I read a book years ago, something about "stringers" being able to follow lines others can't see and they are able to lead others to different worlds or spaces.  Sorry to be so vague.  Anybody have any ideas?  I believe this was either SF or Fantasy.

Thanks,

Dogmommy

This makes me think of the Mage World books by Doyle and MacDonald.  The Stars Asunder # 9780812571929.  But that doesn't feel like it quite fits. 

The idea shows up several times that I remember.  There is the Mage World.  Then in The Thread That Binds The Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman.  And I vaguely remember one about a woman pilot who has her heart replaced by a machine.  That was an older book by a woman, keep thinking one of the early women writers like Tanith Lee or C J Cherryh.   And one of Kate Elliot's early books also has such a pilot, the last of the Highroad books,  The Price of Ransom.

this is only from 2000, but "The Bridge"  by Janine Ellen Young (0446607991) kind of fits your description.  Encrypted microscopic Alien genetic "greetings" rain down on Earth. When inhaled, it kills the vast majority of its hosts (think the end of humanity). The survivors can "see" a pathway to other worlds and their minds are changed on a molecular level.

It reads better then it sounds.

Mario -

I *really* liked The Bridge ... it's one of my Keepers. Thanks for reminding me of it - it's time for a re-read!

(I ran into the author and her husband at a convention right after the book came out. I proceeded to be an excited Fan-girl, and she got all excited because someone liked it. I'll never forget that.)

I also have The Bridge on my keeper shelf.  Has anyone read Cinderblock?  Her first book?  Any good?