R. A. Lafferty

writer
Novelette

Future Science Fiction, February 1960

Through Other Eyes

Although the story is not about time travel, the characters do spend the first couple of pages reminiscing about their disappointing experiences with a time machine. —Fred Galvin
“And watching the great Pythagorous at work.”
“And the three days that he spent on that little surveying problem. How one longed to hand him a slide-rule through the barrier and explain its working.”
Pen-and-ink drawing of the head of a man staring forward while others parade beside him in futuristic dress.
  • Science Fiction
  • Cameo Time Travel
Novelette

The Six Fingers of Time

The story does not involve time travel, but it does have speeded-up time as in “The New Accelerator” by H. G. Wells. —Fred Galvin
I awoke this morning to some very puzzling incidents. It seemed that time itself had stopped, or that the whole world had gone into super-slow motion.
Pen-and-ink drawing of streaks of wind blowing by the head of an older, smirking man.
  • Fantasy
  • Time Phenomena
Short Story

Rainbird

At the end of this life, Higgston Rainbird, a prolific inventor of the late 18th century, invents a time machine to go back in time to tell himself how to be even more prolific.
Yes, I’ve missed so much. I wasted a lot of time. If only I could have avoided the blind alleys, I could have done many times as much.
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  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Short Story

Thus We Frustrate Charlemagne

The Ktistec machine Epiktistes and wise men of the world decide to change one moment in the dark ages while they carefully watch for changes in their own time.
We set out basic texts, and we take careful note of the world as it is. If the world changes, then the texts should change here before our eyes.
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  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Short Story

The Hole on the Corner

  • by R. A. Lafferty
  • in Orbit 2, edited by Damon Knight (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, June 1967)
When Homer Hoose arrives home to his perfect home one evening, he is met by other Homers whom the Diogenes Pontifex insists are not Jung’s alternate versions of ourselves, but instead are actual versions of ourselves occupying the same space. None of which has to do with time travel, but the brilliant Diogenes does mention in passing his experiments in other fields. I suppose that’s another Lafferty story, but I haven’t run into it yet.
“You speak of it as if. . . well, isn’t this the twentieth century?” Regina asked.

“This the twentieth? Why, you’re right! I guess it is,” Diogenes agreed. “You see, I carry on experiments in other fields also, and sometimes get my times mixed.”
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  • Science Fiction
  • Cameo Time Travel
Novel

Past Master

Thomas More is brought from the 16th century to the 26th in a time machine to save the world. —Fred Galvin
We are trying to find a new sort of leader who can slow, even reverse, the break-up, Paul. We’ve selected a man from the Earth Past, Thomas More. We will present him to the people only as the Thomas, or perhaps, to be more fanciful, as the Past Master. You know of him?
Two abstract paintings of a black-and-white spiral with color blotches and of a group of five blockish heads.
  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Novel

Space Chantey

Lafferty rewrites The Odyssey with a time machine, called a Dong Button, featured in Chapters 3 and 4. —Fred Galvin
The Dong button was just that, a big green button with the word Dong engraved on it. You pushed it, and it went dong. Well, that was alnost too simple. Should there not be a deeper reason for it? And the small instruction plate over it didn't add much. It read: “Wrong prong, bong gong.
Colored pen-and-ink drawing of a giant with a sheathed sword, lifting a man in a futuristic suit, with a grounded spaceship in the background.
  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Short Story

Rainy Day in Halicarnassus

  • by R. A. Lafferty
  • in At the Sleepy Sailor: A Tribute to R. A. Lafferty, edited by Guy H. Lillian III (The Sons of the Sand, 1979) [fanzine]
Time-trippers from the 29th century arrive in 20th century Turkey to interview Socrates, who is still alive, contrary to his rumored death by hemlock.  The time travel episode takes place within a larger story of Socrates giving a guided tour to two sailors. —Fred Galvin
And the interview was a great success. The old master used the hundred or so questions as takeoff points for truly masterful illuminations. It really was the archeological-historical coup of the century.
Pen-and-ink drawing of R. A. Lafferty sitting at a bar, surrounded by science fiction and fantasy characters.
  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Novelette

Bank and Shoal of Time

  • by R. A. Lafferty
  • in A Spadeful of Spacetime, edited by Fred Saberhagen (Ace Books, February 1981)
Peter Luna brings five “time attempter” experts to his estate, hoping that he’ll be able to pass on his secret for getting over the time shoal that prevents them from exploring the past. —Michael Main
This was the message received by a dozen or so experts in the "time attempters" field:

"I have succeeded in establishing a creeping time-satellite or time-shuttle at my estate of Moonwick near Lunel in the Herault Department of the Peoples Republic of France. If you are really experts in your field, you will appreciate the importance of this. From this time-shuttle, which is just beyond the ‘shoal’ of all of you to whom I am sending this message, it will be possible for you to launch genuine time probes. I am sending this to a dozen or so and I hope for acceptance from at least five. I must have a matched set of at least five. Some soon. A very little bit after ‘soon’ will be too late for me to transmit the shuttle to you. Bring ideas only. Everything else for frugal and break-through living is provided. You will receive various transportation chits and enabling papers. Peter Luna.”

The World Courier Service (“No questions asked. Messages carried anywhere or anywhen in the world”) delivered these messages to the dozen or so persons who were experts in the time field. And some of the people gave assent and some didn’t. So, the next day, the Courier Service delivered airline tickets, train tickets, and International Taxi Coupons to five of the experts who had agreed to go to Moonwick.
No image currently available.
  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel