Next Door, Next World

"Next Door, Next World" by Robert Donald Locke is a science fiction novel written during the early 1960s. The story primarily explores themes of parallel universes and the psychological effects of space travel, particularly as they relate to the human psyche when encountering hyperspace. The narrative follows Major Lance Cooper, a space pilot who embarks on an interstellar mission aboard the scout ship Cosmos XII. The plot unfolds as Lance prepares for his first hyperspace flight, grappling with excitement and the anxiety of leaving behind his fiancée, Carolyn Sagen. During his mission, he experiences a bizarre phenomenon in hyperspace where he perceives multiple versions of himself and his ship. Upon returning, he finds that everyone he knew—especially Carolyn—denies her existence, leading him to believe he has slipped into an alternate timeline. As he learns his ship was lost during takeoff, with his original self believed dead, he embarks on a quest to understand the implications of his experiences, the nature of reality, and ultimately seeks to reclaim a love that he believed to have lost. This journey is both a thrilling adventure and a profound exploration of identity and love across the fabric of space and time.