It is theoretically possible that there are divergent timelines and parallel universes but not that there are inter-universal "Gates" located at exactly the same longitudes and latitudes on the surfaces of parallel Earths. Sf authors, usually preferring to make life easy for their characters, imagine not only "Gates" but also other unlikely means of transportation: teleportation, time travel and FTL. (Which Poul Anderson short story has teleportation? - search the blog.)
A story can be set on an alternative Earth without any "Gates" or other means of inter-universal travel. Anderson does this - and also, in other works, does imagine inter-universal travel. An interstellar story can be based on either FTL or STL travel. Anderson, of course, does both. What else could a writer of fiction do? Well, they do all sorts of things but a comprehensive writer like Anderson had to address every possibility.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
In both the opening pages of THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS and in one of his letters to me Anderson discussed how some serious scientists do think it might be possible that alternate universes exist. The big problem being, of course, the difficulty of PROVING alternate worlds exist at all (never mind the separate conundrum of traveling to them!).
Besides "Interloper," we see Anderson using teleportation in THE ENEMY STARS, "The Ways Of Love," and "Elementary Mistake." You have written convincingly on how teleportation is more difficult to think of as being actually possible than a FTL drive. Which might be why Anderson was apparently content with the four works I listed which used teleportation. He had thought thru as thoroughly as possible how teleportation MIGHT work without having to use plain old FANTASY.
Sean
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