Time-Travel

Time Travel - Journeys into Time
$24.95
Time Travel - Journeys into Time is the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the subject of time travel. Imagine, traveling in time. Some process that would let you go backward in time to witness the events that changed history or into the future to see if mankind survives, then to return to the present with the knowledge of what will happen tomorrow. The process is intriguing, even mind boggling, but the science is more real than imagined.

Explore the possibilities of time travel in this unique documentary. The video is hosted by Dr. David Anderson, the reclusive scientist credited with discovering time-warped field technology.

Experience man's struggle through the ages to define, measure and understand the basic concepts and constructs of time. Study how spacetime physics is deeply linked to our planet's religions, art and philosophies.

The documentary will take viewers on a fascinating journey through the history of science fiction and then to the great advances made by scientists that demonstrate today how time travel is clearly possible within the laws of our mathematics and physics.

Learn about wormholes, parallel universes, alternate realities and what science knows about spactime today. Explore emerging applications of time-control technology and how it may change our way of life forever.

This video will educate, challenge and inspire viewers to rethink time, space and our place in it and challenge our view of reality itself.

The Time Traveler's Wife
$14.95
This is a book with the ability to nurture the mind and the soul. The concept of the novel is ingenious and very original. Time travel is fascinating to read about and a clever method for filling in the background of characters. Niffenegger also uses time travel to create tension and suspense as she slowly and in piecemeal fashion reveals events of the future in stages. I love how, through time travel to the past, even after certain events are fully revealed, tension remains and continues to build until it occurs in the present. This is also a book that challenges the reader to look at more significant and consequential issues in life. Aside from the obvious one about enduring love, it provokes thought on the choices we make in life and causes the reader to wonder about the relationship between past and present. It also brings to mind the question of destiny, do events shape it or is one's destiny pre determined? As the book cover suggests, this is a love story. It's replete with passion, longing, heartache, joy and pain; but with a unique twist and a fresh approach. There is also great character development so as the story unfolds, you become involved in these wonderful character's lives and your attachment to them deepens. A few things did bother me. The beginning of the book, although interesting, did not pull me in, I persevered because of the rave reviews. I also found some of the back and forth between ages and time periods was initially a little confusing and took getting used to. In short, a great book and a remarkable love story.

The Best Time Travel Stories of the 20th Century: Stories by Arthur C. Clarke, Jack Finney, Joe Haldeman, Ursula K. Le Guin,
$17.95
I'm not sure I would pick the same 16 stories Harry Turtledove and Martin Greenburg did as my favorites from the twentieth century. But they have selected some very good ones to share with us. They hit the mark on an important feature of story collections, too--the introductions. Each intro in this anthology is a well-crafted balance between a brief author bio, overview of primary works, and a story set-up that whets expectations without spoiling. Nicely done!

The offerings are of two kinds: great stories and classic stories. While a few fall into both camps, the reader does get a sense that most were selected to fit only one category. The great stories speak for themselves, with interesting ideas, unexpected twists and memorable characters. The classic stories are sometimes less complex or polished, but have important places in the historical development of time travel fiction. They are the good-for-us vegetables to be eaten along with the tastier main course items.

My favorite two classics are:

Henry Kuttner's "Time Locker" has the feel of a mid-twentieth century detective story told from a criminal's viewpoint. Its mystery is complicated by an uncalibrated time machine in a nondescript piece of office furniture.

L. Sprague de Camp's "A Gun for Dinosaur" is one version of the now-clich��� hunting expedition to the prehistoric past story. It's still an enjoyable trip, with one or two surprises for first-time readers.

My favorite two "great" stories:

Robert Silverberg's "Sailing to Byzantium" introduces us to a man from the 1980s who must cope with society tens of thousands of years in the future. We learn this new world along with him as he slowly discovers who and what is real. And what can be done about it.

Ursula K. Le Guin's "Fisherman of the Inland Sea" follows a man who gives up much in his quest for other worlds--and finds that his regrets both drive him forward and draw him backward. This is good writing, imaginative anthropology, and innovative technical speculation all in one. It's a good introduction to this talented author, in case you've been needing one.

The collection is highly recommended. Fans of good time travel shorts may also enjoy Time Twisters and Time Pieces.

Time Travel in Einstein's Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time
$14.95
Author Richard Gott does a pretty tremendous job distilling such a heady topic into terms largely understandable to those without a background in science, however you'll still find little freebies throughout this text; I can guarantee your mind will be stretched to the point of nervous laughter on more than one occasion. The argument explaining time travel to the future is straightforward enough, however time travel to the past is another matter! Gott offers numerous theories explaining how it may be possible, discussing popular conundrums such as the Grandmother Paradox along the way.

Having read several books discussing Einsteinian physics over the years, I found Gott's explanations particularly easy to understand, an accomplishment which is no small feat given the complexity involved.

The book concludes with various fascinating theories regarding time and the origins of the universe. This was by far my favorite part of the book, with some of the offered proposals being simply mind-boggling.

All said, if you or your child is interested in the possibilities of time travel, I couldn't imagine a better book from which to begin your investigations.