SOLVED. YA SciFi: Only certain navigators can view hyperspace [s]

[Jeff]

I listened to this story in audiobook format. It was about twenty years ago (I was about 7).


I can't remember much, but the clearest thing I remember about the story was that the main character had a chance to be on the bridge when the starship went into hyperspace (light speed), and that the character glanced at the navigation screen and thought hyperspace was beautiful. She (I think it was a she) could view it, whereas it made most people really sick.

The main character was a young teen, and I vaguely remember her witnessing a murder aboard a space station.

Thanks for any help finding this novel. Sorry for such vague details.

[Janelle]

It could be The Dream Voyagers by T Davis Bunn. He initially published this under a pseudonym as a series of novellas. This version is a more recent bundling of these books together in one volume.

[Kris]

The Dream Voyagers by T. Davis Bunn for the link.

[Mir]

Falcon had special hyperspace that only some people could navigate. I think the navigators had to take a drug or get some medical modification. The main character was a guy and I think his family was murdered near the beginning. I read it long ago and don't remember other details, sorry.

[Ben]

Hey, I'm pretty sure I remember reading this same book. I don't remember the title but it's definitely not The Dream Voyagers. A few more details I remember are that when she boarded the ship, she witnessed an alien being treated poorly and feeling badly for him. The alien was on the cover of the book as well as a red planet, I believe. Also, I believe she described hyperspace as having lots of colorful geometric shapes like glowing yellow spirals and whatnot. Are we talking about the same book? I'm looking for it too and I can't find anything about it anywhere.

[Jeff]

Ben,

That rings a bell!

And thanks for all the help everybody! I don't think it's the Dream Voyagers. I'll look into the Falcon.

[Summer]

I think I remember this too. Was there something about the usual navigator getting sick or blind or something, and she had to help steer the ship?
It has been a long time since I read it, but I think it might be Alien Secrets by Anette Curtis Klause.

[Kris]

Alien Secrets by Annette Curtis Klause for Summer's suggestion.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

The Game of Rat and Dragon possibly? (If not, you might like this one anyway)

And I too remember reading the book you guys are describing. But, if it's not the book I suggested, I have no idea of the title either.

[Summer]

Alright, I have good news for you. I went to the library and got a copy of Alien Secrets by Annette Curtis Klause, and I am confident it's a match.

The cover has an alien, a teenager, and a red planet.
There's discrimination against aliens, the teen protag witnessing a murder, and hyperspace making everyone but navigators sick.

Does this sound familiar:

Puck tipped her head back, and the sight took her breath away. They were gliding toward a smokelike misty blue trail. Beyond towered a huge orange spiral. The colors made her tingle.
Owen groaned and rubbed his head. "It does look the same in the opposite direction," he said to Michael. "Only sort of inside out, not backward."
"But there was nothing like this green barbed-wire stuff going the other way," Michael said.
"Green?" Puck said. "That's blue mist."

Further hyperspace coordinates include "orange corkscrew with a green cone going into its center," "fuzzy whirlwind," "maze with a black doorway," "silver-green open space," "rose sky shot with gold," "birthday cake," "long line of purple clouds," "solid wall patterned with blue sparks," and "chicken soup."

[Jeff]

Summer, thank you so much!

[Summer]

Welcome!

[☯ DαякєηRнαℓ ❛ ᶜʳᵒᵘᶜʰᶤᶰᵍ ʰᵘᵐᵃᶰ ; ʰᶤᵈᵈᵉᶰ ᵗᶤᵗᵃᶰ ❜]

- just so everyone knows :)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Great to get this 2 year old request solved. This has actually been requested 3x before.