Some years ago I read a multi-volume (9 books in 6 bound volumes) science fiction novel in which the protagonist, a nearly middle aged man, finds himself in a parallel world that seems like a fantasy world with magic, etc. It starts to read like an adventure quest but becomes weird. He sometimes passes back to his old world, but where far less time has passed than than in the fantasy world. In the ‘real’ world, he becomes obsessed with what’s happening to his wife (whom he conveniently forgot in the other world), then just as suddenly finds himself back in the fantasy world, where a lot of time has passed and many of his companions there have died. The novel goes on like this for six volumes, with threats to the fantasy world increasing.
Skip this paragraph—it has spoilers. Eventually he sacrifices himself in an attempt to stop what is destroying this world, and that’s that. I was extremely disappointed in this denouement, so I’ve forgotten the title and author, but I’d like to recall it so I can look up any critiques of it.
Does anyone know the book I’m describing? Thanks for any help.
by Veteranis