Time Travel discussion
This topic is about
The Time Portal
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May - "The Time Portal" by Joe Corso and Deborah McCarthy
I love time-travel books or movies. I thought what if I found myself somewhere in the past and discovered that not only could I return to the present but I could take something back with me that would be valuable in the present. Would I do that? Yes! I would . . but what about you, would you do the same? Would you take something of value back to the present back with you? If so - why?
Because I'm a rare book collector and a Shakespeare buff, I'd bring back a copy of his lost play, "Cardenio." We know he wrote a play by that name, but no copy survived, so we don't know what it is.
Interesting. I never knew Shakespeare wrote a play ("Cardnio.") that was lost. I don't imagine many people do.
I would bring back an artifact from the Lost City of Atlantis. Just think of the commotion THAT would cause!
But what if you had no choice in where you went in the past? In "The Time Portal", the time traveler has to go where the portal takes him. What would you do? Would you still bring something back of value in the present if you could?
Since you left the means open, I'd invest in Microsoft, Apple, and a few other tech stocks. I'd want to leave valuable artifacts alone.
I agree with Bill investing in opportunies loss would be one way to get rich from the past but would if I could travel back and bring things back to better my self (Get paid). The only thing I would worry about is if my actions would alter the future by changing the past! But I would so love to travel in the past!
If people were allowed to know I was a time traveler and this was accepted- I'd shoot video of Christ's crucifixion or maybe some of the other major religious events. Guaranteed to be earth shattering.
If I was incognito... Dinosaur DNA samples.
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The real question than becomes what do you buy with money? You buy POWER. Influence elections, run for President...Set yourself up as an oracle of the future making the cost of information a premium.
Course the unintended consequences would wreck havoc on the world, but oh man what a fun little sand box to play in.
Gold is always good but heavy & investments would be good but that's not an object, per se.So I'd bring back some Da Vinci notebooks, which were dispersed & most lost not long after he died.
They would be most valuable.
Lincoln, after your comments, I had to travel back again and add to my investments. I'll let you keep your power.
I would try to take something that was of value from a person who would use it for evil..... I would maybe take some coins for my collection also, just some to finish a collection.
I've written four Time Portal books and in each one the hero evolves as his powers coalesce. A lot of you have unknowingly touched on what may happen in future books.
Hmmmm wouldn't really be able to get my hands on anything that is famous (like the Holy Grail or DaVinchi notebooks) so I guess I would go with something that was fairly easy to get then and rather expensive now. It seems from watching shows like Pawn stars weapons of any kind (guns, swords, knifes) that are in good condition would sell well - and they are easy to carry so I'd go with that.
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I suppose raiding the library of Alexandria prior to the fire wouldn't be a bad idea.
Amy wrote of: 'the library'Amy, I'd thought of that but with Paul L's new book it may not have burned after all, just fell into disrepair, etc. & if so, the scrolls may show up yet.
Only one is, the others will be out soon.
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Steven mentioned this:Steven, with your choice pick I presume you don't hold with the theory concerning the 17th Earl of Oxford.
Many think Marlowe, as well, but he was much too busy being a spy, something I covered in my 2nd Epic Fable.
Yet, if you did get the play how would you prove its provenance, given there's nothing written in the Bard's own hand for purposes of comparison?
Lincoln wrote: 'take a genius from the past and imagine how they might function given modern technology'Lincoln, read Paul L's book; it does this:
Amy, so here's my answer:Just tie it to the outside of your machine, for then it would age properly, only very quickly during your return.
Perhaps in a knapsack, stuffed with a few other things, yes?
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Just tie it to the outside of your machine, for then it would age properly, only very quickly during your return.
Perhaps in a knapsack, stuffed with a few other things,..."
Hmm ... I suppose if we had a time machine like the one in ... er ... The Time Machine, that might work. Or it might warp it beyond all recognition, requiring you to go back even further in time to get one that's not ruined. I think I'd be more likely to hide it in the wall of a building that exists in both time periods. And then when I go to procure it in the present, I'll have to be careful not to get arrested for trying to get into the building.
Amy, I live out in the middle of nowhere, in an area much untouched, so how about this?You can dig a pit in the Past on my land & fill it with contemporary goodies & then fill it in.
Next, in the Present you come for lunch & lead me there & we'll excavate.
50/50 of course & you buy the gas for the machine.
Who knows what the Future will hold?
I would bring back to the present one of the lost books of the library of Alexandria, before it burnt (Paul docet ;) )
I second something from the library of Alexandria. Although it would have to be something that wouldn't change the future and a lot of what was in that library risks that as it was sadly a lot of lost knowledge that wasn't rediscovered until much later.
Wildside, by Steven Gould has a portal to the past and young adults use it to go into the past and dig gold at Sutter's mill thousands of years before man arrives in the new world. That seemed to be a pretty good idea- the problem with going back in time is how do you pay for anything that you would want to bring back? The currency from ancient civilizations would cost as much as the objects that you bring back-if you could find it in large enough sums. Try going to a coin dealer and buying 18th century shillings fo example or even silver certificates for that matter.Man-made diamonds might be a good idea. Cheap here and rare as diamonds back in time.
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I didn't have to think much about this. I would get as many as I could carry: sets of UN-CIRCULATED CARSON CITY MORGAN DOLLARS. No other mint mark but CC. I do collect these, so I know how much the mint coins are worth ($$$$$$ that's why I don't have any mints).Mints are very rare. This would be extremely valuable. Millions & there value increases with time. I couldn't take any religious things, as I would feel compelled to give them to a museum.
All those lost oral histories and epics. And music that were unrecorded.
My fantasy has always been to pick up Ben Franklin and drive him around the country to see all the new technology and how the country has changed. Then I'd sell him.
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I was thinking the same thing about objects such as guns. If you watch Pawn Stars, they are always looking for old items to show the appropriate wear with no attempt to restore the item. If we are bringing stuff from the past that is new, then it would almost look fake or like a reproduction in the present day. I kind of like Linda's idea because the coins would simply look well preserved and would be graded well for maximum value. A roll of 1909-S VBD Lincoln Pennies in uncirculated condition would bring $50,000 or more today. It would only take 20 rolls to make $1 million.
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Well someone's done their homework! Guess who I'm taking on my time travel trip.
I will buy up oil fields post Soviet Union...
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Coin collecting is my "other" hobby, and that is one of the few coins I'm missing from my collection of Lincoln pennies because it's impossible to find one in circulation, and to purchase one will set you back about $800. Even rarer is the 1944 steal penny which can fetch up to $110,000.
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So we just go to 1944 and find 10 steel pennies for everyone in the Time Travel group who wants one and we'll all be millionaires. Anyone in?
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Oh, too bad.
I'm still with you in going back in time...
A few Gutenberg Bibles would bring a tidy sum.
John wrote: "Our featured book for this month's giveaway is The Time Portal by time travel group member Joe Corso and Debra McCarthy. Our question for this month's drawing is this:"In this book, the hero take..."
I wouldn't bring anything back. Instead I would emerse myself in that time period and with that knowledge write something I learned. Perhaps a book about a famous person I met, or a book about a group of people or their culture. The advantage the time travel person has is the exposure to first hand experiences. This is what I would write about.
Walter wrote: 'I wouldn't bring anything back'Walter, what a paradox.
I think your choice of what to bring back, your impressions, are of the highest value, not to be dismissed.
What you make of them could be also, two for the price of one, as it were.
Double down.
I'd travel back 50 years and get a position as prop guy for the new Doctor Who series. Then I'd put in things like a sudoku book, a picture of River Song, a cell phone with YouTube showing. (I suppose I'd have to take those things back in time with me.) Granted, this wouldn't make me rich, but it would freak people out years later. And that's worth much more to me than money.
The problem with your idea, Walter -- while otherwise admirable -- is that you would have a hard time getting people to believe you without some outside evidence of your credibility.This is a hard question for me as I would feel very wrong about doing something like that for my own gain. I suppose that I would have to use a significant portion of it to benefit others, and devote my own life to helping others afterward in exchange for whatever additional comfort I would gain for myself and mine in the process. Now to think of something that others haven't -- that's quite a challenge too! No one has mentioned old postage stamps. I will go with those, since I do collect them as well.
Time Travel
Books mentioned in this topic
The Traveler in Time (other topics)The Photo Traveler (other topics)
Stowaway on Titanic (other topics)
The Plot to Save Socrates (other topics)
The Time Portal (other topics)
"In this book, the hero takes objects from the past and auctions them in the present in order to become wealthy. If you could travel back in time and use that technology to become rich - how would you do it?"
Note: The author is offering the winner a choice between a signed paperback or an ebook edition of this book.
Anyone who posts an answer to the above question will be entered in our drawing. The winner will be selected at random and will be announced on May 8. So that means you have just one week to post your comments for a chance to win this book. Once a winner is announced, the author will contact him or her to arrange for delivery of the book.
I will invite Joe to post some additional info about his book. And please feel free to ask him any questions you might have. Also remember that the winner of this giveaway is encouraged to write an honest and thoughtful review of the book once they have a chance to read it. Good luck all, and "may the odds be ever in your favor."