# Stories with people transported to other worlds **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269 "2009-02-24T20:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/21 "2009-02-24T22:52:42Z")
Surprised no one’s mentioned Slaughterhouse-Five yet. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/22 "2009-02-24T22:55:09Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I’ll mention Dan Simmons’ **Ilium** and **Olympos** books, but only if you promise me you won’t read them. Wait. **Ilium** is awesome. **Olympos** however I couldn’t even finish–and that’s saying something. But **Ilium** was awesome. I don’t know if I can recommend an awesome book, though, if its sequel–which needs to be read if the story is to be complete, in this case–sucks so badly. -FrL- By the way, one thing I like about **Ilium** is the way the book contains several internal inconsistencies. See, I like this because one of the topics of discussion throughout the book involves the way classic works have used such inconsistencies to drive the reader to experience the work’s message more viscerally. Did Simmons do this on purpose? I thought so, but apparently, as far as I can tell from all discussions of the book I’ve ever read, not. But damn the author. There is no author. There is only the text. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/23 "2009-02-24T22:58:24Z")
Andre Norton’s _Witchworld_ series. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/24 "2009-02-24T23:31:30Z")
Architect Of Sleep Man finds himself transported to an earth where raccoons are the intelligent species. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/25 "2009-02-24T23:38:49Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Wait. **Ilium** is awesome. > > **Olympos** however I couldn’t even finish–and that’s saying something. > > But **Ilium** was awesome. Part of it was my fault - I didn’t know while reading **Ilium** that there was a 700 page sequel I had to read after finishing it. I was not at all pleased after turning to page 751 to see “To be continued…in **Olympos**!” After choking **Olympos** down (and throwing it across the room several times) I was pretty sour on the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/26 "2009-02-24T23:40:35Z")
I’ll throw in the _Wiz Zumwalt_ series. Programmer gets summoned to a fantasy-type world, treats magic like programming (using little spells to cast bigger spells, building it all up from pieces) and gets the girl. Cheesy as hell, but fun. I’ve only read the first two, though. ---
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/27 "2009-02-24T23:55:45Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Architect Of Sleep > > Man finds himself transported to an earth where raccoons are the intelligent species. Now _there’s_ a book I’ll have to track down… 😃 Actually reminds me of another book of which I can’t recall the name where a scientist finds himself transported into a world where Neanderthals are the dominant species. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/28 "2009-02-25T00:00:51Z")
These are great books. I linked to the Baen Books free library. [Pyramid Scheme by Dave Freer and Eric Flint](http://www.baen.com/library/) Travel trough a universe created by invading aliens and peopled by gods and creatures from different civilizations. Humorous! Time Traders by Andre Norton is really good series too and free following the link above. Travel through time gates into the past to beat the Ruskies in a cold war world. The prize is alien booty from the past. Off world travel in some books of the series. Wizard’s Bane by Rice Cook is another series on that site for free. Get transported into a magical realm to save it. It has magic computer nerds. Read Abraham Merritt. The Pool of the Stone God It has a moon god, high tech disintegraters the size of a lipstick tube and flying cars. There are ancient gods from the beginning of time and genetic tampering. Moon energy. Dwellers in the Mirage In the North there is found a land that is hidden where the Nordic people went. Dwarfs and mystic powers of drums fight the Kraken god and the old people of the ruling class. The Face In The Abyss An expedition set out to find the famous hidden Inca gold. They end up in a strange land with a civilization in decline from when Antarctica was a tropical land. Genetic manipulation and high tech devices abound. This one is heavily stolen from by people. You will likely notice the X-men cartoons stole this world even using the same names for critical people. The Metal Monster In the Andes an explorer is searching for the blue poppy. He runs into an old friend’s expedition that is running from the lost people of ancient Mongolia. They then meet a human with semigod powers and go into a hidden place with living machines. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/29 "2009-02-25T00:03:28Z")
The **Gor** books by John Norman **A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court** **Flash Gordon** ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/30 "2009-02-25T00:38:54Z")
The [Saga of the Well World](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_World) series by Jack L. Chalker. The [Four Lords of the Diamond](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith:_A_Snake_in_the_Grass) series by author Jack L. Chalker. The [Ring World](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringworld) series by Larry Niven. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/31 "2009-02-25T00:52:08Z")
The Harold Shea stories by the great L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt. (The first three, anyway, are great fun.) ---
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/32 "2009-02-25T00:53:42Z")
_Stardust_ (arguably), _Coraline_ (also kinda arguably). _The Book of Lost Things_ (also, arguably–it could be said that David never left the garden). [Erfworld](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0001.html#), definitely. Also, [time-traveling Vikings](http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Unchained-Time-Travel-Sandra-Hill/dp/0425222950). Also, the Disney movie _Enchanted_ had a reversal of this: characters from a fantasy world came to the real world. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/33 "2009-02-25T01:03:51Z")
[QUOTE=Buran;] Doesn’t necessarily have to be novels either, the computer game ‘Another World’ _(I believe it may have had a different title in the US)_ had the basic premise of a particle-physicist transported to an alien world after an unfortunate accident with a particle-accelerator. [/QUOTE] I believe it was also released as Out Of This World. I agree, it’s a great game. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/34 "2009-02-25T01:20:24Z")
Little, Big, though almost all of it occurs on Earth World of the Imperium by Keith Laumer The Girl in the Golden Atom, an early classic sci fi story, [available here from Project Gutenberg for free.](http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/21094) Has anyone mentioned “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”? In hentai, the “Slavegirl Maia” episodes of “Cool Devices.” In the South Park series, a hilarious two-parter about “Imagination Land.” I want to second the “Witch World” series, the first book of it especially. And among the Gor novels, the particular books to look for with transportees are Tarnsman of Gor, Captive of Gor, Slave Girl of Gor, Dancer of Gor and Kajira of Gor. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/35 "2009-02-25T01:39:18Z")
Kids’ stories: [Everworld](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everworld) by K. A. Applegate When one friend is accidentally transported to another land, her friends try to rescue her. The [Young Wizards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Wizards) series by Diane Duane Nita and Kit are studying to become full-fledged wizards. Their adventures have them leave Earth more than once. The [Pendragon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pendragon_Adventure) series by D. J. MacHale A boy and his uncle are “travellers” who try to help on the side of good in various other worlds. [Time Quartet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Quartet) by Madeleine L’Engle [The Tenth Kingdom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Kingdom) A woman and her father accidentally end up in the realm of fairytales. Pretty much the exact opposite of “Enchanted.” (like Enchanted, this mini-series is meant for all ages) The[Gemma Doyle Trilogy](http://www.libbabray.com/LBWriting.html) by Libba Bray Gemma and her friends discover a way to enter a parallel world. One that is both seductive and dangerous. For Grown Ups: The [Veil](http://www.christophergolden.com/veil.html) series by Christopher Golden Oliver helps Jack Frost escape a hunter, and ends up going through a veil - into the land where legends and myths have been banished to. The only problem is only legends can go back and forth between two worlds on their own, and people like Oliver’s fiancee who comes through to look for him can never go home. The [Cal Leandros](http://www.robthurman.net/) series by Rob Thurman Cal is half elf, and not the cute or dignified kind. They’re the kind with sharp teeth and an appetite for murder. Cal ends up being kidnapped by them and dragged into their world twice. [Rose Madder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Madder_(novel)) by Stephen King An abused woman discovers that a painting is a doorway. [The Tailsman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talisman_(1984_novel)) by Stephen King and Peter Straub Young Jack Sawyer is desperate to help his sick mother, and finds himself moving between two worlds. Skip the sequel “Black House.” Really. If we suppose that alternate timelines existing at the same time as ours is another dimension/world, there’s also [Timeline](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_(novel)) by Michael Crichton and [Kindred](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred_(novel)) by Octavia Butler. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/36 "2009-02-25T01:47:21Z")
_Maker of Universes_ by PJ Farmer _Nine Princes in Amber_ by Roger Zelazny arguably qualifies. And both novels were influenced by each other (a series of back-and-forth letters by both authors). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/37 "2009-02-25T01:48:24Z")
_Pebble in the Sky_ by Isaac Asimov - a contemporary guy is transported to a distant-future Earth _The Lost Regiment_ series by William R. Fortschen - a Union regiment finds itself in a world similar to medieval Russia, but with a big nasty lizard-race about to attack ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/38 "2009-02-25T01:53:47Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Architect Of Sleep > > Man finds himself transported to an earth where raccoons are the intelligent species. Omigawd. :eek: You are the only other person I know who’s read this besides me and my son. The author never wrote the sequel, did he? We looked for years, but as far as I know, it was never written or if it was, it was never published. Stephen Boyett. Wasn’t that his name? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/39 "2009-02-25T01:57:52Z")
_The Doomfarers of Caramonde_ wasn’t too bad. I liked it enough to read the sequel. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269/40 "2009-02-25T01:58:29Z")
I haven’t looked for a sequel, really. I suspect one was intended. Non-spoiler The book ends (IIRC) with a very important prophetic dream which we never get interpreted for us, like all the other dreams have been. There are all kinds of other little touches which point to a sequel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-with-people-transported-to-other-worlds/487269.md?page=3)