Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann

by William Dear and Michael Nesmith, directed by William Dear

Release: 27 August 1982
Format: Feature Film
Genres: Science Fiction, Western
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

Now that I know that one of the Monkees wrote this time-travel yarn of a dirtbiker riding his motorcycle through a time portal and into the Old West, the universe begins to make sense.

— Michael Main

You shot it. What a bunch of dumb sons of bitches. You shot it—a machine, you butt-heads!

DEBUT

Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (premiered at an unknown movie theater, Austin, Texas, 27 August 1982).

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Time Travel Methods

Time Portal

Themes

Ex Nihilo Obects and People: The locket.
Oedipal Time Travel: Swann is his own great-great grandfather..

Real-World Tags

Old West

Groupings

Cited in Worlds Enough and Time, edited by Gary Westfahl ()

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From an unknown bar, circa 1980 ⋙ to Baja California, 5 November 1877. Note: Swann and his bike.
From Baja California, circa 1980 ⋙ to Baja California, November 1877. Note: the scientists’ and their helicopter.
From Baja California, November 1877 ⋙ to Baja California, circa 1980. Note: Swann and the scientists.