I'd say 'Back to the Future' has great time travel rules. The way they explain how the time machine works and the effects of changing the past is both logical and exciting. The rules are simple yet effective in driving the story forward.
In fiction, one common time travel rule is the 'grandfather paradox'. It basically says that if you go back in time and kill your grandfather before he has your parent, you couldn't exist to go back in time in the first place. Another rule could be that time has a sort of 'elasticity' in some fictions. For example, small changes in the past might not have a huge impact immediately but could lead to big changes over time. Also, some fictions have a fixed timeline, meaning no matter what you do while time traveling, the major events are set in stone and will happen regardless.
According to fiction, one rule could be that time travel might be limited by the laws of physics within the fictional universe. For example, in some science - fiction stories, you need a huge amount of energy to open a time - travel gateway. Another rule is that time travelers may experience time dilation. This means that while they might spend a short time in the time - travel process, a lot of time could have passed in the normal world. Also, there's often the idea that time travel can be dangerous. You might get stuck in a different time period, or worse, create a paradox that could destroy the fabric of the universe as the story sometimes goes.
One common rule is the 'butterfly effect'. In many fictional time travel stories, a small change in the past can cause huge, unforeseen consequences in the future. For example, in 'Back to the Future', Marty McFly accidentally preventing his parents from getting together nearly erased his own existence.
Yes, it should. Consistent rules make the time travel plot more logical and believable for the readers/viewers.
They create conflict. For instance, if there's a rule that changing one small thing in the past can cause a catastrophe in the future, the time traveler has to be very cautious. This adds tension as they navigate through different time periods.
Different types of fiction handle time travel rules in distinct ways. In hard science - fiction, time travel rules are usually more complex and try to adhere to scientific principles. There might be rules related to energy requirements, spacetime curvature, and relativity. In contrast, in soft science - fiction or pulp fiction, the time travel rules can be more flexible and used mainly for the sake of creating exciting stories. For instance, a character might be able to time travel just by stepping into a special machine without much explanation of the underlying physics. In horror - related fictions with time travel elements, the time travel rules might be used to introduce elements of dread. For example, a character might be trapped in a time loop where they are doomed to repeat a terrifying event over and over again.
The 'bootstrap paradox' is a fascinating time travel theory in fiction. It's a situation where an object or information has no origin. For instance, if a person goes back in time and gives Shakespeare a copy of his own plays, and Shakespeare then publishes them as his own, where did the plays originally come from? It's a self - creating loop of causality. Also, there's the 'wormhole' theory for time travel in fiction. Wormholes are often depicted as shortcuts through spacetime. In some stories, characters use wormholes to travel not only through space but also through time. They can jump from one point in time to another by traversing these mysterious spacetime tunnels.
One of the best time travel in fiction is in 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells. It's a classic that introduced the concept of a mechanical device for traveling through time. The protagonist travels to the far future and witnesses the evolution of humanity in two distinct species, which is really fascinating.
I can't recommend specific works because everyone's preferences and tastes are different. However, I can tell you some general characteristics of time-travel novels to help you choose: 1. Time travel to ancient times: One of the most common types of time travel novels usually involved history, mythology, martial arts, and other topics. These novels usually showed different cultures, customs, and ways of life, allowing the readers to feel different time and space. 2. Time Travel to the Future: Fictions that travel to the future usually involve science and technology, science fiction, and other topics. These novels usually showed the future society, technology, and lifestyle to let the readers feel the imagination and expectations of the future. 3. Travel to another world: The novels that travel to another world usually involve magic, fantasy, and other topics. These novels would usually show the society, culture, and lifestyle of the other world, allowing the readers to feel a different worldview and magical charm. Different time-travel novels have different characteristics and styles. You can choose according to your preferences and tastes. I wish you a happy reading!
I recommend the following novels: My Princess Consort Is Too Flesh, Khan, A Consort Comes into Misfortune, Picking up a Prince and Traveling Around, Mo Yunxiu, and Medicine Phoenix Empress. I hope you will like my recommendations. Muah ~