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Sam Merwin

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The House of Many Worlds Kindle Edition

by Sam Merwin Jr. (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3.8 43 ratings

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THE CLASSIC OF ALTERNATE EARTHS! 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.

Print length

211 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

PageTurner
Publication date

January 6, 2005
File size

366 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FC2PQK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ PageTurner (January 6, 2005)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 6, 2005
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 366 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 211 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #2,797,798 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #100,192 in Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #202,890 in Science Fiction (Books)
- #241,971 in Literature & Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
3.8 43 ratings

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5

43 global ratings

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Rich alternate history since 1958

American history turned inside out, and upside down

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020

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On a personal note, I first read this novel in 1958, my first alternate history novel! ( Later in the year I found the magazine short novel version of " Bring the Jubilee ".... )

Merwin had a BA in history, and his father was a famous historian. He must have had lots of fun dreaming up
" Columbia's " history.... Being magazine editor he knew how to insert information without slowing the story down. A very good example, is the heroine finds that the new Columbia was focused on the American South and South America. Later on, she finds that some areas of the west never became part of Columbia at all. Merwin was also very good at showing how different technologies arose in Columbia, or ones we have, never became wide spread in Columbia.

Some reviewers question how sensitive Merwin was to social issues of 1951.... He put the unmarried couple over night in a hotel room, something shocking in 1951.... Merwin also made plain that Marshall Henry had no actual power, because real political power was completely held in the Oligarchy's hands, not because he was an
Afro-American.... This novel is still what it was written to be in 1951, an enjoyment that also makes the reader think about things.

One person found this helpful

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Robert M.

Classic parallel-universe sci fi - missing Spock with a beard!

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2016

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Quick, breezy sci fi - first published in 1951 although it has a decidedly more modern feel about it - could easily pass for something from the 1960s. I still periodically hear theoretical physicists talk about how every decision may result in two alternate universes splitting off. This book takes that theme and develops it with an organization of Watchers that try to keep the various timelines somewhat under control. The characters are interesting, although some of the action seems a bit strained, like the solutions to the problems in the different worlds are a bit too simplistic. Also there are some terms and characterizations that may offend modern sensibilities. But overall it was an enjoyable read.

2 people found this helpful

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Georgia McNabb

Parallel Worlds, a Old Story Revisited

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2022

I purchased and listened to this on Audible books.
This book was originally written in the 1950s and show our Planet where a major Incident happened and then the worlds both have a different outcome and proceed down different paths. This is a interesting concept and though this story was written 70 yrs ago still has a strong basis for this book. Narrator does a good job with the storyline.

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018

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One world to another of the same yet different possible likenesses is part of what Sam Merwin Jr. has shown in this remarkable story. The characters are exciting and some are lovable while some are like devils. What a truly inspiring story.

One person found this helpful

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Born To Read

fabulously interesting!

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2014

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At first, it takes a while to be used to parallel world traveling. We enter 3 different realities, each a paralel world for Earth. 3 different technologies that they will all agree to share with each other. The mission for our two heroes: become spies on these different planets, the bearers of new technology with their flying machine. There are high danger, passing flings, luxury, good food and heads of states negotiating with their whole government.
I'm not a very big fan of science fiction, i always thought it "out there". But after having read Jules Verne and lived more than 1/2 century, I wonder if science fiction is not the stuff the future is made of...

4 people found this helpful

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Dan S. Tong

Excellent longer short story

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014

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A really great short story which is surprisingly up to date in many ways. Interesting characters and plot with political conditions very relevant to today.

Highly recommended.

3 people found this helpful

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A film and literary fan

A fun read

Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016

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Very interesting plot with enough twists to keep things moving and unexpected. Especially liked that the issue of racism was woven in one of the subplots. It is a short novel, but filled with interesting main characters.

One person found this helpful

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Gagik Shamiryan

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015

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Loved it!

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Top reviews from other countries

Richard R.

"We're in a honey of a jam."

Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2021

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A dated book, that it definitely reads like it was written around 1950. If you need something to pass the time, and don't mind its datedness, this could be a decent 'filler' book.

The premise is an 'infinite Earths' type of universe where travel between parallel worlds occurs at specific, fixed locations - the titular house being one.

The main characters are supposed to have strong and contrasting characters, but lack any sort of chemistry. Once a plot thread gets going, it is fairly predictable - although, there is a very unexpected twist at the end - and the flow from one plot point to the next often feels contrived rather than organic.

Unlike 'great' literature, this story does not explore any deep ideas. There are a number of very progressive ideas - that, perhaps, were shocking for the time but, more likely, reflect ideas that where being talked about / discussed at the time.