"'How many [temporal catastrophes] have there been?'...
"'That is a problem inherently insolvable. Think about it.'
"Everard did."
-PART FIVE, p. 262.
Why inherently insolvable?
"'Surely that Carthaginian world has not been the only invasive reality,' said the babu.
"'I suppose not. I haven't been informed of any more, but - I've no need to know.'"
-PART SIX, p. 305.
Then what were the records showing:
"'Consequences of time gone awry.'"?
-PART FOUR, p. 253.
Did those records refer only to the Carthaginian timeline?
If there is an invasive reality that no time traveller enters, then they do not know about it and it is not a problem for them so maybe the Technic History or some other Poul Anderson series supersedes the Time Patrol timeline?
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I think it's simpler to think of Everard focusing on the problems he immediately faces, instead of worrying about invasive realities he could do nothing about. A one problem at a kind attitude.
Ad astra! Sean
Of course, if a correction isn't made...
I would repeat that no -historical- change can defeat the Patrol, because they can keep sending operatives until they win, because they have huge resources in -pre-history.
THE SHIELD OF TIME illustrates this -- their first attempt doesn't work, so they just try again.
There's no inherent reason they can't keep trying until they succeed.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And I agree with that reasoning. But it won't stop the fanatics or crazies from TRYING to change history. Hence the continued need for the Patrol.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: there's a built-in failsafe, too: most crazies want to change history after a -particular point- (the outcome of the ACW, or the World Wars, or whatever) but to preserve it before then. So they're disbarred from trying to change the course of events in remote prehistory, which requires a different methodology anyway. Now, I'm a bit surprised the Exaltationists -- who are more or less nihilists or solipsists -- don't get the idea of trying to change the course of evolution in the very remote past. By planting a settlement prior to the evolution of humans or the establishment of the Academy, for example. -That- would wipe out most of the Patrol's resources -- there would be only the scattering of researchers studying the pre-human past. I wish I'd thought of it in time to ask Poul about it.
(From SM Stirling.)
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Good points! I too have thought of things I would liked to have asked Anderson about in one of my letters to him. Or in additional letters.
Ad astra! Sean
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