While every one of the earlier novels of this series deals with temporal variations upon reality and parallel/alternate reality (PAR) themes, Alternatives is the first to take a much further step away from the parallel and toward the alternate reality theme. 

   The difference between parallel and alternate themes is one of degree; the parallel reality has much in common with the original reality, such that the differences are so subtle as to be almost unnoticed, whereas the differences between the alternate and the original are much more obvious, although there may still be many similarities.  In contrast, for example, a man transported from the original to a parallel may not take notice of any differences for days, possibly even longer,  whereas,  a man transported from the original to an alternate will take notice almost immediately,  just seconds or minutes later.  As for any presumption of the change being bad or good, that is a variable that can only be based upon the original reality to begin with.  After all, bad and good are relative states dependant on an individual's perspective.  Reality is subject to such a variable perspective.

   In Alternatives, Madkro originally finds himself in a setting not too different from Tsv-03,  A Torn Earth is Terra,  as a rebel up against corrupt elements of the local law, only rather than being located in the suburbs of the town where he was raised as a child, he is on the wrong side of the tracks in the big city.   He went there looking for Lisa, who was working at a night-club,  just as she was in Tsv-01 (Catch-98)  and  Tsv-02  (The Illusive R-Wing).  His connection with Lisa did not go well,  as it had problems before,  with fascist elements.

   The result this time is,  Madkro is bounced out the door onto the street, after which he is chased by local cops.  It should be well-known by readers of this series that Madkro often finds himself in such dangerous scenarios and one can assume that Madkro has enough enemies to keep him busy and there really need not be any detailed explanation of exactly why some party might be chasing him.  This is well-explained already in the Tsv-02 introduction and may be understood better through Tsv-03.  Suffice it to say that Madkro's problems are quite complicated, more so where his relationship with Lisa is concerned, due to the fact that Lisa has had many other boyfriends during his misplaced adventures across the temspace lines.

   So, Alternatives begins with the presumption that Madkro has been once again misplaced and has gone looking for Lisa in the big city, after which he runs into trouble with the local cops and is put on the run.  But the really big change hasn't yet occurred and he soon realizes that the cops have chased him through a parallel maze into an even more extreme alternate reality.  And that's where the story begins.

Chapter 12:
 On Space, Time, and Parallel Alternate Realities

Chapter 13:
Longray's Plan

Chapter 14:
The Lunar Mines

Chaper 15:
The Maze of Illusions