I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Products | Children's science fiction novel |
I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X represents the second installment in Bruce Coville's children's sci-fi series Rod Allbright's Alien Adventures, originally released in 1994.
Plot summary
The narrative picks up with Rod and the crew aboard the Galactic Patrol vessel Ferkel confronting fresh dangers. Smorkus Flinders, an associate of the antagonist BKR, captures Rod along with his cousin Elspeth as bait to draw out the Ferkel team. Following their liberation, damage to the Ferkel compels the crew to abandon ship, leaving them stranded.
After their companion Snout vanishes, the group of seven survivors receives assistance from Galuspa, a Shapeshifter native to Dimension X. Galuspa leads them to the Valley of the Shapeshifters where they encounter the Ting Wongovia. Rod acquires a new ally—a Chibling—and begins martial arts training under Tar Gibbons, who invites Rod to become his "Krevlik" (apprentice). They uncover that BKR has been moved to a sister ship designated for prison transport and that the crew risked an ambush during his rescue.
The Ting Wongovia discloses he is Snout’s egg brother and recounts Smorkus Flinders’ tragic history: transformed into a monstrous being by a Reality Quake and partially driven mad while ruling the Valley of the Monsters. Smorkus and BKR intend to forge a lasting rift between Dimension X—source of Reality Quakes—and Dimension Q, which encompasses Earth and the Galactic Patrol territories. This breach would unleash Reality Quakes on Earth, threatening the fabric of reality itself. Motivated by vengeance for his cursed existence, Smorkus seeks retribution; BKR desires widespread chaos despite personal danger.
To prevent this catastrophe, the Ferkel crew forms an alliance with Shapeshifters, the Ting Wongovia, and reluctantly includes Elspeth. Supported by Spar Kellis—a massive blue creature spying for Ting Wongovia—they return to Castle Chaos for a decisive showdown.
During the conflict, Rod enlarges to giant proportions to overcome Smorkus Flinders. He establishes telepathic contact with Snout, discovering that Snout is held captive by the "Ferkada," and learns that Smorkus possesses knowledge about Rod’s father. After losing consciousness, Rod awakens to find Smorkus imprisoned and realizes their crash was orchestrated to locate another alien—Rod’s father.
With these insights, Rod readies himself to return home but gifts his sneakers to Spar Kellis. Telling his mother he left them in Dimension X now seems trivial compared to everything else that has transpired.
Other books in the series
- Aliens Ate My Homework
- The Search for Snout (UK title: Aliens Stole My Dad)
- Aliens Stole My Body