If a paracompact Hausdorff space X admits a (classical) universal covering space, then the natural homomorphism φ: π₁(X) → π̌₁(X) from the fundamental group to its first shape homotopy group is an isomorphism. We present a partial converse to this result: a path-connected topological space X admits a generalized universal covering space if φ: π₁(X) → π̌₁(X) is injective. This generalized notion of universal covering p: X̃ → X enjoys most of the usual properties, with the possible exception of evenly...