Miniature universe created in Laboratory?

[Duncanidaho]

Hi All,
Well I've been trying to hunt down a novel I believe I first read about 1980, though suspect it was from late 60's or 70s. I lent it out and unfortunately lost touch with it but think it was called something like ‘Shards of Time’. Don't recall the author.
Plot line is as follows, Dinosaurs seen in upstate New York, journalist & photographer sent to investigate. They find secret lab in which a miniature universe has been created, held by powerful magnetic fields (guess they'd have to be) and the universe which is formed within them is doing so within its own time continuum (not sure this is correct terminology), Anyway, mirages from the newly created universe are appearing in ours, hence dinosaurs
Scientists study the developing universe and solar systems through super microscope/telescopes and then find they form similar mental connections as the mirages but with people on the developing planets. However the trance/connection they fall into lasts only minutes in our universe but weeks, /months/years in the miniature universe and so the characters live lives as others in the miniature universe and start to affect the evolution of societies and even ultimately the fate of the expanding then contracting mini universe.
Could go on about the universe contracting cults that develop toward the end of the novel and generations of people building giant space ships that circle the solar systems in order to build up to FLS and break out of their space time continuum before it collapses , but won’t.
Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks
Duncanidaho

 

[wwsierra]

I believe this is "Edge of Time" by David Grinnell. I didn't remember the first part in your description, but I do remember the other parts of it. I read this as part of an ACE SF double (published 1958) a long time ago and recently purchased on old copy of this ACE double so I can read it again, as it was one of my favorites at the time. And, yes, the description on the lead in page talks about Warren Alton going to upper New York to investigate reports of dinosaurs and flying lizards.

Hope this is the one you are looking for.

 

[Duncanidaho]

Hi Wwsierra,
Thanks so much, I'd sort of set myself a game of hunting this book down in second hand book shops but as the years have gone by, close to thirty, without success and I told so many friends about it, it just became frustrating. So just the other evening I thought I'd join this forum just to try one last avenue to find it and then in just 24hours you've provided the details that will allow me to get it, thanks a lot, really, really appreciate it.

It's funny you know, I thought when I wrote out the description that it could have been published earlier but didn't quite trust my memory after so long, but I know I loved the story, never forgotten that.

Thanks again.
Duncanidaho.