SOLVED. 1970s? Adult sci-fi novel—multiple worlds within a world, MC a centaur, one world has sentient plants, another anaerobic lifeforms. Spoilers in description. [s]

[Skwarepeg]

I remember reading more than one of the series and that the cover art was some of that cheesy stereotypical old-school sci fi cover art (think Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series) IIRC, but I could be wrong. There was something about entering the world through some sort of elevator/turnstile/chute thing? And when all was said and done, apparently the world was set up but *someone* but I don’t remember who.

The planet or world has boundaries that divide the world into sub-worlds with different dominant species. I remember the sentient plants, and at the end a meeting with the anaerobic species, which was rather tricky. Haha!

It’s driving me crazy trying to find this.... you’d think this combination of keywords would make it an easy find, but no luck for me.

Oh! I believe the author was male. (70s-ish sci-fi, duh, lol!)

[Conal]

As a guess, Midnight at the Well of Souls

[Skwarepeg]

Excellent guess! That’s it! Have you read it and recognized it? Or did you search?

[Skwarepeg]

Thanks very much!! That was much quicker than I expected. :)

[Scott]

The original cover is better.

[Conal]

Thanks, I read this back in the 80's so not all the details are fresh. I was pretty sure from the centaur and the different worlds separated by barriers. I read a lot of Jack Chalker back then. I would recommend the The Four Lords of the Diamond if you haven't read it yet.

[Skwarepeg]

How do I link to Midnight at the Well of Souls? I changed my cover to the original to see if this is the one you mean, Scott. This is the one I remember....

[Conal]

There is,an add book/author link right above the comment box on the website version. I don't think it is there on the app. I believe you mean this cover...

[Scott]

Yes I like that one better. Personal preference of course.

[Skwarepeg]

Yep! That’s the one! 😜