Editing Hyperspace (section)

== Characteristics ==<!--Section title used as anchor for Redirect [[Underspace]: please amend there if altering-->

Hyperspace is typically described as chaotic and confusing to human senses; often at least unpleasant – transitions to or from hyperspace can cause symptoms such as [[nausea]], for example – and in some cases even [[hypnotic]] or dangerous to one's sanity.<ref name=":6" /><ref name="Stableford20063" />{{Rp|238–239}}<ref name="Westfahl2005" />{{rp|405}} Visually, hyperspace is often left to the reader's imagination, or depicted as "a swirling gray mist".<ref name="visual" />{{Rp|75}}<ref name=":6" /> In some works, it is dark.<ref name="Westfahl2005" />{{rp|405}} Exceptions exist; for example, [[John Russell Fearn|John Russel Fearn]]'s ''Waters of Eternity'' (1953) features hyperspace that allows observation of regular space from within.<ref name=":6" />

Many stories feature hyperspace as a dangerous, treacherous place where straying from a preset course can be disastrous. In [[Frederick Pohl]]'s ''[[The Mapmakers (novel)|The Mapmakers]]'' (1955), navigational errors and the perils of hyperspace are one of the main plot-driving elements,<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|72–73}}<ref name="visual" />{{Rp|75}} and in [[John Brunner (novelist)|K. Houston Brunner]]'s ''[[Fiery Pillar]]'' (1955), a ship re-emerges within Earth, causing a catastrophic explosion.<ref name="visual" />{{Rp|75}} In some works, travelling or navigating hyperspace requires not only specialized equipment, but physical or psychological modifications of passengers or at least navigators, as seen in [[Frank Herbert]]'s ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'' (1965), [[Michael Moorcock]]'s ''[[The Sundered Worlds]]'' (1966), [[Vonda N. McIntyre|Vonda McIntyre]]'s ''[[Aztecs (novel)|Aztecs]]'' (1977), and [[David Brin]]'s ''[[The Warm Space]]'' (1985).<ref name="Stableford20063" />

While generally associated with science fiction, hyperspace-like concepts exist in some works of [[fantasy]], particularly ones which involve movement between different worlds or dimensions. Such travel, usually done through portals rather than vehicles, is usually explained through the existence of [[Magic (supernatural)|magic]].<ref name="Westfahl2005" />{{rp|405}}