Skip to main content

the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy - H2G2 — Teleportation Also Results in Time Travel?


In The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, Trillian, and Marvin have just stolen Hotblack Desiato's stunt ship after leaving Milliways and traveled into the past 2 million years before their own time.



”Trouble is,” said Ford, ”that the one instrument in this whole ship that is giving any reading is worrying me. If it is what I think it is, and if it’s saying what I think it’s saying, then we’ve already gone too far back into the past. Maybe as much as two million years before our own time.”



As they realize that this ship is about to crash into the sun, they discover a teleportion device (their only means of escape) and leave Marvin behind to control it so they can escape despite the fact they have no idea where they might end up. Arthur and Ford end up on the Golgafrincham ship which shortly thereafter crash landed on pre-historic Earth (i.e. roughly 2 million B.C.), and Zaphod and Trillian end up back on The Heart of Gold.



”I trust you had a pleasant meal?” said Zarniwoop to Zaphod and Trillian as they rematerialized on the bridge of the starship Heart of Gold and lay panting on the floor.




As I understand from the beginning of the book, at this point the Heart of Gold had been left with Zarniwoop alone on the ship in Arthur's "own time" (in the 1980's). There doesn't really seem to be any explanation as to why the teleportion device sent Zaphod and Trillian 2 millions years into the future as far as I can tell.


So, am I misinterpreting something to the story and the gang really left The Heart of Gold 2 million years before their own time, or did the teleportion device also act as a time machine when Zaphod and Trillian stepped into it? Or perhaps did Zarniwoop have The Heart of Gold travel back in time?



Answer



It is the Improbability Drive that picked them up. As Trillian tells Zaphod when they pick up Ford and Arthur in THHGTG:



"Improbability Drive," she said patiently. "You explained it to me yourself. We pass through every point in the Universe, you know that."



So every point in the universe can be anywhere/anywhen in time-space. As evilsoup pointed out, it is just very very improbable (i.e. piece of cake for the Heart of Gold).


Also, note that in the Wikipedia entry Technology in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy it is noted that:



Karey Kirkpatrick, who with Adams (before his death) adapted the novel for the screen in 2005, described the improbability drive as a "plot contrivance machine", allowing Adams to construct elaborate plotlines based on coincidences that would, in other narratives, be considered too improbable to be believed.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....
Post a Comment
Read more

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more