Review of ‘The Space Between Worlds’ by Micaiah Johnson. Discover the gripping sci-fi debut that explores identity, privilege, and survival through a thrilling multiverse adventure. With a thought-provoking premise, a richly diverse cast, and a unique take on interdimensional travel, this novel offers a compelling blend of action, philosophy, and emotional depth. If you love speculative fiction that challenges fate and power, this is a must-read.
‘The Space Between Worlds’ by Micaiah Johnson is a mind-bending sci-fi debut that explores identity, privilege, and survival through a gripping multiverse adventure
Synopsis
‘Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.
On this Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now she has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.
But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world, but the entire multiverse.
Review
Micaiah Johnson’s The Space Between Worlds is a thought-provoking sci-fi debut that dives deep into identity, privilege, and survival across multiple realities. The premise is instantly gripping—a world where interdimensional travel is possible, but only if your parallel selves are already dead. Cara, our protagonist, is uniquely suited for this dangerous job because in 372 of the 380 known universes, she no longer exists.
The plot is fascinating, but I won’t pretend the beginning wasn’t a bit of a challenge. The world-building is dense, and the mechanics of the multiverse take some effort to fully grasp. There were moments I had to push through, but once the story settled into its rhythm, it became much easier to follow. The second half, in particular, was where the book truly shined, delivering an engaging, fast-paced experience that had me hooked.
The multiverse concept is one of the book’s strongest elements, though I found myself wanting more from it. The worlds we do explore are interesting, but I would have loved to see an even wider variety of alternate realities. The potential for truly wild, unpredictable differences between universes was there, but the story kept things relatively contained. Even so, Johnson’s take on the multiverse still feels fresh, and the way it ties into themes of class, power, and fate makes it a compelling read.
One of the book’s biggest highlights is its diverse and well-developed cast. Cara is a flawed but deeply compelling protagonist, and I loved the contrast between her rough upbringing and the more privileged existence of some of her alternate selves. Dell, her sharp and enigmatic handler, was another standout. Their dynamic had so much tension, and I was thrilled to see a queer romance at the heart of a sci-fi story. The relationships in this book—both romantic and platonic—are layered and complex, making every interaction feel meaningful.
The ending could have been a little more fleshed out. After all the buildup, things wrapped up a bit too quickly for my liking, leaving me wishing for just a little more time to absorb the resolution. It wasn’t unsatisfying, just a little rushed compared to the rest of the book.
Final thoughts
Definitely. The Space Between Worlds is a unique and ambitious debut that combines high-concept sci-fi with deeply personal storytelling. It requires some patience at the start, but the payoff is well worth it. If you’re into multiverse stories, morally complex characters, and thought-provoking themes, this one is worth picking up.
Rating
7,5/10
Details
- Trigger Warnings: Violence, death, class oppression, abusive relationships (emotional and physical), trauma, and discussions of privilege and marginalization.
- Themes: The story prominently features themes of identity, privilege, fate, survival, and the consequences of power. It also explores the complexities of personal agency and the impact of systemic inequality across different worlds.
- Representation: The book includes a diverse cast with strong LGBTQ+ representation, particularly a sapphic main relationship. It also highlights characters from varied racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, offering a nuanced look at privilege and marginalization within a sci-fi setting.
- Pages: 329
- Publication date: Augustus 4, 2020
- Publisher: Del Rey
- About the author: Micaiah Johnson was raised in California’s Mojave Desert surrounded by trees named Joshua and women who told stories.
- She received her Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside and her Master of Fine Arts in fiction from Rutgers-Camden. She now studies American Literature at Vanderbilt University where she focuses on critical race theory… and automatons.
heavenlybookish 