This is great and your analysis makes the novels - the next one in particular - the more alluring. But can we talk about #482? Was Tara on a train all night? How does that work? Do you think an oversight by the author or a hint? Were all those people on the train (and the train itself) in her 'container' or did she walk off on the morning of the Nov 19th and go sleep at a hotel?
Thanks! I think the key thing is where they were on the first Nov 18 -- that 'fixes' where they are on 'each' Nov 18 -- hence why she has to be careful choosing hotel rooms (ie making sure they will be empty in the morning as well as the afternoon)
But while she’s moving? If she departs the evening of the 18th on a train that travels 100mph through the night until the morning of the 19th. Like how does her body find another similar train moving the same speed that happens to arrive in the same destination on the prior day?
Also, do you ever wonder what would happen if these people just walked across the international date line?
You are right to guess that the books will get more deeply into morality in the upcoming books, but they go off in some pretty surprising directions. They get more explicitly philosophical, too. There is a lot on epicureanism, for instance.
I received Vol 1 for Christmas and read through it straightaway. Thanks for the spoiler alert above ... I stopped reading your post. I just ordered Vol 2 and hope to come back to this post after a few more books! (I also plan to read your Phil of Time papers you mention in another post.) Thanks for sharing!
Dr. Lowe, I’m enjoying your ongoing exploration and discussion of Balle’s novel. I do to have difficulty understanding the basis for your view that Thomas and the other billions are repeating the 18th. I don’t think anything in the novel precludes the possibility that Thomas and the billions are living in a normal flow of time. i.e. experiencing the 18th only once followed by the 19th 20th etc. Granted, this would entail that those who interact with Tara will experience multiple versions of their sole 18th and thus multiple futures, but positing the existence of a multiverse-kind-of-reality in Tara’s world doesn’t seem like much of a stretch. This conjecture strikes me as more interesting and satisfying, but I’m receptive to enlightenment.
Thanks! I'm suggesting they are indeed living in the normal flow :) hence the container point -- although there are of these complications like the way their hair doesn't grow beyond each day
Just started this article before reading a spoiler was coming! I will return once I've read the books!
v keen to know what you think!
of the books! (and ofc my piece lol)
Haha your pieces are always great! As are your book recommendations!
:D thank you!
This is great and your analysis makes the novels - the next one in particular - the more alluring. But can we talk about #482? Was Tara on a train all night? How does that work? Do you think an oversight by the author or a hint? Were all those people on the train (and the train itself) in her 'container' or did she walk off on the morning of the Nov 19th and go sleep at a hotel?
Thanks! I think the key thing is where they were on the first Nov 18 -- that 'fixes' where they are on 'each' Nov 18 -- hence why she has to be careful choosing hotel rooms (ie making sure they will be empty in the morning as well as the afternoon)
But while she’s moving? If she departs the evening of the 18th on a train that travels 100mph through the night until the morning of the 19th. Like how does her body find another similar train moving the same speed that happens to arrive in the same destination on the prior day?
Also, do you ever wonder what would happen if these people just walked across the international date line?
You are right to guess that the books will get more deeply into morality in the upcoming books, but they go off in some pretty surprising directions. They get more explicitly philosophical, too. There is a lot on epicureanism, for instance.
I received Vol 1 for Christmas and read through it straightaway. Thanks for the spoiler alert above ... I stopped reading your post. I just ordered Vol 2 and hope to come back to this post after a few more books! (I also plan to read your Phil of Time papers you mention in another post.) Thanks for sharing!
Dr. Lowe, I’m enjoying your ongoing exploration and discussion of Balle’s novel. I do to have difficulty understanding the basis for your view that Thomas and the other billions are repeating the 18th. I don’t think anything in the novel precludes the possibility that Thomas and the billions are living in a normal flow of time. i.e. experiencing the 18th only once followed by the 19th 20th etc. Granted, this would entail that those who interact with Tara will experience multiple versions of their sole 18th and thus multiple futures, but positing the existence of a multiverse-kind-of-reality in Tara’s world doesn’t seem like much of a stretch. This conjecture strikes me as more interesting and satisfying, but I’m receptive to enlightenment.
Thanks! I'm suggesting they are indeed living in the normal flow :) hence the container point -- although there are of these complications like the way their hair doesn't grow beyond each day