell (ha,ha) decide to get a head start on Halloween by trick or treating a few days early. Among the surprised neighbours to find a small boy dressed as a ghost on their doorstep are the Abernathys. The only problem is this quiet unassuming couple have invited some friends round and intend to open the Gates of hell. Only Samuel, Boswell a couple of friends and a demon called Nurd can prevent this catastrophe.

Quite unlike anything Connolly has written before, although there were hints with The Book Of Lost Things, The Gates is a laugh out loud fantasy. The problem with most comedy fantasy is that it's either not very funny (recent Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals excepted) or it's funny but with a convoluted i.e. not very good plot (are you listening Mr Rankin). Douglas Adams was one of the few writers who could consistently pull off humorous writing. John Connolly is a naturally funny guy, at a recent reading he had the audience in stitches with his observations on the Da Vinci code etc. and thankfully this has come through well in this story.

John Connolly has drawn on recent worries about the Large Hadron Collider and the completely bizarre world of particle physics to create a plot which whilst simple is also clever and well constructed. The footnotes throughout again reminded me of Adams, taking a sideways look at particle physics and explaining concepts in simple and often hilarious ways. The clever nods to horror writers of the past which are scattered throughout are also nice. John Connolly is a man who understands the horror genre.

This is a book aimed largely at the young adult market but one which could be enjoyed by all. At times genuinely emotionally engaging the characters are all interesting and well drawn. The characterisation can be compared with Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and although The Gates has a much lighter tone there are many similarities between the two novels.

My biggest complaint is only that when the book was announced I felt sure we were finally going to get the full blown horror epic that John Connolly is surely destined to write. This isn't it but hopefully the widespread appeal of this book will raise John Connolly's profile and maybe, just maybe that great horror novel is still coming.

7 people found this helpful

Ursula

Absolutely brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2018

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I'm a huge fan of John Connolly but having read all the Charlie Parker series to date I decided to check out his other works. While The Gates is aimed at a younger audience, it is a hugely enjoyable read for adults too. It is definitely nothing like the Charlie Parker books which only adds to the enjoyment. I'm looking forward to reading part two now.

Jacobite

Bravo Mr Connolly!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2018

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An impulse buy because I enjoy this author's "Charlie Parker" series. I'm well outside the age range this is targeted at - but am thoroughly enjoying it.
Good jokes, interesting footnotes and nicely-drawn characters.
Refreshingly British in setting, style, grammar and spelling.

Chuckled my way through

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 August 2019

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While the protagonists are children, this should appeal to anyone with a sense of humour. Cleverly written, very entertaining- as ever.

Mick

Laugh out loud

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2019

Verified Purchase

Not sure what I bought as I love all the other John Connolly books (Charlie Parker series) this had me laughing out loud, loved the humour. Have bought the next in the series.

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