THE SPACE BETWEEN WORLDS

Johnson’s world-hopping debut uses science fictional tools and an exciting plot to address urgent questions of privilege and position.

In a desolate post-apocalyptic future, narrator Cara is a “traverser” for the Eldridge Institute of Earth Zero, which has discovered 382 alternate worlds. Because interworld travel is lethal to would-be traversers who have “dops” still alive on the Earth they’re visiting, Eldridge employs “trash people” who have died on most other worlds and can therefore survive travel to other realities. Cara, who hails from a bleak wasteland dominated by sinister emperor Nik Nik, has died on almost every known world. When Cara visits an Earth very different from her home, she makes discoveries that could change multiple worlds. Even on Earth Zero, Cara lives an in-between life; her black skin and Ashtown heritage mark her as an outsider in the domed confines of glittering and exclusive Wiley City and may make impossible her dreams of romance with her beautiful handler, Dell. Johnson employs Cara’s situation to forthrightly examine questions of privilege, trauma, assimilation, colonialism, and upbringing. While the story takes time to get going and certain aspects of the setting feel derivative, the characters, voice, and twists all demand readers’ attention.

A compelling stand-alone debut that will leave readers thrilled, thoughtful, and anticipating the author’s next book.