Mind you, removing the texts before they’re burned is probably the least damaging to the time stream. And there are several other library fires, even up to the present day, where much knowledge was lost.
Wouldn’t that be a dream come true? That is, to have all that incredible literature available to us here today? I wonder how the world might have been different had we been able to study that vast wealth of knowledge…
Unless, of course, you assume a “future” extending from your “present” already exists, in which case bringing the documents to your “present” would alter that “future.” Unless you believe in determinism, in which case the “future” is already predicated on your having brought the documents to this particular “present” moment.
Assuming, of course, that time is a continuum and a real phenomenon. If you instead assume it’s a traveling wave in an otherwise timeless universe (see Bailey, “Collision Course”), then you’re fine, as there is no future to worry about; there is only this moving wave called the present. Of course, that also means you can’t prevent the fire because you can’t change the past, as time has already happened there. But you might still be able to scan the books.
“taking the documents doesn’t exactly change anything”
Well, not as long as you remember to replace them with something sufficiently similar (see Varley, “Millennium”). In this case, the primary qualification would seem to be combustibility…
The trick would be to send teams of Travelers far back before the various fires and PHOTOCOPY the documents with ‘sneaky-cams’. The actual documents don’t matter, only the data therein. Once in our time the information would be safe wherever the government then hid it…
Temporal distortion waves from altering the timeline are a major navigation hazard for nearby spacecraft, which use temporal manipulation to beat that pesky light speed limit & make nifty turns that freak natives who don’t have the tech. Most aliens avoid us, UFOs are more likely time travelers; Oops altered my past, & I disappear with all evidence.
Yes he is.If he takes all the Books, there goes 90% of the Fuel for the fire and it’ll go out.Afterwards, everyone will look at the small burnt spot and realize that someone Set the Fire to cover up the theft of all the books..The Arson At Alexandria will become the Mystery of the ages: “Who Stole the Library?” will be the new Number One Question in the Game of Clue.
Enter.Name.Here almost 9 years ago
How about leaving everything as it is so you don’t alter my present?….I may not exist in the new continuum. ;-)
Sisyphos almost 9 years ago
Fast-growing bamboo for the easily bamboozled….
Merlin, are you sure you’ve thought this through?
prrdh almost 9 years ago
Stopping a mob of fanatical arsonists isn’t adventurous enough?
SKJAM! Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Mind you, removing the texts before they’re burned is probably the least damaging to the time stream. And there are several other library fires, even up to the present day, where much knowledge was lost.
NWdryad almost 9 years ago
Wouldn’t that be a dream come true? That is, to have all that incredible literature available to us here today? I wonder how the world might have been different had we been able to study that vast wealth of knowledge…
Durak Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Merlin understands about those ‘fixed moments’ in time.
Durak Premium Member almost 9 years ago
This the start of a new story arc?
puddleglum1066 almost 9 years ago
Unless, of course, you assume a “future” extending from your “present” already exists, in which case bringing the documents to your “present” would alter that “future.” Unless you believe in determinism, in which case the “future” is already predicated on your having brought the documents to this particular “present” moment.
Assuming, of course, that time is a continuum and a real phenomenon. If you instead assume it’s a traveling wave in an otherwise timeless universe (see Bailey, “Collision Course”), then you’re fine, as there is no future to worry about; there is only this moving wave called the present. Of course, that also means you can’t prevent the fire because you can’t change the past, as time has already happened there. But you might still be able to scan the books.
Timey-wimey stuff indeed…
puddleglum1066 almost 9 years ago
“taking the documents doesn’t exactly change anything”
Well, not as long as you remember to replace them with something sufficiently similar (see Varley, “Millennium”). In this case, the primary qualification would seem to be combustibility…
craigwestlake almost 9 years ago
The trick would be to send teams of Travelers far back before the various fires and PHOTOCOPY the documents with ‘sneaky-cams’. The actual documents don’t matter, only the data therein. Once in our time the information would be safe wherever the government then hid it…
ChukLitl Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Temporal distortion waves from altering the timeline are a major navigation hazard for nearby spacecraft, which use temporal manipulation to beat that pesky light speed limit & make nifty turns that freak natives who don’t have the tech. Most aliens avoid us, UFOs are more likely time travelers; Oops altered my past, & I disappear with all evidence.
JP Steve Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Merlin may have to fight with the librarian of Unseen University for those books — and he’s an orangutan! (ook!)
Tarredandfeathered almost 9 years ago
Merlin specializes in creating Space-Time paradoxes and other amusement park rides.
Tarredandfeathered almost 9 years ago
Yes he is.If he takes all the Books, there goes 90% of the Fuel for the fire and it’ll go out.Afterwards, everyone will look at the small burnt spot and realize that someone Set the Fire to cover up the theft of all the books..The Arson At Alexandria will become the Mystery of the ages: “Who Stole the Library?” will be the new Number One Question in the Game of Clue.
Peter Elsea Premium Member 8 months ago
See Jodi Taylor.