H. Beam Piper's Paratime
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"Well, you need a man who'd know the historical background, and you'd need a man with a powerful creative imagination, who is used to using it inside rigorously defined limits." |
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— H. Beam Piper, "Crossroads of Destiny" |
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Future History | Paratime | Other Works | H. Beam Piper
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Piper's conception of Paratime posits an infinite number of parallel timelines, distinct universes which have diverged from one another at some point in their history. Many of these timelines are exploited by the parasitic inhabitants of the "Home" timeline who have discovered a way to transpose from one timeline to another. Their Paratime Police are responsible for policing the timelines and for ensuring that the secret of paratime transposition is not discovered by the inhabitants of any other timeline. The Paratime yarns consist of the novel Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen
Piper's ideas about Paratime were apparently inspired by the non-linear time theories of British aeronautical pioneer John W. Dunne (1875-1949) which were first discussed in his book An Experiment with Time (1927).
"Last Enemy," cover illustration by Walt Miller from Astounding, August 1950 |
A comprehensive list by date of publication of Beam's Paratime stories and novels, including republishings and reprintings. |
"Temple Trouble," cover illustration by Hubert Rogers from Astounding, April 1951 |
A gallery of cover and interior illustrations from Paratime stories and novels, including republishings and reprintings. |
"Time Crime," cover illustration by Kelly Freas from Astounding, February, 1955 |
A complilation of the structure—the hierarchy of levels, sectors, subsectors, belts and timelines—of Paratime. |
"Gunpowder God," cover illustration by John Schoenherr from Analog, November 1964 |
A compendium of background and setting information from Beam's Paratime stories and novels, including characters and timelines. |
Great Kings' War |
Officially-sanctioned and fan efforts that expand upon Beam's Paratime yarns. |
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Future History | Paratime | Other Works | H. Beam Piper
Bibliography | Gallery | Chronography | Concordance | Development
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, cover illustration by Alan Gutierrez, Ace 1985.