Book Review: Gateway to Reality by Becca J. Campbell

Becca J. Campbell's novel, Gateway to Reality, engendered high expectations after the release of her first novel, Foreign Identity, last year. I am pleased to say that Campbell's second effort has more than lived up to her first, and Gateway to Reality is  a pleasing blend of science-fiction excitement and convicting personal drama that makes it a highly satisfying read.

When Wes, the protagonist, starts having strangely vivid dreams, his life takes a turn he never expected and he begins discovering things about the universe and his earthly body that he never thought he would. Confronted with an alternate dimension in which "Existence" is the only law, Wes must work to discover to which world he truly belongs, and which version of himself he an learn to live with. To compare this story to The Matrix might be apt in that Campbell has created an alternate reality for her characters in which they know the truth of their existence--namely that they are part of an unconscious construct called the Logiverse, where they believe that true reality is just a dream. But to do this would ignore the bigger questions that are being asked in the novel. Questions such as, what does it mean to exist, and given the choice, would people really choose to be a part of a world where there were no laws, no rules, and absolutely no logic to anything?

As a struggling artist in the Logiverse and a world-making Creative in the Existance, Wes represents both sides of the coin--he is given the opportunity to create freely, with unlimited prowess and materials at his disposal. But the lure of the Logiverse is always present, the limitations actually appealing to his sense of normalcy, and creating a true moral dilemma that draws in the reader and forces them to play a short game of "Would You  Rather" with themselves.

In addition to the questions of life, the universe, and everything that Campbell brings to the novel, there is, of course, the realistically complicated relationship between man and woman. When flitting in and out of different perceived worlds, the hero and heroine of the novel keep finding and losing each other in different ways, and readers are never quite sure whether they will make it work, or whether, indeed, it would be desirable for them to end up together. The romantic relationship encompasses all the complicated ins and outs of interaction between the genders, with Campbell's signature poignancy and genuine feeling.

Genre novels are often dismissed as literary fluff, rarely given the consideration they are due. But as Becca J. Campbell proves once again in Gateway to Reality, genre fiction can confront our ideals and incite us to consider the larger world we are a part of, while telling an engrossing, fantastic tale to boot! In short, read this novel immediately and enjoy it thoroughly!

Enter the Giveaway for Gateway to Reality here!

If you are participating in the Blog Tour Scavenger Hunt, the clue for today is: 
Wes visits many worlds in the Existence. Here’s your challenge in this scavenger hunt:

Collect the names of the fifteen worlds in Gateway to Reality (one will be revealed each day).

Following the schedule above, collect a world name at each stop, and when you have them all, plug that
list of 15 worlds into the giveaway below to win a BONUS TEN ENTRIES.

HERE’S YOUR FOURTH WORLD: The Nelson

Continue with your hunt tomorrow at Write for Life. Good luck!


About Becca J. Campbell:
An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.

Becca's journey into writing began as many of her other creative endeavors do - by daring herself to try something new. The question "what if I wrote a novel?" and some hastily scribbled notes on a church handout were the inspirations that jump-started her first book. Since then, she has written three additional novels and several shorter works.

As the wife of a musician and mother of three young boys, Becca's life is never dull. Whether it is writing, painting or knitting, she enjoys making stuff that wasn't there before. You can find her blog, Inspiration for Creation, at http://www.beccajcampbell.com.