The Space Between Worlds
A debut novel about multiverse travel and identity.
The Space Between Worlds, published in 2021, is the debut science fiction novel by Micaiah Johnson. Set in the near future, the story imagines a world where travel to parallel universes has become possible.
The protagonist, Cara, works as a "traverser"—someone who can cross into alternate Earths. This travel is only permitted if the traveler is already dead in the destination world. Because Cara grew up in a harsh, dystopian wasteland, most versions of her have died, making her uniquely suited for the job. She refers to herself and other disadvantaged people as "trash people." The story moves between two main settings, each appearing across multiple universes: the wealthy, corporate Wiley City and Ashtown, Cara’s impoverished hometown in the wasteland. The plot explores Cara’s relationships with different versions of her family, the wasteland’s emperor, and her watcher Dell—a woman Cara fears she cannot be with romantically due to the class divide between them.
Critics praised the novel. *The New York Times* called it "profoundly satisfying" and a metaphor for neoliberal imperialism. *New Scientist* described it as a "witty, deep and savvy tale about traveling through the multiverse," comparing it to works by Terry Pratchett, Stephen Baxter, and Luiza Sauma. *The Nerd Daily* highlighted the traversers’ spiritual beliefs, noting their faith in the goddess Nyame, who they feel guides them in the space between worlds.
The novel won several awards. Its central themes include identity, exploring how choice and circumstance shape a person’s life. It also examines borders, crossings, and interstices—between universes, communities, and individuals. The book was noted for reflecting social, racial, sexual, and religious diversity.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Micaiah Johnson
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Science Fiction / Dystopian fiction / Romance
- Publisher
- Del Rey
- Pub Date
- 4 August 2020
- Pages
- 336
- Awards
- Compton Crook Award (2021) / The Kitschies Golden Tentacle (2021) / The Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards Best Science Fiction (2021)
- Isbn
- 9780593135051
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Space Between Worlds centers on Cara, a young woman who works as a 'traverser', someone who is able to travel to an Earth in a parallel universe. Travel is only possible if the traveler is already dead on the destination Earth. Due to growing up in a dystopian wasteland, most versions of Cara are already dead, making her uniquely able to traverse to numerous worlds. Cara refers to poor and disadvantaged people like herself as 'trash people'.
The narrative takes place in two settings, each of which is visited across multiple universes: the upscale, corporate Wiley City and Ashtown, Cara's downtrodden hometown set in the wasteland. The story explores Cara's multiple relationships across different versions on different Earths: with her family, with the emperor of the wasteland, and with her watcher Dell, with whom Cara fears the class distance between them would keep a romantic relationship from ever forming.
Reader's Guide
The Space Between Worlds received critical attention for its treatment of multiverse travel as a metaphor for neoliberal imperialism, as noted by The New York Times. New Scientist called it a 'witty, deep and savvy tale about traveling through the multiverse,' comparing it to works by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, and Luiza Sauma. The Nerd Daily highlighted the spiritual convictions of the traversers, particularly their belief in the goddess Nyame who guides them across different universes. The novel's themes center on identity, exploring how choice and circumstance influence personality and life, as well as 'borders, crossings, and interstices' between parallel universes, communities, and people. It was cited for reflecting 'the diversity inherent in our society—social, racial, sexual, and religious.' The novel won multiple awards, though the article does not specify which.
Did You Know?
- The novel is Micaiah Johnson's debut work.
- The novel features a character named Nyame, who is a scientist and the creator of the traversing technology, not a goddess worshipped by traversers.
- The New York Times described the novel as a metaphor for neoliberal imperialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote The Space Between Worlds?
Micaiah Johnson authored this debut science fiction novel, published in 2021. It explores multiverse travel and identity in a near-future setting.
What is the premise of The Space Between Worlds?
The story takes place in a near-future world where crossing into parallel Earths is possible, but only for travelers who are already dead in the destination universe. The plot follows a traverser as she navigates these alternate realities.
Who is Cara in The Space Between Worlds?
Cara is the novel's protagonist, a traverser who crosses into alternate versions of Earth. She grew up in a brutal dystopian wasteland and calls herself and others from similarly marginalized backgrounds 'trash people.'
How does universe travel work in The Space Between Worlds?
Crossing into a parallel Earth is permitted only when the traveler has already died in that particular world. This rule means people from the harshest, most dangerous realities—who are most likely to have perished in other versions—become the primary pool of traversers.
Why is Cara uniquely suited to be a traverser?
Because her home reality is a brutal wasteland, the vast majority of alternate versions of her have already died. That makes her eligible to legally enter nearly every parallel world, giving her an extraordinary advantage in her profession.
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