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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." | ||
| — H. Beam Piper, "Crossroads of Destiny" |
Piper's conception of Paratime posits an infinite number of parallel universes or "timelines." These para-timelines are exploited by the parasitic inhabitants of the "Home" timeline who have invented 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 Chronicles consist of the novel Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, six stories collected in the anthologies Paratime and The Worlds of H. Beam Piper edited by John F. Carr, and the authorized Kalvan sequels Great Kings' War, Kalvan Kingmaker, and Siege of Tarr-Hostigos by John F. Carr and Roland Green.
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).
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).
Bibliography
A comprehensive list by date of publication of Beam's Paratime stories and novels, including republishings and reprintings.
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Gallery
Cover and interior illustrations from Paratime stories and novels, including republishings and reprintings.
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Concordance
A compendium of background and setting information from Beam's Paratime stories and novels, including characters and timelines.
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Gleanings
Miscelaneous background and setting material pulled directly from Beam's Paratime stories and novels.
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Chronography
A complilation of the levels, sectors, subsectors, and timelines of Paratime.
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Development
Officially-approved and fan efforts that expand upon Beam's Paratime Chronicles.
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