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Could a single person while amongst many slip into a parallel universe?
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I’m trying to build a world for a short story where the protagonist increasingly finds truths in Fortean-type phenomena. He witnesses proof of mythical creatures, for example. He begins investigating these things after his wife mysteriously disappears. The issue that I have is, I need her to disappear in such a way where one minute he sees her, but then she’s gone. I was thinking about her getting on a plane, but then never getting off, but other passengers do. I’ve thought about incorporating some kind of parallel universe she may fall into, or something of the sort. Would it be possible for a single person on a plane full of people to fall into such a universe?
science-fiction
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
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I’m trying to build a world for a short story where the protagonist increasingly finds truths in Fortean-type phenomena. He witnesses proof of mythical creatures, for example. He begins investigating these things after his wife mysteriously disappears. The issue that I have is, I need her to disappear in such a way where one minute he sees her, but then she’s gone. I was thinking about her getting on a plane, but then never getting off, but other passengers do. I’ve thought about incorporating some kind of parallel universe she may fall into, or something of the sort. Would it be possible for a single person on a plane full of people to fall into such a universe?
science-fiction
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
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FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Welcome to Worldbuilding, FinRy. In terms of your question, it might be useful to put a link to Fortean magazine (or a description of it) for those who don't know what it is (that included me before I did a search). Also, I'm not sure whether you are after a scientific or magical answer. We have a continuum of tags for science questions - Reality-Check, Science-Based and Hard-Science to explain the varying degrees of science being asked for in the answer. It might be useful to review these and add the relevant one to your question so the answers can be tailored accordingly.
– Tim B II
4 hours ago
1
I do believe that the airline stewards would have a lot to say about a missing passenger. It does not make for good public relations to have a passenger disappear from an airplane.
– Justin Thyme
4 hours ago
Hi FinRy, if you have openings up into parallel worlds, you can sure as hell make them accidentally grab a single person who just disappears. The easiest would be after getting off the airplane and in the airport, he loses sight of her for a moment due to the large number of people and then she gets transported away. Better yet, have it happen after she walks out of view of the airport security cameras, say to go get a cab.
– Shadowzee
3 hours ago
Hello FinRy. Allow me to point out that parallel universes are theoretical. Which is a polite way of saying fictional, until proven otherwise. To ask if something fictional can happen in your fictional short story is, if you'll forgive the conceit... certainly possible. The quesiton you need to answer is, can you write it in such a way that it's plausible? In your mind, how would such a gateway manifest? Remember, they're presently fictional, I mean, theoretical, which means we don't have any idea how such a gate will manifest. This is good for authors, if bad for scientists.
– JBH
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I’m trying to build a world for a short story where the protagonist increasingly finds truths in Fortean-type phenomena. He witnesses proof of mythical creatures, for example. He begins investigating these things after his wife mysteriously disappears. The issue that I have is, I need her to disappear in such a way where one minute he sees her, but then she’s gone. I was thinking about her getting on a plane, but then never getting off, but other passengers do. I’ve thought about incorporating some kind of parallel universe she may fall into, or something of the sort. Would it be possible for a single person on a plane full of people to fall into such a universe?
science-fiction
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
New contributor
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I’m trying to build a world for a short story where the protagonist increasingly finds truths in Fortean-type phenomena. He witnesses proof of mythical creatures, for example. He begins investigating these things after his wife mysteriously disappears. The issue that I have is, I need her to disappear in such a way where one minute he sees her, but then she’s gone. I was thinking about her getting on a plane, but then never getting off, but other passengers do. I’ve thought about incorporating some kind of parallel universe she may fall into, or something of the sort. Would it be possible for a single person on a plane full of people to fall into such a universe?
science-fiction
science-fiction
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
New contributor
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
New contributor
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
New contributor
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
asked 4 hours ago
FinRy
182
182
New contributor
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
FinRy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Welcome to Worldbuilding, FinRy. In terms of your question, it might be useful to put a link to Fortean magazine (or a description of it) for those who don't know what it is (that included me before I did a search). Also, I'm not sure whether you are after a scientific or magical answer. We have a continuum of tags for science questions - Reality-Check, Science-Based and Hard-Science to explain the varying degrees of science being asked for in the answer. It might be useful to review these and add the relevant one to your question so the answers can be tailored accordingly.
– Tim B II
4 hours ago
1
I do believe that the airline stewards would have a lot to say about a missing passenger. It does not make for good public relations to have a passenger disappear from an airplane.
– Justin Thyme
4 hours ago
Hi FinRy, if you have openings up into parallel worlds, you can sure as hell make them accidentally grab a single person who just disappears. The easiest would be after getting off the airplane and in the airport, he loses sight of her for a moment due to the large number of people and then she gets transported away. Better yet, have it happen after she walks out of view of the airport security cameras, say to go get a cab.
– Shadowzee
3 hours ago
Hello FinRy. Allow me to point out that parallel universes are theoretical. Which is a polite way of saying fictional, until proven otherwise. To ask if something fictional can happen in your fictional short story is, if you'll forgive the conceit... certainly possible. The quesiton you need to answer is, can you write it in such a way that it's plausible? In your mind, how would such a gateway manifest? Remember, they're presently fictional, I mean, theoretical, which means we don't have any idea how such a gate will manifest. This is good for authors, if bad for scientists.
– JBH
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Welcome to Worldbuilding, FinRy. In terms of your question, it might be useful to put a link to Fortean magazine (or a description of it) for those who don't know what it is (that included me before I did a search). Also, I'm not sure whether you are after a scientific or magical answer. We have a continuum of tags for science questions - Reality-Check, Science-Based and Hard-Science to explain the varying degrees of science being asked for in the answer. It might be useful to review these and add the relevant one to your question so the answers can be tailored accordingly.
– Tim B II
4 hours ago
1
I do believe that the airline stewards would have a lot to say about a missing passenger. It does not make for good public relations to have a passenger disappear from an airplane.
– Justin Thyme
4 hours ago
Hi FinRy, if you have openings up into parallel worlds, you can sure as hell make them accidentally grab a single person who just disappears. The easiest would be after getting off the airplane and in the airport, he loses sight of her for a moment due to the large number of people and then she gets transported away. Better yet, have it happen after she walks out of view of the airport security cameras, say to go get a cab.
– Shadowzee
3 hours ago
Hello FinRy. Allow me to point out that parallel universes are theoretical. Which is a polite way of saying fictional, until proven otherwise. To ask if something fictional can happen in your fictional short story is, if you'll forgive the conceit... certainly possible. The quesiton you need to answer is, can you write it in such a way that it's plausible? In your mind, how would such a gateway manifest? Remember, they're presently fictional, I mean, theoretical, which means we don't have any idea how such a gate will manifest. This is good for authors, if bad for scientists.
– JBH
2 hours ago
Welcome to Worldbuilding, FinRy. In terms of your question, it might be useful to put a link to Fortean magazine (or a description of it) for those who don't know what it is (that included me before I did a search). Also, I'm not sure whether you are after a scientific or magical answer. We have a continuum of tags for science questions - Reality-Check, Science-Based and Hard-Science to explain the varying degrees of science being asked for in the answer. It might be useful to review these and add the relevant one to your question so the answers can be tailored accordingly.
– Tim B II
4 hours ago
Welcome to Worldbuilding, FinRy. In terms of your question, it might be useful to put a link to Fortean magazine (or a description of it) for those who don't know what it is (that included me before I did a search). Also, I'm not sure whether you are after a scientific or magical answer. We have a continuum of tags for science questions - Reality-Check, Science-Based and Hard-Science to explain the varying degrees of science being asked for in the answer. It might be useful to review these and add the relevant one to your question so the answers can be tailored accordingly.
– Tim B II
4 hours ago
1
1
I do believe that the airline stewards would have a lot to say about a missing passenger. It does not make for good public relations to have a passenger disappear from an airplane.
– Justin Thyme
4 hours ago
I do believe that the airline stewards would have a lot to say about a missing passenger. It does not make for good public relations to have a passenger disappear from an airplane.
– Justin Thyme
4 hours ago
Hi FinRy, if you have openings up into parallel worlds, you can sure as hell make them accidentally grab a single person who just disappears. The easiest would be after getting off the airplane and in the airport, he loses sight of her for a moment due to the large number of people and then she gets transported away. Better yet, have it happen after she walks out of view of the airport security cameras, say to go get a cab.
– Shadowzee
3 hours ago
Hi FinRy, if you have openings up into parallel worlds, you can sure as hell make them accidentally grab a single person who just disappears. The easiest would be after getting off the airplane and in the airport, he loses sight of her for a moment due to the large number of people and then she gets transported away. Better yet, have it happen after she walks out of view of the airport security cameras, say to go get a cab.
– Shadowzee
3 hours ago
Hello FinRy. Allow me to point out that parallel universes are theoretical. Which is a polite way of saying fictional, until proven otherwise. To ask if something fictional can happen in your fictional short story is, if you'll forgive the conceit... certainly possible. The quesiton you need to answer is, can you write it in such a way that it's plausible? In your mind, how would such a gateway manifest? Remember, they're presently fictional, I mean, theoretical, which means we don't have any idea how such a gate will manifest. This is good for authors, if bad for scientists.
– JBH
2 hours ago
Hello FinRy. Allow me to point out that parallel universes are theoretical. Which is a polite way of saying fictional, until proven otherwise. To ask if something fictional can happen in your fictional short story is, if you'll forgive the conceit... certainly possible. The quesiton you need to answer is, can you write it in such a way that it's plausible? In your mind, how would such a gateway manifest? Remember, they're presently fictional, I mean, theoretical, which means we don't have any idea how such a gate will manifest. This is good for authors, if bad for scientists.
– JBH
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
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up vote
2
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accepted
Since you're coming at this from the perspective of a particular SF world, I'll answer in like perspective.
The obvious answer here is:
YES
The MC's wife disappears, perhaps even whilst she's right in front of him. She just heads over the kitchen to get a glass of water and fffp she slips through something and is no longer visible or present anywhere in the house. She didn't go out through a door or window; she's not hiding in the cupboard, pantry or WC. She didn't go upstairs or downstairs. There is no apparent damage to any structural component or furniture in the house. The key here is that he sees her disappear.
If she gets on a plane, of course she'll "disappear" --- she goes into TSA screening and that's the last he'll see of her, because he can't go to the gate with her! He won't be looking for her and won't put two and two together unless he actually sees her disappear in front of his eyes. If she disappears where no one sees, the airline will just assume she's not on the plane or missed it for whatever reason. TSA will have a record of her passing through the Inspection / Interrogation Area, but once she's through there, she's off their hands! Eventually airport security will become involved and she just becomes a rather bizarre missing persons statistic. That won't work for your story, I think, even though you and I know she's off in some parallel universe.
That means one of two things have happened. One is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by supernatural means. (I.e., non-fortean phenomenon). Unlikely, but something to keep in mind. The other is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by ordinary but as of yet unknown means. (I.e., a fortean phenomenon). MC is already studying them, so is aware of implications when this happens, so perhaps he won't be entirely shocked.
Whether on a plane or in the house, yes, a person can slip into a parallel universe. It is not only possible for a person to enter a parallel universe, but in fact it has happened! (To your MC's wife!)
This is your story and your world, so you get to determine the rules! And from reading your query, I rather think you've already got the right answer in mind. Perhaps you just needed encouragement or validation of creative process? I hope that's the kind of answer you're looking for, because really, the only questions I see going forward from this point are those of mechanism and purpose. How it happens and why. Those might make for good future queries here.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
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up vote
3
down vote
She did not. He did.
This is a premise I have long entertained. The protagonist becomes unmoored in his dimension, and his reality changes as he moves through very similar parallel universes. There is no sensation of change when he shifts. Presumably his parallel self has become unmoored as well, and is slipping along in front of him. First it it little things - a noodle place near his house he has never noticed but his wife has been there several times. The neighbors have a dog, and he loves dogs, but has never noticed this dog. The dog is his friend immediately, as if it has known him a long time. His wife no longer has the silly fairy tattoo - he asks if she finally got it removed and she did. 19 years ago.
He worries he is becoming absent minded, or losing his mind. Then there are bigger differences. And as he tries to get his bearings he realizes there are others like him, unmoored. But some of them know how to steer. He begins to learn.
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
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up vote
1
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If your thinking science fantasy, take a look at Fringe, or any of a number of alternate reality stories.
- Juxtapose two alternate plane separated simply by the frequency that mater vibrates at. Change the frequency change the plane of reality.
- The multiple dimensions suggested by string theory, perhaps some of those could potentially by spatial+temporal. Simply rotate into them.
- Perhaps Brane Theory, but that is much more likely not to suite the situation. The energy requirement would be stupendous, and the consequences very scary.
To be honest the only science valid way i can see this is via Psychology, or Virtual Reality.
- She haunts his mind to the point he believes he sees her, probably as a manifestation of his own subconscious.
- Some neuroscientist has copied her persona into the protagonists head, using either a brain circuit, or some advanced form of nerve potentiation.
- He is plugged in the Matrix, Neo style.
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
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Followers of the writings of H.P. Lovecraft have long been aware that the complexity of our multi-dimensional reality exceeds the capacity of any sane human mind. So when faced with facets of real existence which heavily violate our fundamental understandings, the mind has only two defenses. It can suppress the memory of what it believes to be an impossible event, or it can shatter entirely, greatly increasing its ability to understand reality by abandoning the preconceptions which we call sanity.
When your MC's wife slipped into a parallel universe, the stewardesses (and other passengers near by) may have experienced a dark miracle, something too real for their mind to safely hold. But the moment that she was gone, their minds started cleaning her out of their memory. Not only do none of them remember her vanishing before their eyes, they also don't remember that she ever got on the plane. Their eyes blur whenever they look at here place on the passenger manifest. Nobody questions why one seat was left empty on an otherwise sold out flight. She is gone and they are doing everything in their power from keeping her gone from both mind and memory.
Your MC is a different case. Maybe he didn't see her actually vanish. Maybe he blinked at just the right moment. Or maybe his love for her has overpowered his minds automatic defenses. In which case, the other option, total insanity, may soon be taking over his mind.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Since you're coming at this from the perspective of a particular SF world, I'll answer in like perspective.
The obvious answer here is:
YES
The MC's wife disappears, perhaps even whilst she's right in front of him. She just heads over the kitchen to get a glass of water and fffp she slips through something and is no longer visible or present anywhere in the house. She didn't go out through a door or window; she's not hiding in the cupboard, pantry or WC. She didn't go upstairs or downstairs. There is no apparent damage to any structural component or furniture in the house. The key here is that he sees her disappear.
If she gets on a plane, of course she'll "disappear" --- she goes into TSA screening and that's the last he'll see of her, because he can't go to the gate with her! He won't be looking for her and won't put two and two together unless he actually sees her disappear in front of his eyes. If she disappears where no one sees, the airline will just assume she's not on the plane or missed it for whatever reason. TSA will have a record of her passing through the Inspection / Interrogation Area, but once she's through there, she's off their hands! Eventually airport security will become involved and she just becomes a rather bizarre missing persons statistic. That won't work for your story, I think, even though you and I know she's off in some parallel universe.
That means one of two things have happened. One is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by supernatural means. (I.e., non-fortean phenomenon). Unlikely, but something to keep in mind. The other is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by ordinary but as of yet unknown means. (I.e., a fortean phenomenon). MC is already studying them, so is aware of implications when this happens, so perhaps he won't be entirely shocked.
Whether on a plane or in the house, yes, a person can slip into a parallel universe. It is not only possible for a person to enter a parallel universe, but in fact it has happened! (To your MC's wife!)
This is your story and your world, so you get to determine the rules! And from reading your query, I rather think you've already got the right answer in mind. Perhaps you just needed encouragement or validation of creative process? I hope that's the kind of answer you're looking for, because really, the only questions I see going forward from this point are those of mechanism and purpose. How it happens and why. Those might make for good future queries here.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Since you're coming at this from the perspective of a particular SF world, I'll answer in like perspective.
The obvious answer here is:
YES
The MC's wife disappears, perhaps even whilst she's right in front of him. She just heads over the kitchen to get a glass of water and fffp she slips through something and is no longer visible or present anywhere in the house. She didn't go out through a door or window; she's not hiding in the cupboard, pantry or WC. She didn't go upstairs or downstairs. There is no apparent damage to any structural component or furniture in the house. The key here is that he sees her disappear.
If she gets on a plane, of course she'll "disappear" --- she goes into TSA screening and that's the last he'll see of her, because he can't go to the gate with her! He won't be looking for her and won't put two and two together unless he actually sees her disappear in front of his eyes. If she disappears where no one sees, the airline will just assume she's not on the plane or missed it for whatever reason. TSA will have a record of her passing through the Inspection / Interrogation Area, but once she's through there, she's off their hands! Eventually airport security will become involved and she just becomes a rather bizarre missing persons statistic. That won't work for your story, I think, even though you and I know she's off in some parallel universe.
That means one of two things have happened. One is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by supernatural means. (I.e., non-fortean phenomenon). Unlikely, but something to keep in mind. The other is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by ordinary but as of yet unknown means. (I.e., a fortean phenomenon). MC is already studying them, so is aware of implications when this happens, so perhaps he won't be entirely shocked.
Whether on a plane or in the house, yes, a person can slip into a parallel universe. It is not only possible for a person to enter a parallel universe, but in fact it has happened! (To your MC's wife!)
This is your story and your world, so you get to determine the rules! And from reading your query, I rather think you've already got the right answer in mind. Perhaps you just needed encouragement or validation of creative process? I hope that's the kind of answer you're looking for, because really, the only questions I see going forward from this point are those of mechanism and purpose. How it happens and why. Those might make for good future queries here.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Since you're coming at this from the perspective of a particular SF world, I'll answer in like perspective.
The obvious answer here is:
YES
The MC's wife disappears, perhaps even whilst she's right in front of him. She just heads over the kitchen to get a glass of water and fffp she slips through something and is no longer visible or present anywhere in the house. She didn't go out through a door or window; she's not hiding in the cupboard, pantry or WC. She didn't go upstairs or downstairs. There is no apparent damage to any structural component or furniture in the house. The key here is that he sees her disappear.
If she gets on a plane, of course she'll "disappear" --- she goes into TSA screening and that's the last he'll see of her, because he can't go to the gate with her! He won't be looking for her and won't put two and two together unless he actually sees her disappear in front of his eyes. If she disappears where no one sees, the airline will just assume she's not on the plane or missed it for whatever reason. TSA will have a record of her passing through the Inspection / Interrogation Area, but once she's through there, she's off their hands! Eventually airport security will become involved and she just becomes a rather bizarre missing persons statistic. That won't work for your story, I think, even though you and I know she's off in some parallel universe.
That means one of two things have happened. One is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by supernatural means. (I.e., non-fortean phenomenon). Unlikely, but something to keep in mind. The other is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by ordinary but as of yet unknown means. (I.e., a fortean phenomenon). MC is already studying them, so is aware of implications when this happens, so perhaps he won't be entirely shocked.
Whether on a plane or in the house, yes, a person can slip into a parallel universe. It is not only possible for a person to enter a parallel universe, but in fact it has happened! (To your MC's wife!)
This is your story and your world, so you get to determine the rules! And from reading your query, I rather think you've already got the right answer in mind. Perhaps you just needed encouragement or validation of creative process? I hope that's the kind of answer you're looking for, because really, the only questions I see going forward from this point are those of mechanism and purpose. How it happens and why. Those might make for good future queries here.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
Since you're coming at this from the perspective of a particular SF world, I'll answer in like perspective.
The obvious answer here is:
YES
The MC's wife disappears, perhaps even whilst she's right in front of him. She just heads over the kitchen to get a glass of water and fffp she slips through something and is no longer visible or present anywhere in the house. She didn't go out through a door or window; she's not hiding in the cupboard, pantry or WC. She didn't go upstairs or downstairs. There is no apparent damage to any structural component or furniture in the house. The key here is that he sees her disappear.
If she gets on a plane, of course she'll "disappear" --- she goes into TSA screening and that's the last he'll see of her, because he can't go to the gate with her! He won't be looking for her and won't put two and two together unless he actually sees her disappear in front of his eyes. If she disappears where no one sees, the airline will just assume she's not on the plane or missed it for whatever reason. TSA will have a record of her passing through the Inspection / Interrogation Area, but once she's through there, she's off their hands! Eventually airport security will become involved and she just becomes a rather bizarre missing persons statistic. That won't work for your story, I think, even though you and I know she's off in some parallel universe.
That means one of two things have happened. One is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by supernatural means. (I.e., non-fortean phenomenon). Unlikely, but something to keep in mind. The other is that she has been removed from the ordinary world by ordinary but as of yet unknown means. (I.e., a fortean phenomenon). MC is already studying them, so is aware of implications when this happens, so perhaps he won't be entirely shocked.
Whether on a plane or in the house, yes, a person can slip into a parallel universe. It is not only possible for a person to enter a parallel universe, but in fact it has happened! (To your MC's wife!)
This is your story and your world, so you get to determine the rules! And from reading your query, I rather think you've already got the right answer in mind. Perhaps you just needed encouragement or validation of creative process? I hope that's the kind of answer you're looking for, because really, the only questions I see going forward from this point are those of mechanism and purpose. How it happens and why. Those might make for good future queries here.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilas
8,37921844
8,37921844
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
She did not. He did.
This is a premise I have long entertained. The protagonist becomes unmoored in his dimension, and his reality changes as he moves through very similar parallel universes. There is no sensation of change when he shifts. Presumably his parallel self has become unmoored as well, and is slipping along in front of him. First it it little things - a noodle place near his house he has never noticed but his wife has been there several times. The neighbors have a dog, and he loves dogs, but has never noticed this dog. The dog is his friend immediately, as if it has known him a long time. His wife no longer has the silly fairy tattoo - he asks if she finally got it removed and she did. 19 years ago.
He worries he is becoming absent minded, or losing his mind. Then there are bigger differences. And as he tries to get his bearings he realizes there are others like him, unmoored. But some of them know how to steer. He begins to learn.
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
She did not. He did.
This is a premise I have long entertained. The protagonist becomes unmoored in his dimension, and his reality changes as he moves through very similar parallel universes. There is no sensation of change when he shifts. Presumably his parallel self has become unmoored as well, and is slipping along in front of him. First it it little things - a noodle place near his house he has never noticed but his wife has been there several times. The neighbors have a dog, and he loves dogs, but has never noticed this dog. The dog is his friend immediately, as if it has known him a long time. His wife no longer has the silly fairy tattoo - he asks if she finally got it removed and she did. 19 years ago.
He worries he is becoming absent minded, or losing his mind. Then there are bigger differences. And as he tries to get his bearings he realizes there are others like him, unmoored. But some of them know how to steer. He begins to learn.
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
She did not. He did.
This is a premise I have long entertained. The protagonist becomes unmoored in his dimension, and his reality changes as he moves through very similar parallel universes. There is no sensation of change when he shifts. Presumably his parallel self has become unmoored as well, and is slipping along in front of him. First it it little things - a noodle place near his house he has never noticed but his wife has been there several times. The neighbors have a dog, and he loves dogs, but has never noticed this dog. The dog is his friend immediately, as if it has known him a long time. His wife no longer has the silly fairy tattoo - he asks if she finally got it removed and she did. 19 years ago.
He worries he is becoming absent minded, or losing his mind. Then there are bigger differences. And as he tries to get his bearings he realizes there are others like him, unmoored. But some of them know how to steer. He begins to learn.
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
She did not. He did.
This is a premise I have long entertained. The protagonist becomes unmoored in his dimension, and his reality changes as he moves through very similar parallel universes. There is no sensation of change when he shifts. Presumably his parallel self has become unmoored as well, and is slipping along in front of him. First it it little things - a noodle place near his house he has never noticed but his wife has been there several times. The neighbors have a dog, and he loves dogs, but has never noticed this dog. The dog is his friend immediately, as if it has known him a long time. His wife no longer has the silly fairy tattoo - he asks if she finally got it removed and she did. 19 years ago.
He worries he is becoming absent minded, or losing his mind. Then there are bigger differences. And as he tries to get his bearings he realizes there are others like him, unmoored. But some of them know how to steer. He begins to learn.
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
answered 2 hours ago
Willk
90.4k22176385
90.4k22176385
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
Also an interesting concept!
– elemtilas
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
If your thinking science fantasy, take a look at Fringe, or any of a number of alternate reality stories.
- Juxtapose two alternate plane separated simply by the frequency that mater vibrates at. Change the frequency change the plane of reality.
- The multiple dimensions suggested by string theory, perhaps some of those could potentially by spatial+temporal. Simply rotate into them.
- Perhaps Brane Theory, but that is much more likely not to suite the situation. The energy requirement would be stupendous, and the consequences very scary.
To be honest the only science valid way i can see this is via Psychology, or Virtual Reality.
- She haunts his mind to the point he believes he sees her, probably as a manifestation of his own subconscious.
- Some neuroscientist has copied her persona into the protagonists head, using either a brain circuit, or some advanced form of nerve potentiation.
- He is plugged in the Matrix, Neo style.
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
If your thinking science fantasy, take a look at Fringe, or any of a number of alternate reality stories.
- Juxtapose two alternate plane separated simply by the frequency that mater vibrates at. Change the frequency change the plane of reality.
- The multiple dimensions suggested by string theory, perhaps some of those could potentially by spatial+temporal. Simply rotate into them.
- Perhaps Brane Theory, but that is much more likely not to suite the situation. The energy requirement would be stupendous, and the consequences very scary.
To be honest the only science valid way i can see this is via Psychology, or Virtual Reality.
- She haunts his mind to the point he believes he sees her, probably as a manifestation of his own subconscious.
- Some neuroscientist has copied her persona into the protagonists head, using either a brain circuit, or some advanced form of nerve potentiation.
- He is plugged in the Matrix, Neo style.
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
If your thinking science fantasy, take a look at Fringe, or any of a number of alternate reality stories.
- Juxtapose two alternate plane separated simply by the frequency that mater vibrates at. Change the frequency change the plane of reality.
- The multiple dimensions suggested by string theory, perhaps some of those could potentially by spatial+temporal. Simply rotate into them.
- Perhaps Brane Theory, but that is much more likely not to suite the situation. The energy requirement would be stupendous, and the consequences very scary.
To be honest the only science valid way i can see this is via Psychology, or Virtual Reality.
- She haunts his mind to the point he believes he sees her, probably as a manifestation of his own subconscious.
- Some neuroscientist has copied her persona into the protagonists head, using either a brain circuit, or some advanced form of nerve potentiation.
- He is plugged in the Matrix, Neo style.
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
If your thinking science fantasy, take a look at Fringe, or any of a number of alternate reality stories.
- Juxtapose two alternate plane separated simply by the frequency that mater vibrates at. Change the frequency change the plane of reality.
- The multiple dimensions suggested by string theory, perhaps some of those could potentially by spatial+temporal. Simply rotate into them.
- Perhaps Brane Theory, but that is much more likely not to suite the situation. The energy requirement would be stupendous, and the consequences very scary.
To be honest the only science valid way i can see this is via Psychology, or Virtual Reality.
- She haunts his mind to the point he believes he sees her, probably as a manifestation of his own subconscious.
- Some neuroscientist has copied her persona into the protagonists head, using either a brain circuit, or some advanced form of nerve potentiation.
- He is plugged in the Matrix, Neo style.
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
answered 3 hours ago
Kain0_0
891
891
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Followers of the writings of H.P. Lovecraft have long been aware that the complexity of our multi-dimensional reality exceeds the capacity of any sane human mind. So when faced with facets of real existence which heavily violate our fundamental understandings, the mind has only two defenses. It can suppress the memory of what it believes to be an impossible event, or it can shatter entirely, greatly increasing its ability to understand reality by abandoning the preconceptions which we call sanity.
When your MC's wife slipped into a parallel universe, the stewardesses (and other passengers near by) may have experienced a dark miracle, something too real for their mind to safely hold. But the moment that she was gone, their minds started cleaning her out of their memory. Not only do none of them remember her vanishing before their eyes, they also don't remember that she ever got on the plane. Their eyes blur whenever they look at here place on the passenger manifest. Nobody questions why one seat was left empty on an otherwise sold out flight. She is gone and they are doing everything in their power from keeping her gone from both mind and memory.
Your MC is a different case. Maybe he didn't see her actually vanish. Maybe he blinked at just the right moment. Or maybe his love for her has overpowered his minds automatic defenses. In which case, the other option, total insanity, may soon be taking over his mind.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Followers of the writings of H.P. Lovecraft have long been aware that the complexity of our multi-dimensional reality exceeds the capacity of any sane human mind. So when faced with facets of real existence which heavily violate our fundamental understandings, the mind has only two defenses. It can suppress the memory of what it believes to be an impossible event, or it can shatter entirely, greatly increasing its ability to understand reality by abandoning the preconceptions which we call sanity.
When your MC's wife slipped into a parallel universe, the stewardesses (and other passengers near by) may have experienced a dark miracle, something too real for their mind to safely hold. But the moment that she was gone, their minds started cleaning her out of their memory. Not only do none of them remember her vanishing before their eyes, they also don't remember that she ever got on the plane. Their eyes blur whenever they look at here place on the passenger manifest. Nobody questions why one seat was left empty on an otherwise sold out flight. She is gone and they are doing everything in their power from keeping her gone from both mind and memory.
Your MC is a different case. Maybe he didn't see her actually vanish. Maybe he blinked at just the right moment. Or maybe his love for her has overpowered his minds automatic defenses. In which case, the other option, total insanity, may soon be taking over his mind.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Followers of the writings of H.P. Lovecraft have long been aware that the complexity of our multi-dimensional reality exceeds the capacity of any sane human mind. So when faced with facets of real existence which heavily violate our fundamental understandings, the mind has only two defenses. It can suppress the memory of what it believes to be an impossible event, or it can shatter entirely, greatly increasing its ability to understand reality by abandoning the preconceptions which we call sanity.
When your MC's wife slipped into a parallel universe, the stewardesses (and other passengers near by) may have experienced a dark miracle, something too real for their mind to safely hold. But the moment that she was gone, their minds started cleaning her out of their memory. Not only do none of them remember her vanishing before their eyes, they also don't remember that she ever got on the plane. Their eyes blur whenever they look at here place on the passenger manifest. Nobody questions why one seat was left empty on an otherwise sold out flight. She is gone and they are doing everything in their power from keeping her gone from both mind and memory.
Your MC is a different case. Maybe he didn't see her actually vanish. Maybe he blinked at just the right moment. Or maybe his love for her has overpowered his minds automatic defenses. In which case, the other option, total insanity, may soon be taking over his mind.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
Followers of the writings of H.P. Lovecraft have long been aware that the complexity of our multi-dimensional reality exceeds the capacity of any sane human mind. So when faced with facets of real existence which heavily violate our fundamental understandings, the mind has only two defenses. It can suppress the memory of what it believes to be an impossible event, or it can shatter entirely, greatly increasing its ability to understand reality by abandoning the preconceptions which we call sanity.
When your MC's wife slipped into a parallel universe, the stewardesses (and other passengers near by) may have experienced a dark miracle, something too real for their mind to safely hold. But the moment that she was gone, their minds started cleaning her out of their memory. Not only do none of them remember her vanishing before their eyes, they also don't remember that she ever got on the plane. Their eyes blur whenever they look at here place on the passenger manifest. Nobody questions why one seat was left empty on an otherwise sold out flight. She is gone and they are doing everything in their power from keeping her gone from both mind and memory.
Your MC is a different case. Maybe he didn't see her actually vanish. Maybe he blinked at just the right moment. Or maybe his love for her has overpowered his minds automatic defenses. In which case, the other option, total insanity, may soon be taking over his mind.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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Welcome to Worldbuilding, FinRy. In terms of your question, it might be useful to put a link to Fortean magazine (or a description of it) for those who don't know what it is (that included me before I did a search). Also, I'm not sure whether you are after a scientific or magical answer. We have a continuum of tags for science questions - Reality-Check, Science-Based and Hard-Science to explain the varying degrees of science being asked for in the answer. It might be useful to review these and add the relevant one to your question so the answers can be tailored accordingly.
– Tim B II
4 hours ago
1
I do believe that the airline stewards would have a lot to say about a missing passenger. It does not make for good public relations to have a passenger disappear from an airplane.
– Justin Thyme
4 hours ago
Hi FinRy, if you have openings up into parallel worlds, you can sure as hell make them accidentally grab a single person who just disappears. The easiest would be after getting off the airplane and in the airport, he loses sight of her for a moment due to the large number of people and then she gets transported away. Better yet, have it happen after she walks out of view of the airport security cameras, say to go get a cab.
– Shadowzee
3 hours ago
Hello FinRy. Allow me to point out that parallel universes are theoretical. Which is a polite way of saying fictional, until proven otherwise. To ask if something fictional can happen in your fictional short story is, if you'll forgive the conceit... certainly possible. The quesiton you need to answer is, can you write it in such a way that it's plausible? In your mind, how would such a gateway manifest? Remember, they're presently fictional, I mean, theoretical, which means we don't have any idea how such a gate will manifest. This is good for authors, if bad for scientists.
– JBH
2 hours ago