X-Message-Number: 22190
From: 
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 22:11:06 EDT
Subject: Re: "Light of Other Days" Novel by Clark and Baxter

--part1_147.1561a709.2c4219ba_boundary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 7/12/2003 5:00:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
 writes:

> 
> There is a big difference between observing the past of a distant 
> astronomical object and observing the past that is far inside your own 
> light cone. It is not clear that the hidden, historical past (what does not 
> survive in the historical records) can be observed or recovered, in any 
> usual sense.
> 
> 
(Rudi writing)

Relevant to the discussion about "realistic" time travel is a wonderful novel 
by noted (but not cryonically signed up, dammit) author Arthur C. CLarke.

"The Light of Other Days" is by Clarke with Stephen Baxter.  As I write this, 
the book is on my desk.  The basic premise is hard science, with reasonable 
extrapolations thereof.  

A scientist determines how to initially remotely view items in three 

dimensions, initially in our time.  Over time, this ability is expanded to 
previous 
times.  While the past cannot be CHANGED, it can be viewed accurately.

From the book jacket:

"The Light of Other Days" tells the tale of what happens when a brilliant, 
driven industrialist harnesses Quantum physics to enable people everywhere to 
see one another at all times: around every corner, through every wall, into 

everyone's most private, hidden, and even intimate moments.  This new technology
amounts to the sudden and complete abolition of human privacy- forever.

Then, as men and women scramble to absorb this shock, the same technology 
proves able to look backwards in time as well. Nothing can prepare us for what 

follows--the wholesale discovery of the truth about thousands of years of human
history.  Governments topple, religions fall, the entire edifice of human 
society is shaken to its roots.....

A very thought provoking and enjoyable book, with a great premise.  

The premise does not seem to violate the paradoxes mentioned in previous 
postings about time travel.  

I wondered if anyone else on this list has enjoyed this book?

Best Regards,

Rudi

--part1_147.1561a709.2c4219ba_boundary

 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"

[ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] 

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=22190