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Paths to otherwhere

by james p. Hogan

 

     James P. Hogan is a much under-appreciated writer. He is prolific and writes well researched, pretty darned hard science fiction. The science in and of itself is a major character in his books, but only as a canvas against which the human drama unfolds. Mr. Hogan's dramas are almost always morality plays giving each book a definite villain and a definite hero...or are they?

     While not a new concept, Mr. Hogan explores alternate universes in Paths to Otherwhere from the perspective of several individuals and from corporate and government outlooks. People from the 'real' world can exist in these alternate universes, but only by inhabiting the body of someone in the alternate reality. And no two realities are exactly the same. They are all 'us', but with sometimes subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle differences. What is the right thing to do? What is the moral thing to do in a situation that has no moral history? What would you do?

    These are not unusual questions for a Hogan theme, but the story is unique and the characters, while somewhat hollow, are believable. All in all, I didn't have any trouble reading it. Its good book club material for the morality issues alone. Fortunately, its also a good read.