http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?44207
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1044
It was assumed that the universe would eventually stop contracting and end up in a "big crunch".
The plot is basically "bussard ramjet spacecraft gets its engines stuck and goes faster and faster until the universe ends and a new one expands".
Ignoring for narrative purposes there not being anywhere "outside" of a contracting universe.
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1044
It was assumed that the universe would eventually stop contracting and end up in a "big crunch".
The plot is basically "bussard ramjet spacecraft gets its engines stuck and goes faster and faster until the universe ends and a new one expands".
Ignoring for narrative purposes there not being anywhere "outside" of a contracting universe.