Most time travel stories mine similar territories. People go to the past, people go to the future, and either way something gets screwed up or fixed or both.
But in Philip Fracassi’s new time travel science fiction thriller The Third Rule Of Time Travel (paperback, Kindle, audiobook) he puts a new spin on this chronological conundrum.
As he details in the following email interview, it’s the titular third rule — and the second, and the first — that really change what you can do when you travel as well as where and when you can do when you get there.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Simard
To start, what is The Third Rule Of Time Travel about, and when and where does it take place?
The Third Rule Of Time Travel is about a scientist named Beth Darlow who, along with her deceased husband, figured out a new method of time travel. Specifically, they created a machine that allows a person’s consciousness to travel backward in time.
Of course, there are rules. One, travel can only occur at a preexisting point within the traveler’s lifetime (In other words, no dinosaurs). Two, travel only lasts for 90 seconds. Three, the traveler can only observe.
But like any unproven science, things don’t go as planned, rules get bent, and (without getting into spoilers) Beth has to fix things before it’s too late.
Where did you get the idea for The Third Rule Of Time Travel, and how different is the finished story from what you originally conceived?
As I mention in the book’s Afterword, the inspiration came from many sources, but I’d say the primary point of inspiration was my fascination with a sort of legendary physics experiment called the Double-Slit Experiment, in which the very act of observing something modifies the actions of particles. It was that, combined with my fascination with the idea of digitizing a person’s consciousness, that set me on the path to write Beth’s story.
I’d originally conceived of the story as a feature film called Observe, and though I made a lot of changes between the screenplay and the novel, the story is primarily the same. Just more bells and whistles.
Now, does the time travel machine go forward in time or just backwards?
As mentioned, the traveler can only go to a point in their lifetime, so that would mean only backwards. Theoretical physics of time travel actually allow for this. Meaning, it’s theoretically possible to bend space-time and visit yourself a decade prior. Theoretically. In every instance of my machine and the physics involved, I did my very best to keep things as aligned with real science, versus science fiction, as possible.
As you said, the second rule of time travel in The Third Rule Of Time Travel is “You can only travel for ninety seconds.” Now, is that a limit established by people in charge or is just how long someone can observe things no matter what they do?
It’s a technical aspect of the machine. The negative energy that’s used to digitize consciousness and shoot it through a wormhole is pretty substantial, and even though Beth has figured out how to harness that energy, using it any longer than approximately 90 seconds causes instability, and could potentially trap the person on the other side, as it were. So it’s a safeguard established by Beth.
Either way, why did you decide to make it ninety seconds as opposed to sixty or a hundred and twenty or even an hour?
I don’t have a great answer for this. To me if felt like a reasonable amount of time for a pulse of considerable energy to be sustained. In my mind, anything shorter would feel sort of “too fast,” and anything longer just felt like it could create problems.
Also, is the fourth rule of time travel that you don’t talk about time travel? And the fifth rule of time travel that You Don’t. Talk. About. Time. Travel?
Man, when Orbit asked me to change the name of the book from Observe to The Third Rule Of Time Travel, I was totally on board. But I literally said to my editor that the only problem was I was gonna have to hear about a million Fight Club jokes. Turns out I was spot-on about that.
I am nothing if not cliché.
Anyway, The Third Rule Of Time Travel is clearly a science fiction story, though it sounds like there might other genres at work in it…
I’d classify it as a sci-fi thriller. It’s not pure science fiction in the sense that there’s spaceships and distant planets and that kind of stuff, but there’s definitely some hard science in there that I think will satisfy most sci-fi readers. But in my mind it’s more of a thriller with a sci-fi backdrop…with just a dash of horror.
Now, The Third Rule Of Time Travel is your sixth novel, but you’ve also written a number of novellas and short stories. Are there any writers, or specific stories, that had a big influence on Third Rule but not on anything else you’ve written?
Most of my inspiration for this novel came from reading non-fiction, specifically books by Michio Kaku, Brian Greene, and Kip Thorne. I think John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War first gave me the idea of digitizing consciousness, and how that could be used in a new way. I’ve written a few science fiction short stories, as well, so it’s a genre I’m fond of going back to my days of reading Asimov and Clarke.
Along with all the fiction, you also write poetry, and released a collection of your poems called Tomorrow’s Gone. Do you think writing poetry — and, I assume, reading poetry — had an influence on how you wrote The Third Rule Of Time Travel?
Not really. I do love reading poetry and yeah, I published a small book of poems, but I wouldn’t say there was any element of this story inspired by a poem I read. I read poetry because I love language and I love the way words can express feelings and thoughts in such beautiful ways. So in a way poetry infuses all of my work, of which this this novel is one example.
What about non-literary influences? Was The Third Rule Of Time Travel influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games?
Not really. I don’t think I’ve ever written anything directly inspired by a movie or a game, etc. All that stuff lives in a totally different part of my brain.
Science fiction novels are sometimes stand-alone stories, and sometimes part of larger sagas. What is The Third Rule Of Time Travel? Is it a stand-alone novel or the start of a series?
Definitely a stand-alone story.
That said, never say never. I could see Langan Corporation, which is where Beth works, and is a key player in the story, popping up in a future story or novel…but as far as Beth’s story is concerned, this is the beginning, middle, and end.
As you mentioned earlier, you originally conceived of this story as a movie. But you also said you added a lot to the story in transitioning it from a screenplay to a novel. So then, do you still think it would work as a movie? Or would it be better as a TV show? Or even a game?
Obviously, I think it could definitely work as a movie, since that was its original form in my mind. I also think it could work as a one or two season television series. I’ve had a lot of conversations with some amazing filmmakers and producers about the potential adaptation of the book, so I’m definitely hoping that comes to fruition.
Regarding a game…sure, why not? I think it has that potential, though it would be more cerebral than a shooter.
So, if someone wanted to make a movie or TV show based on The Third Rule Of Time Travel, who would you want them to cast as Beth and the other main characters?
Beth is such a great character, and I’d love to see someone tackle her for the screen. I think someone like Kate Siegel, best known for her work in Mike Flanagan’s movies and television shows [Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep], would be a near-perfect fit for Beth. She’s a whip-smart, sardonic character with deep wells of emotional depth, so you’d need a certain kind of actor to pull that off.
I’ve always thought of Jim Langan as the guy from Succession, Brian Cox. There’s an actor named Cliff Curtis [The Meg], more of a character actor who’s been in a million things, who I think would be a perfect Colson.
And would you want another crack at writing the screenplay? Or screenplays, as the case may be?
Yeah, I’d like to write it if I could. It would depend on who wanted to make it, and whether they had their own idea for a writer, etc. But I’d certainly like to be involved, since I’m so intimate with the story.
So, is there anything else you think potential readers need to know about The Third Rule Of Time Travel?
I think the less you know the better. This is a fun story to go into blind. There’s some big twists and a few surprises, so it would be my hope that readers would just dive in without reading too much marketing copy or Amazon reviews. This is the kind of story you don’t want spoiled.
Finally, if someone enjoys The Third Rule Of Time Travel, which of your earlier novels, novellas, or short story collections would you suggest they check out next?
This book is pretty different than my other books in that it’s not horror, but more of a sci-fi thriller. That said, there are some speculative elements and a couple creepy moments that I think horror readers will enjoy. If you read this and like the pacing, the writing, the thrills, and especially the scares, I’d suggest checking out my novels Boys In The Valley and A Child Alone With Strangers. Both are very much horror novels, but are propulsive thrillers, as well.
