h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Chris, your original premise in your “Time travel and the awkward issue of space” was "Every time travel story I've read or seen offered the opportunity for a person, group or device to pop forward or back in time to the same point on Earth".

I think a really good book on time travel would drop this notion (being able to go back in time and so change the future blah blah), replacing it with the notion of simply getting across vast distances quickly. If you have any real knowledge of the science of time travel, I would be iterested to know the truth.

I enjoy si~fi, and attempt to get my own ideas on to paper, although I suffer from writers block (which I have heard is God’s way of telling you your’re not a writer ~ and I think I would tend to agree). If however, you would be interested in reading a few more raw scripts addressing these issues from a fictional pov, I would be happy to let you read them, and enjoy any feedback.

As far as “blatant anti-nuclear energy agit-prop fan-fiction” goes, I do have strong feelings about the environment and global warming. I think Solar Energy is cleanest of all energy solutions, and seeing as nuclear fusion is really the same thing, I’m all for fusion. In fact it's possible the Stellar Dendrite herself is powered by a fusion reactor providing power for the Electormagnetic Sails. Fission is a bit of a bordel (mess) though isn't it!?

In terms of generating energy on a planet, I can’t help thinking that we are reinventing the wheel (that is reinventing the Sun). Take a look at these bad boys if you would be so kind; “http://www.solarsystems.com.au/” ~ the important thing here being “concentrated” photovoltaics. I am afraid I am a Solar Energy evangelist… or bore if you prefer, but it’s because I think its improtant.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

EMFSail.

Hi EMFSail

I'm not particularly clued up on the 'science' of time travel but I was curious about how it has been approached. What I do understand though is that it can only ever be 'soft' sci-fi, maybe even fantasy at best, because time travel is functionally impossible in real terms. The Wiki article on it goes into thorough detail and convinces me that I'm a 'Presentist' when it comes to these things. If you're looking for a deeper truth you could do a lot worse than ask for SEx;

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But as a basis for writing it is a rich seam and I love a good yarn, so I'd love to see what you've written.

I entirely agree that solar energy is the way to go. It's perfectly within your right to evangelise on matters that are of importance to you, but speaking as a former title-holder of mental health's answer to The Only Gay In The Village I would advise that you spread your bets a little so as not to disaffect your peers.

Thanks for your reply, so here's the latest on time travel and the awkward issue of space..


Time and Space.

Consider the question “Is it possible to travel backwards in space?” That would be in any direction along the x, y or z axes of our third dimension. You would probably say yes. It stands to reason that if I go to the shops to buy a bottle of milk, and come back to my house to make my coffee.

In fact your real position in space has changed. The Earth has moved a little further round the Sun, the Sun has moved a little further around the Galactic Center, and the Galaxy is moving a little further away from the Big Bang */at the revol~v/t~ing resturant/* at the Center of the Universe.

You are, in fact, not in the same place you started from. Things have also changed in your flat… the steak you took out of the freezer to defrost is a little warmer, the clothes in your tumble dryer are a little less damp, the kettle has boiled and somehow the flower on your windowsill has come in to bloom.

You can no more travel backwards in space than you can travel backwards in time. (well, actually it is possible to hold your position in absolute time, if you greet the wind right.~! like a kestrel hovering in the wind.) Dimensions are mathmatical abscrations of realiy, used to measure and understand our space, not reality itself.


More waffle than ripping yarn i fear, I suspect it concurs with presentism, but I'll have to find out exactly what that is ~ I shall pass by the SEx section and have good browse there. As for hedging my bets, thanks for the tip. I shall have a browse around the databanks and see if there's anything else I can drag up you might really like.

By the way, did you follow the link I passed you, what do you think?

Best wishes, EMFSail.