The Previous Post

On reflection, I am quite impressed with that previous, hastily composed, post. First, it presents four clear examples of what I had in mind, a story that ends as another begins. Secondly, the four examples cover three basic kinds of travel in science fiction - across space, through time and between timelines. Thirdly, each example is a classic of its kind.

Everyone understands what we mean when we say that a Star Trek film ends as Kirk and his crew begin a new mission in the Enterprise. Poul Anderson fans also understand when we say that a Polesotechnic League novel ends as Falkayn and his crew begin a new mission in the Muddlin' Through. Further, we recognize that the latter is like the former but considerably better.

An equally iconic case is a Doctor Who film ending as a new Roman adventure begins. And SM Stirling uses a sabre tooth as the iconic symbol of a new timeline as yet unaffected by human interventions. Since John Rolfe had imported dangerous African and Asian animals to his pre-Columbian North America, it is understandable that he laughs when he sees a Gate opening onto a world with long grass and a sabre tooth eating a giant sloth.

Although showing the beginning of a new adventure seems to be a good way to conclude a work of fiction, I cannot think of many other examples of this kind of ending...?