Retro Reading - The House of Many Worlds
I have a pile of old books I that I've mentioned from time to time. This is a pile that I still haven't managed to get through yet and it's been more than a year. Most of these books tend to be duds, but then I take chances and I find some gems. The House of Many Worlds is a gem among the rough. It's one of those books that are very good even after all the time has passed. It's one of those books has passed the test of time. Upon reading the first sentences, I knew this would be something special. I was right, of course, as I'm really enjoying what I'm reading.
Basically, the story is that of a strange house (not a haunted house as even the story mentions), but a house that has strange things happen to it. The owner of the house explains that it is a tangential point; a gateway to parallel worlds. At the point where I am in the story, the characters are now in a parallel world where the United States are called The Columbian Republic, and the nation's capital is New Orleans, not Washington, where the world doesn't have rockets, but have vehicles propelled by some form of propulsion.
It's all very interesting and it's apparently one of the better Alternate History novels published.
Synopsis:
Ancient, encrusted with legend, supposedly empty, the old mansion on Spindrift Key stood like a dark and lowering wraith. In this classic science fiction novel the New York Times called "a fast-moving adventure, told with engaging humor," reporter Elspeth Marriner`s nose for news leads her into a world of trouble. Make that, in worlds of trouble. When she and photographer Mack Fraser, the man she loves to hate, are sent to investigate the old mansion in the Hatteras, they never dream that once inside their lives will never be the same. For the house is a gateway to alternate Earths, watched over by a mysterious group called the Workers, who guard against more advanced civilizations crossing the dimensional barriers to conquer defenseless neighbors. From the Workers, Elspeth learns that her and Mack`s presence at the house is no accident. They have been personally selected by the Workers for a dangerous assignment. Their unique combination of talents and knowledge are needed to counter a threat that could plunge the entire world into war. If Elspeth accepted the assignment, she would have to cross to another world, aided only by her native ingenuity, then surmount a succession of plots and counterplots, with death the price of failure. Worse, she would have to work more closely than ever with the detested Mark Fraser. "Merwin has created characters that are human ¦ House of Many Worlds is entertaining and realistic." San Francisco Chronicle. "House of Many Worlds is an exciting ... story, with a new and highly unusual twist ¦ outstanding for its realistic characters and expert seasoning of thrills and horror." H. L. Gold, Galaxy Magazine.
