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.
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.
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.
Many time travel fiction novels show that changing history is not as straightforward as it seems. For example, in 'The Time Traveler's Wife', the time traveler doesn't really try to change major historical events. But in '11/22/63', the protagonist attempts to stop JFK's assassination. However, he discovers that small changes can have huge and unexpected consequences, like creating new timelines. It shows that history is a complex web and any alteration can lead to unforeseen outcomes.
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.
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.
WW2 time travel fiction often explores changing history in complex ways. Take 'The Man in the High Castle' for instance. It shows an already - changed history where the Allies lost. But if a character were to time travel within this alternate reality, they might try to further change things back to what we consider the 'true' history. This involves grappling with the consequences of changing not just WW2 but also the post - war world, including cultural, political and social aspects.
Many time travel science fiction novels create rules within their own universes to deal with paradoxes. In 'A Wrinkle in Time', the idea of tessering (a form of time/space travel) has its own set of rules that prevent the characters from creating major paradoxes. The characters can't just go back and change everything willy - nilly. Another approach is seen in '11/22/63' where the universe seems to have a kind of elasticity. When the main character tries to change history, the universe tries to push back and correct itself to avoid a paradox.
Some magestic time travel novels include 'Replay' by Ken Grimwood. In this novel, the main character relives his life multiple times, traveling back in time to different points in his own past. It's a thought - provoking exploration of what one would do if given the chance to redo parts of their life. Then there's 'The Anubis Gates' by Tim Powers, which has a complex plot involving time travel, magic, and various historical settings, making for a really exciting read.
Often, they start with a device or event that enables time travel. For example, in some novels, it could be a mysterious machine. Then, the character travels to a different time period where history has taken an alternate path. They usually face various challenges and conflicts in this new world. This could be adapting to different social norms or dealing with the consequences of the changed history.