Commit The Crime, Do The Time...Forever

A man wakes up in Hell--naked and intertwined with a hundred other terrified human beings who have also just arrived. After fending off a gang of demonic men and rescuing a beautiful woman, the nameless main character fights his way through a crowd of billions, heading for the only rumored means of escape.

With each passing moment, his wits and his sanity are pushed to their limits as he begins to realize that the inhabitants with whom he shares his damnation may be more dangerous than the devil who sent him there.

The Gate by Michael W. Layne is a concept of Hell I haven't read in any other story (and I've read many stories featuring the infamous inferno). The author draws readers into the accursed cavern of eternal suffering with a detailed accounting of the murderous ritual the main character performed to ensure his own damnation. Even knowing the atrocity carried out prior to his arrival in Hell, it's surprisingly easy to feel sympathy for the man who remains nameless and almost cheer for him at times.

The character appears to be an atheist, which makes his journey all the more interesting as he resists the proselytizing from those who believe they can still redeem themselves. The descriptions of the people surrounding the character transcend time and location, appearing to represent the whole of mankind from our first creation to the end of our existence. Observing people continuing their battles over race and religion provided an excellent backdrop to the main character's inner struggle to accept his place in the afterlife.

While there is some redundancy here and there, I strongly recommend The Gate to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking story.

As always,
AstraDaemon