Historicity

by Bob Newbell

Release: 24 July 2013
Format: Flash Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

In the moments before a jump, a traveler muses over the realities of time travel.

— Michael Main

That's a much nicer narrative device than having to find the right kind of black hole orbiting the right kind of star and then build a machine around both of them.

DEBUT

“Historicity,” 365 Tomorrows, 24 July 2013 [webzine].

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Unspecified Future Year

Time Travel Methods

Big Time Machines: “. . . find the right kind of black hole orbiting the right kind of star and then build a machine around both of them.”
Time Catapults: “Did I mention it’s a one-way trip?”

Themes

Chronology Protection Conjecture: “Novikov self-consistency principle.”
Reporting Back via a Time Capsules or Other Prearranged Systems: “They’ll locate it and dig it up the same day you were sent back in time, centuries after you're dead.”
Time Travel Sickness, Injuries, and Mixed-Up Body Parts: “You’ll have at least two or three forms of cancer shortly after you arrive.”

Groupings

365 Tomorrows (periodical): 24 July 2013

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From a giant machine around a black hole orbiting a star, unspecified time ⋙ to an unspecified location, 700 years in the past. Note: The story leads up to the time jump, but does not include it.