In many time travelling novels, changing the past is often shown as a very complex and dangerous thing. For example, in 'The Time Machine', the protagonist's actions in the future seem to be somewhat predestined, and any attempt to drastically change things might have unforeseen consequences. In '11/22/63', the main character realizes that even small changes in the past can have huge ripple effects on the future.
Well, some time travelling novels present the idea that the past can't be changed at all. It's like a fixed point in time. But others, like 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', show the main character trying to use his modern knowledge to change the past, but often facing resistance from the existing social and cultural structures of that time. And in 'Doomsday Book', the time traveller's actions in the past are carefully monitored because of the potential for major disruptions to the present and future.
In some time travel novels, changing the past is impossible. For example, in 'The Time Traveler's Wife', the events are sort of pre - determined and the time traveler can't really change the past in a significant way. It's more about experiencing different times.
Well, in some magestic time travel novels, the idea of changing history is almost forbidden. Take 'Kindred' for example. The main character is more of an observer in the past, and any attempt to change the course of history in a major way seems impossible. It's as if history has its own momentum. But in novels like 'The Anubis Gates', the characters are constantly trying to manipulate history for their own purposes, yet they are always thwarted by the complex web of time and the unforeseen consequences that come with trying to change things.
Some fictional time travel books suggest that changing the past is impossible. For example, in 'The Time Machine', the past is set and the time traveler can only observe. Others, like '11/22/63', show that while it may seem possible to change the past at first, there are unforeseen consequences that ultimately keep the overall course of history the same. In this case, the protagonist tries to prevent Kennedy's assassination but realizes that the past resists being changed.
In many time traveller novels, changing history is a complex and often dangerous concept. For example, in '11/22/63' by Stephen King, the protagonist discovers that even small changes in the past can have huge and unexpected consequences in the future. Sometimes, the novels show that history has a kind of self - correcting mechanism, like in 'The Time Machine' where the future seems to be on a set path despite the time traveler's presence.
There are also novels that embrace the paradoxes. They use them as a central plot device to create a mind - bending and complex story. For example, in some stories, a character might go back in time and cause the very event that sent them back in time in the first place, creating a never - ending loop of causality that the reader has to figure out.
Some time travel stories in fiction simply ignore paradoxes. They focus more on the adventure aspect of time travel. For example, in 'Back to the Future', Marty goes back in time and there are some potential paradoxes like seeing his younger mother fall in love with him instead of his father, but the story just moves forward and finds ways to resolve the situation without getting too deep into the paradox.
Well, in many time travelling stories, the end can be about closure in the timeline. In 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', the Yankee has made his mark in the Arthurian era but eventually has to face his own mortality and the end of his time - traveling adventure. Another way is that the time traveller may have learned a valuable lesson during their travels and return to their time a changed person, as seen in some episodes of 'Doctor Who'. There are also stories where the end is a cliffhanger, leaving the possibility of more time - traveling adventures open, but that's not as common.
Some time travelers stories show that changing the past is impossible. For example, in many stories, any attempt to change something in the past just ends up being part of what already happened. It's like the past is set in stone.
In 'time swept novels', time is often treated as a malleable entity. For example, in some novels, characters can travel through time at will or accidentally. They might use time machines or some sort of magical device. Time can also be presented as a loop, where events keep repeating in a certain cycle.
Many 'back in time novels' strive for a good level of historical accuracy. They often do a lot of research on the time period they are depicting. For example, in 'Outlander', Diana Gabaldon includes accurate details about 18th - century Scottish life, from the clothing to the social customs. However, sometimes for the sake of the story, they might take some liberties. But in general, they try to create a believable historical backdrop.