Decisions make alternate timelines

[Laura]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this post, but here goes!

A friend told me about a book where every decision made created a new timeline, making thousands of alternate universes.

I don't really know much more than that, but I'd honestly be interested in reading anything with this sort of theme. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Ed]

Replay
This may be the book your looking for.

[Laura]

Hmmm sounds close but I'm not sure. Definitely looks interesting though!

[HJ]

I think that this might be one of the stories in The Seeds of Time by John Wyndham. It's decades since I read that book, but that's one of the things I've always associated with it. If you're interested in time generally, I think you'd enjoy the book even if it isn't the one you're looking for - the stories are enjoyable, and the science hardly visible.

ETA - looking through the reviews, I think it might be the story called Opposite Number. And of course the film Sliding Doors was about this: "The film alternates between two parallel universes, based on the two paths the central character's life could take depending on whether or not she catches a train."

[Bryan457]

Mainline
The Cross-Time Engineer

[Cheryl]

Yes, there are lots of stories and novels with this premise. It's a fun one. Currently in the Time Travel group here on GR we're discussing an alternate time line novel: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1.... (I'm not joining in this month so I'm not sure if it fits your request exactly, but it's at least close.) The Time Travel group is very friendly and would be another good place to post this query. :)

[Trish]

One and Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach. He also did Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Crosstime is a re-issue of 2 books that kind of have this theme. In them one of the divergent cultures has figured out how to tap into the various other worlds. They travel to the other worlds for trade, study and various other reasons (the bad guys like to loot pre-industrial worlds.)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Oh, forgot to add Wraiths of Time This one has the split way back in Ancient Egypt. It does involve a modern woman in our world who gets sent to the alternate world.

The Shadow of Albion in this series (it was meant to be a trilogy, but unfortunately Andre passed away before it was finished) the split goes back further. There was no American Revolution for one thing. For another, magic and the fae exist in the alternate world. It takes place at about the time of Napoleon, and features English heroes, heroines, etc. Altho the SECOND book features the missing Louis XVII, the young Prince who disappeared during the Terror, and our hero and heroine from the first book travel to what in our world is the U.S.

I really wish that the third book had been finished, as I was really wanting to know who the over-arching villian was. Guess I'll never know now. :o(

[Laura]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I'll be sure to add them to my To Read list!!

[Anie_chan]

Orange 1 is good if you're into manga.

[Kris]

Life After Life comes to mind.