Renaissance, or Man of Two Worlds (Electronic book text)

"ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE SF NOVELS WE EVER PUBLISHED!" (ANALOG) The Science Fiction Encyclopedia calls Renaissance Raymond F. Jones' "best novel" and lauds it as a "parallel-worlds adventure with an exciting narrative and a number of lively variations on favorite sf themes." Analog describes the plot this way: ."a strangely moving book [with] a drive and sweep of imagination which [tells] a story of two worlds--the remnants of a self-destroyed Earth, and Kronweld, the strangely tortured world in another plane to which mankind has exiled the most promising of his scientists-to-be. Through a hundred thousand years or more the two worlds have struggled upward along divergent paths--Kronweld a world without birth, save through the fiery curtain of the Temple, a world dedicated to Seeking yet barred by custom and religion from searching out the truths of life, the stars, and its own origins--Earth torn by its own inner conflicts, half-aware of its child-world half-afraid of what may come out for it. And in the tortuous relationship among the people of the tale, it is never quite certain who's of what world, of what persuasion, or of what intent. Ketan, the hero, driven by his dreams; Elta, lover and determined enemy; old Matra of the Temple; the fantastic Richard Simons and the even more unbelievable Dorien; and behind them all the mystery of Igon, first of Kronweld to pierce the Edge which separates Kronweld from Earth. This is the kind of tale which has a touch of The Moon Pool and The Blind Spot in it, and of The Night Land. You'll probably like it very much.."