(Found) SF novel from 60s

[Kyctarniq]

I am looking for the Title and Author of a beloved SF novel that my wife accidentally disposed of and wish to find again.

The novel is about a person who wins an intergalactic Prize. The Prize is a sentient thing that grants “wishes” by moving you to alternate realities.

The Prize is an autovore eating only future versions of itself thus avoiding any guilt over damaging other things.

Eventually the prize winner just wants to go home but finding home is more difficult than expected.

I know this is not much to go on but any help will be wonderful.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

This sounds like Dimension of Miracles (1968) by Robert Sheckley.

Dimension of Miracles - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Thanks to a computer error, Tom Carmody, an unlucky civil servant, wins the main prize of the Galactic Lottery.[2] Being a human from the Earth, he doesn't possess galactic status and shouldn't even be eligible. However, he obtains the Prize before the mistake is found out and is allowed to keep it. That's when his adventure begins, since, not being a space-traveling creature, he has no homing instinct that can guide him back to Earth, and so the galactic lottery organizers cannot transport him home. At the same time, his removal from his home environment has caused, by the 'universal law of predation', a predatory entity to spring into existence that perpetually pursues and aims to destroy him. So Carmody is forced to be on the run, and with the help of his Prize meets several well-meaning (but usually not very competent) aliens that attempt to find where, when and which Earth he belongs on. He ends up transporting from Earth to Earth: different phases and realities of his planet, which of course, is not in the time or condition he expects it to be.

Detailed review here:

SF REVIEWS.NET: Dimension of Miracles / Robert Sheckley ☆☆☆½

A site featuring hundreds of in-depth book reviews for smart, discriminating readers of science fiction and fantasy.

www.sfreviews.net

 

[JunkMonkey]

Seconded. Definitely Dimension of Miracles. A very funny book.

 

[Kyctarniq]

Thank you so much! I lost my copy and have long sought to replace it. I want to reread it. I found the dystopias shown in the novel to be frighteningly prescient. I wish to refresh my fond memory of the book.

 

[BAYLOR]

This sounds like Dimension of Miracles (1968) by Robert Sheckley.

Dimension of Miracles - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Detailed review here:

SF REVIEWS.NET: Dimension of Miracles / Robert Sheckley ☆☆☆½

A site featuring hundreds of in-depth book reviews for smart, discriminating readers of science fiction and fantasy.

www.sfreviews.net

Wow, ive never heard ot this . It sounds like fun !

It's available on amazon .

 

[hitmouse]

Excellent book. Worth comparing to Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I like Sheckley.