And another book: Gateway

Gateway

Frederik Pohl

I read this on recommendation from someone on the io9 online blog. I love hard science fiction, and this was the best one I've read in over a year. Set in the near-future, after people from Earth have colonized Venus and Mars. There was some terrific technological foresightedness on behalf of Pohl- ship communication via laser (cool), the idea that healthcare in the future would be very costly, and would be something that most people would be intensely aware of (nailed it). Also, homosexuality was treated as a common thing- a pretty advanced concept coming from a book written in the 1970's (at about the same time as Anita Bryant's rantings). On the other hand, I found it difficult to identify with the protagonist after he beats the crap out of his girlfriend! (I also found it odd that she would forgive him.) I could not understand the concept of smoking in a confined space ship, but that was a definite 20th century thing.

Spoiler alerts.

The book's theme is discovery and loss - about newly discovered alien (Heechee) technology that allows faster-than-light-speed travel. The technology is being used to explore the galaxy, and to obtain artifacts for financial gain. A secondary background storyline takes place in the future, as a recollection after the major events of the main storyline. The book jumps back and forth, but they're nicely tied-up at the end. The climax involves an expedition using an alien ship towards a black hole. Only the protagonist returns (as a rich man), and we're not quite sure if the others (including his girlfriend) were stranded there by accident, or on purpose. Nicely done.
This was a terrific read, and I've already received the follow-up in the mail; it will be my next read...