Imagine discovering how to get to all the other worlds theorized by the Many Worlds theory found in quantum mechanics. In Paths to Otherwhere, this is exactly what has happened. There are worlds better than our own and worse.

The world looks like a major war is going to happen, and soon. The discovery that scientists can send their minds into the minds of their other selves in other universes opens up a new world of spying and paranoia. But it also opens a path to a peaceful world, one where humanity has learned to live peacefully.

To enjoy Paths to Otherwhere, as with many of Hogan's other stories, there are two requirements. First is that you enjoy hard SF, as Hogan loves to talk about the science side of things. Second is that you are used to his utopian societies that he often uses, where people contribute to society so that they are needed, and there is no such thing as greed for motivation or a need to be exceedingly competitive, getting ahead of everyone else and so forth.

However, I do enjoy these stories. I can't believe in that kind of world; of course, being pretty competitive myself I doubt I'd be comfortable.

Paths to Otherwhere also explores the ethics of taking over the minds of people in alternate universes. Not that the government(s) in this story cares to act ethically, since they see survival at stake.