Synopsis: These Strange Worlds
There are many millions of parallel universes, each with a different place, a different time, or even a different set of natural laws. Nobody knows who created the Strange Worlds tunnel system, three immensely long tunnels, each containing mysterious doors. The three tunnel systems are designated Yellow, Blue, and Red and intersect at Nexus City. Yellow contains doors to the past, often where history has developed along new paths. The Blue doors connect to future eras. The Red doors connect to locations on a single world where magic works.
Most of the multi-cultural, affluent, even self indulgent inhabitants of Nexus City are concerned with making money, gaining power, or experiencing exotic entertainment -- none more exotic than games, contests, and even combat in the Nexus City Arena. One group -- the Zone Pioneers -- leverages its wealth and power to create a team of children trained to travel the three tunnels rescuing those in need. Zone Pioneers each carry a "Compendium of Useful Information Concerning Our Strange Worlds." These mysterious books help orient and guide Zone Pioneers (and the reader).
Across the many realities, hundreds of young candidates receive invitations to join the Zone Pioneers. All are orphans, all are twelve or thirteen years old, and all share a love for fantastic literature or science fiction. "These Strange Worlds" focuses on six new recruits -- Candidates who have been invited to join the Zone Pioneers during the current 'Phase of Doors.'
"Book One: Strange Worlds Doors" describes their invitations, their travels to Nexus City, the formation of their Hexagon (a team of six), their selection of a guide, and their adventures during the first few days after their meeting. "Book Two: Strange Worlds Yellow" describes their adventures in the alternative past realities of the Yellow tunnel. Subsequent books will describe their early adventures in Strange World Red and then Blue.
Copyright 2008 Donald Saxman
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Dramatis Personae
Zone Pioneer Candidates, Thirty-First Phase of Doors
- Aileen (Blue, Helium II, New Mars, Circa 2095 AD)
- Amanda Harp (Yellow, Bedford, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Anton Wulf (Blue, Peggy Plex, Hundred Suns, circa 2638 AD)
- Big Girl (Red, Trom, Burdia, circa 2007 EH)
- Blackgem (Red, Oxford Chase, Avalon, circa 2007 EH)
- Constance (Cobra) Carter (Blue, Miami, New Confederacy, circa 2044 AD)
- Eric Marsh (Red, Osage, Ilastia, circa 2007 EH)
- Ivan Zelen Zolen Gregori (Yellow, Prosnoz, Russia, circa 1896 AD)
- Kaal Tiig the Zyan (Blue, Zyan IV, circa 2044 AD)
- Leuring (Blue, The Grey Dinosaur, Hundred Suns, circa 2638 AD)
- Milvia d'Carmina Idealia (Yellow, Prato, Holy Roman Empire, circa 1352 AD)
- (Nerdy) Aaron Reid (Yellow, Passaic, New Jersey, circa 2008 AD)
- (Quick Draw) Dustu Cho (Yellow, Denver, Colorado, circa 1871 AD)
- Reep (Blue, Pam Plex, Hundred Suns, circa 2638 AD)
- Rose (Red, Skorjin Fjord, Burdia, circa 2007 EH)
- Sleek Fur the Bear (Red, the Parchland Wastes, circa 2007 EH)
- Talks-to-Self (Yellow, Ancient Flores, circa 60,000 BC)
- Taramandal Pet (Yellow, Seringapatam India, circa 1799 AD)
Zone Pioneer Guides and Personnel
- Carnivore (Blue, Construct, Crescent Moon Hexagon Guide, circa 2044 AD)
- Cedric the Red (Red, Human, Propeller Hexagon Guide, Avalon, circa 2007 EH)
- Dame Fitzsimmons-Worthy (Red, Trodon, Castle Hexagon Guide, Parchland Wastes, circa 2007 EH)
- Erma Boone (Human, Runner and Administrative Assistant, Nexus City)
- Professor Donald (The Founder) Rieke (Yellow, Human professor, California, Earth, circa 1976 AD)
- Rosin the Bow (Human, would-be Guide and Founder's assistant) (Yellow, Ireland, circa 1640 AD)
- Sam the Nanotinker (and Normandy) (Blue, Human, Acorn Hexagon Guide, Hundred Suns, circa 2638 AD)
Various Inhabitants of Blue
- Avestor Wulf (Shade and Anton's father, Peggy Plex, , Hundred Suns, circa 2638 AD)
- Captain Blackout (Blue, Unique Superhero & Tech Cop Consul, circa 2044 AD)
- Mayor Detroit (Blue, Human, Peggy Plex Mayor, Hundred Suns, circa 2638 AD)
- Pecos Cowgirl (Blue, Unique Superhero, circa 2044 AD)
- Tech Cop Wilson Borden (Blue, Human, Tech Cop Officer, circa 2044 AD)
- The Spring Harvester (Blue, Toolmaster & Serial Killer, Miami, circa 2036 AD)
Various Inhabitants of Red
- Antimony (Pelman Mayor, Osage, Ilastia, circa 2007 EH)
- Berringer the Bard (Bard, ex-Zone Pioneer Guide, Ilastia, circa 2007 EH)
- Clint-Click (Cephalopod saleperson, Offshore, Avalon, circa 2007 EH)
- Heinlein the Black (Timeless Emperor and Mage, circa 2007 EH)
- Hoblin King (Commander of the Parchland Waste Invasion, circa 2007 EH)
- Master John March (Head of the Osage Arrowhead Guide & Eric's Step father, Osage, Ilastia, circa 2007 EH)
- Mrs. (Karla) John Marsh (Eric's step mother, ex Zone Pioneer, Osage, Ilastia, circa 2007 EH)
- Tom, the Graveler's Son (Burdia, circa 2007 EH)
Various Inhabitants of Yellow
- (Bad) John Hugo (Pirate, Boston, circa 1825 AD)
- Bidzel of the Black Streaked Clan (Native American Freedom Fighter, Wupatki, Arizona, circa 1881 AD)
- Bill Neal (Amanda's (ex) boy friend, Bedford, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Captain Bob Blackwell (Unreality Battlelab, Crane, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Click-Bun-Tap (Uluru, Australia, circa 900 AD)
- Ginger Channing (Amanda's (ex) girl friend, Bedford, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Gorgo the monkey (Chicago, IL, circa 1960 AD)
- Komodo dragon (Enchanted animal ambassador, Ancient Flores, circa 60,000 BC)
- Lieutenant Robert (Lucky) Harp (Amanda's brother, Crane, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Lori Alfami (Eagle River, WI, circa 1999 AD)
- Pygmy elephant (Enchanted animal ambassador, Ancient Flores, circa 60,000 BC)
- Quarterman wife (Ancient Flores, circa 60,000 BC)
- Sergeant Krammer (Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center Military Police, Crane, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Sheriff Frank Neal (Bill Neal's father, Bedford, Indiana, circa 1965 AD)
- Shibia (Bithynia, circa AD 126)
- Tech Sergeant Doug Dougherty (HRM Navy, seconded to Unreality Battlelab, Scotland, circa 1965 AD)
- Vibius Valerius (Bithynia, circa AD 126)
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