Cosmic Time Travel [Hardcover]

Barry Parker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0306439662 | ISBN-13: 978-0306439667 | Publication Date: August 21, 1991

The author discusses whether time travel is scientifically possible. He examines "the history of the development of general relativity, the conceptof curved space-time and the early evolution of the universe. The remainder of the book [seeks to] explain the problems that arise when we attempt to turntheoretical holes in space-time into time machines." (N Y Times Book Review)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There are really two odysseys here: the development of theoretical physics from relativity forward and the attempt to manipulate time itself as a new dimension of the universe. Parker shuttles back and forth between the two, passing through wormholes, tachyonslc per webster and spinning black holes and trying ultimately to make the two ends meet in reversible space-time travel. Even with speculative splices from astrophysicists and a science fiction writer, however, the ends of Parker's theoretical rope are too short. Though a theory that provides for time travel is out of reach--never mind its application--readers should not be deterred from this space-time odyssey in search of a way to move forward in the cosmos--or back. Parker is a professor of physics and astronomy at Idaho State University.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Barry Parker, Ph.D, is an award-winning science writer and the author of eleven highly acclaimed books in popular science, including Alien Life, Cosmic Time Travel, Einstein's Dream, and Einstein's Brainchild.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 308 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (August 21, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306439662
• ISBN-13: 978-0306439667
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,866,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a professor emeritus at Idaho State University where I taught physics and astronomy for 30 years. I also taught a writing class at night school at the university for several years. I am the author of 24 books and have written for the Smithsonian, Encyclopedia, Britannica, Time-Life Books, the Washington Post, and numerous magazines such as "Astronomy, Sky and Telescope, Flyfisherman, and Fishing World." My most recent books are "Good Vibrations: The Physics of Music," "Write a Book that Will Sell," and "You Should Write a Book." I now spend most of my time writing, but also enjoy travelling, hiking and fishing. Most of my early books were on popular science, but I've now branched into other areas. My webpage is BarryParkerbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For people who like to THINK, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cosmic Time Travel (Hardcover)

Virtually everyone has been exposed to ideas of time travel, although these ideas are usually purely fictitious (e.g. Back to the Future, The Time Machine). It is a topic most people have pondered, though few investigate the science behind it. Anyone interested by fantasies of time travel will be even more interested to learn that modern physics does not exclude the possibility of it. Cosmic Time Travel describes current scientific theories of time in easily "understood" terms. (The word understand is used loosely; certainly no one fully understands the nature of space-time!) This book is easily accessible even to people with no background in physics. The concepts of Cosmic Time Travel are very interesting and thought-provoking, but I should mention that, although Relativity has been experimentally verified, applications for time travel are speculative. (In other words, no get too excited about the prospect of time travel yet.) Even if wormholes and exotic matter (you'll find out when you read this...) would serve the purpose, current technology is no where near being capable to produce such a device. Parker concludes that hope for time travel rests in super-civilizations in a far greater stage of development than our own. (He seems moderately confident of their existence, although I myself find it highly doubtful.) Still, time is a fascinating concept, and this book is wonderful if you are looking for something to exercise your brain. If you find physics interesting, you'd probably like this book. If you don't find physics interesting, you probably would after reading this book. Of course, there are other books on this topic besides Cosmic. Black Holes and Time Warps contains basically the same information, also well explained, and is really a better deal.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars HOPE TO TIME-TRAVEL is far more exciting, August 2, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cosmic Time Travel (Hardcover)

Cosmic Time Travel : A Scientific Odyssey by Barry R. Parker is a serious search for how time-travel might be possible. However it's nowhere near the standard of HOPE TO TIME-TRAVEL:My Honest Wish by Paul Curran. HOPE TO TIME-TRAVEL presents a more convincing argument that time-travel to the past is probably possible. Cosmic Time Travel should be released in a new edition to make it more like (410 A5 Pgs) HOPE TO TIME-TRAVEL. I really enjoy time-travel and Cosmic Time Travel is the second best book I've read on the subject, HOPE TO TIME-TRAVEL is the best!