In hindsight, which was all they had in those days...

[skyring]

Something Bookczuk posted recently made me think. A novel about a contemporary Australian going back in time to Civil War Charleston. Something like that wonderful novel, "The Door Back", but a bit "spikier" and maybe funnier.

Well, I've been thinking. There's a ton of material I could use. Like Connie Willis, I could have a world where time travel is cheap, clean, easy and relatively safe. Have a team of explorers mining the past. String some interesting anecdotes together.

My scenario is something like this. Time travel has just been discovered and the inventor wants to investigate the more interesting periods and events of the past. He's only got a half-dozen volunteers and a month to do it in.

So where does he send his researchers?

The bombardment of Fort Sumter, of course - that goes without saying. And I like the idea of a mini-skirted Aussie sheila trying to covertly enter the Texas Book Repository to film a pivotal and tragic moment in history.

Any other times and places you'd like to see fashion gaffes committed?

Comments

[resqgeek]

What about Philadelphia during the debate over the Declaration of Independence in June 1776?

The other end of the Civil War, at Ford's Theater, could be interesting too.

Leaving the US, we could look at the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Or the execution of Louis XVI. Or Michealangelo painting the Sistine Chapel. There are SO many possibilities...

[skyring.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of historical mysteries, rather than events where the facts are well-known. Sending someone back to scan the contents of some of the ancient libraries, record the missing bits of the Bayeux Tapestry and so on.

Of course, there are events that are interesting in themselves. Babe Ruth's called strike, for example, or Mallory and Irvine - did they reach the top?

[fsr44.livejournal.com]

Oh just for me, Pete, please send someone back to the WWII era...and possibly even to the middle of a USO show "for the boys"!

[skyring.livejournal.com]

I should get you to write that scene! You've got a lot more information on these events than I.

But there's one mystery that's worth exploring, and it's related to WWII and the USO - you know who I mean?

[fsr44.livejournal.com]

Not sure I do. Marlene Dietrich?

[kayjay-haitch.livejournal.com]

*repeatedly hits forehead to heel of hand*
Why can't I remember his name?

Famous musician, takes off in a plane from ?France, never arrives in England, no trace of crash ever found..

name possibly starts with "G"

[fsr44.livejournal.com]

That would be Glenn Miller.
And I believe they did finally find the plane a few years ago.

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Spot on. I'll bet it was a great concert in Paris the night before!

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Major Glenn Miller. I've been wracking my braid trying to come up with a scenario.

[fsr44.livejournal.com]

Do a little research...last thing I read was that a military plane was flying back from a failed bombing run and jettisoned its bombs over the Channel. Plane was flying at a higher altitude than Miller's and one of the bombs took out his plane.
Theory got plenty of press coverage...maybe ten years ago?

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm. I remember the theory - which seems plausible - but it looks like my recollection was wrong - he was flying to Paris, not back.

Have to do some more research on this, but I think I can work him into my story, and give you a USO concert you'll never forget.

[fsr44.livejournal.com]

He was flying to Paris, you're correct. The bomber was flying back to England, at an altitude above him.

I'll count on that concert. ;)

Oh yeah!

[hagathorn.livejournal.com]

A gothic woman in pants, no less, walking into the Salem Witch Trials and fizzing off into nothing as they attempt to sieze and process her!

[letterbthe.livejournal.com]

Oh, great question, Skyring. I'd allocate one of the volunteers to solving historical missing persons cases - like the Glenn Miller one you already mentioned, but I was thinking of what REALLY happened to the Lindbergh baby? And missing Lord Lucan? And Shergar? (why stop with people, after all!). And the female aviator - Amy something - who went missing en route round the world (that could be tricky to sort out though, a nice challenge for your hero!). Or did Anastasia really survive the shooting of the Romanovs? With careful research as to exactly when to go back to, one person could do a lot of those in a month.

And of course I'm not going to mention the obvious choice - Easter, a couple of thousand years ago. Who was the man on the cross in between the two robbers, and what really happened outside his tomb three days later? And where did he go after that?