astronomy

Time (novel)

Time (novel) is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Time (novel) rather than just read about it. In short: Manifold: Time is a 1999 science fiction novel by Stephen Baxter. It is the first of Baxter's Manifold Trilogy (the others being Manifold: Space and Manifold: Origin), although the books can be read in any order because the series takes place in a multiverse.

Key takeaways

Time (novel) belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Time (novel) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Time (novel) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Manifold: Time is a 1999 science fiction novel by Stephen Baxter. It is the first of Baxter's Manifold Trilogy (the others being Manifold: Space and Manifold: Origin), although the books can be read in any order because the series takes place in a multiverse. The book was nominated for the 2000 Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Plot summary Time is set on Earth, the inner part of the Solar System and various other universes onwards from the 21st century. The novel covers a wide range of topics, including the Doomsday argument, Fermi paradox, genetic engineering, and humanity's extinction. The book begins at the end of space and time, when the last descendants of humanity face an infinite but pointless existence. Due to proton decay, the physical universe has collapsed, but some form of intelligence has survived by embedding itself into a lossless computing substrate where it can theoretically survive indefinitely. However, because there will never be new input, eventually all possible thoughts will be exhausted. Some portion of this intelligence decides that this should not have been the ultimate fate of the universe, and takes action to change the past, centering on the early 21st century. The changes come in several forms, including a message to Reid Malenfant, the appearance of super-intelligent children around the world, and the discovery of a mysterious gateway on asteroid 3753 Cruithne. Baxter's short story "Sheena 5" explores an alternate ending to the story of Sheena, the intelligent squid.

Characters Reid Malenfant – protagonist Emma Stoney – Malenfant's ex-wife and employee Cornelius Taine – brilliant eschatologist mathematician Sheena – a genetically engineered squid Maura Della – concerned politician Michael – a "Blue" child savant and guide to Reid Dan Ystebo – marine scientist Anna – oldest of the "Blue" savant children

Style Time is split into four parts and then into smaller sections that each focus on a different character.

Release details 1999, UK, Voyager (HarperCollins) ISBN 0-00-225768-8, Pub date 2 August 1999, hardback 2000, UK, Voyager (HarperCollins) ISBN 0-00-651182-1, Pub date 7 August 2000, paperback 2000, USA, Del Rey Books ISBN 0-345-43075-1, Pub date ? January 2000, hardback 2000, USA, Del Rey Books ISBN 0-345-43076-X, Pub date ? November 2000, paperback

References

External links Manifold Time at Worlds Without End

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Time (novel)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Time (novel) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Time (novel) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Time (novel) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Time (novel)

In research: Time (novel) appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Time (novel) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Time (novel) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1999 British novels, 1999 English-language novels, 1999 science fiction novels, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Time (novel) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Time (novel) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Time (novel) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Time (novel) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Time (novel) in simple terms?

Why does Time (novel) matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Time (novel)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Time (novel).