Time Travel discussion

Discussion begins here for Up The Line, chapters 1-17.

Silverberg approaches time travel here as an option not just available to just a few people but to the masses as a type of sight-seeing vacation. And he does bring up a good point. In a world where time travel is available for the masses, large numbers of people would obviously be time traveling to the same events. First, there would be a handful of people who would travel to the event, but over time, to an event like the crucifixion of Christ, you'd have hundreds, thousands, and eventually millions or billions of people traveling to that one event. How would you handle such a problem as this?

Another problem occurs to me with the idea that mass time travel would result in hoards of people using time travel to make their fortunes. Everyone would invest in the same stocks, play the same winning lottery numbers, etc. Would all time travelers be rich or would everything balance out? Thousands of people would play the same winning lottery number, sell their stocks at once, bet on the same ball team, and suddenly the earnings would be tremendously less.

Amy wrote: "In a world where time travel is available for the masses, large numbers of people would obviously be time traveling to the same events. First, there would be a handful of people who would travel to the event, but over time, to an event like the crucifixion of Christ, you'd have hundreds, thousands, and eventually millions or billions of people traveling to that one event...."

The main character addresses this point when he makes his first trip up the line to witness the assassination of Huey Long. (I believe it was chapter 13.) He notices the other groups of sightseers that are there and is suprised to see only the two other groups that have traveled there prior to his group. Assuming that there will be future groups who will eventually visit this moment in history, He wonders why they are not there also.

I wondered the same thing. In my opinion, each time a group shows up, the number of spectators should always be the same, because everyone who chose to visit that moment in history would be there all at the same time whether they had already traveled there or were yet to travel up the line. So at what point do they say enough is enough. How do you explain the thousands of extra spectators? It seems to me they would be better off filming the historical event and then making it available to those who want to see it.

Hmm ... where could we hide that video camera depending on the time period? Indian headdress, shepherd's staff, top hat ...

I think people would still want to be there for many events ... like watching a ballgame live rather than on tv. For some, it would just be for the bragging rights. For others, it would become a sacred pilgrimage. Yes, you can go see the Beatles live in concert any time you'd like ... if you can manage to get a ticket. There would still be these limits.

I don't buy the explanation of why there wouldn't be hoards of people at big historical events if there's not a limit like available tickets.

First, a correction. The reference I made to the book above is actually in Chapter 15 rather than 13.

As to where we hide the cameras, if we have time travel technology then I'm sure we would have invented some type of cloaking device as well as hover technology that would allow the cameras to be placed in the optimal location (on the ground or in the air) without being noticed and without obstructing anyone's view.

And with advancements in holographic technology, we could play back these historical events in true immersive 3D where you could walk among the people without interfering with history.

Hmm, I like the time-traveling camera idea. Aren't we already leaning towards that in today's digital age? I bet we'll have 3D immersion in no time (maybe like the Holodeck on Star Trek), archiving historical events for the future.

I like the idea of time traveling as an observer/spectator. We kind of do that already to some degree, when we look up at the night sky and see lights from stars from the past. A big, magical telescope that could zoom in on distant planets would be seeing the past, depending on the distance from Earth.

But I prefer time machinin' around with a DeLorean. Why not do it with some style?

A magical telescope spying on us from afar would be the ultimate time travel camera. But, alas, by the time they got the image back to us, we'd be long dead. Pesky thing mortality.

L. Ron Hubbard used the telescoping camera trick in his book "Battlefield Earth." The main character destroyed the home planet of the Psychlos (the oppressive alien race who had enslaved the humans). In order to witness the destruction of the Psychlos' planet, they teleported a camera with an extremely high-powered lens several light years away. I thought it was a cool idea.

I found it kind of funny that last night's episode of Doctor Who was called "Let's Kill Hitler". I guess there's no Time Patrol in Doctor Who's universe making sure events don't get changed. Funny how the Doctor's always trying to save the world from something ... except the big monsters of our history.

You're right Amy, he doesnt! Perhaps he knows what the true base history line should be. I watched that episode yesterday, was fun but always find the time travelling nonsensical. Its completely ridden with unfeasible paradoxes...hold on, you guys get to watch Doctor Who over there? thought this was just a very British program that never crosses the pond!

By the way, I am giving this book another chance, I felt I was being too cowardly in reflection and probably a little too paranoid about its dubious content. I am now on chapter 34. I best jump to that section and give my thoughts :)

Doctor Who does "cross the pond". I've watched it off and on since childhood on public television and my husband's been a huge, huge fan since childhood (one of the sorts who has watched every episode from the beginning). Even the newer ones, I find mostly nonsensical & eye-rollingly silly most of the time. I think you're just supposed to suspend belief sometimes and go with it. I'd rather everything make sense. We tend to watch it with friends who somehow manage to find it the minute it's available online. I think it shows up on BBC America as well.

John wrote: "L. Ron Hubbard used the telescoping camera trick in his book "Battlefield Earth." The main character destroyed the home planet of the Psychlos (the oppressive alien race who had enslaved the human..."

It's been so long since I've read it, I totally forget about that. Thanks for the reminder!

Amy wrote: "Doctor Who does "cross the pond". I've watched it off and on since childhood on public television and my husband's been a huge, huge fan since childhood (one of the sorts who has watched every epis..."

Hey, guess what ... Doctor Who makes it all the way to New Zealand too. Love it.