LeVar Burton Reads

"The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" Part 1 by Ted Chiang

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Jun 5, 2019
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INSIGHT

Inspiration and Theme

  • Ted Chiang's "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" is inspired by Kip Thorne's time travel theories.
  • The story explores the possibility of wormholes connecting different points in time.
INSIGHT

Time Travel and Personal Choices

  • Time travel raises personal questions about changing the past or future.
  • It also prompts reflections on potential consequences, good or bad.
ANECDOTE

The Fortunate Rope Maker

  • A rope maker named Hassan travels 20 years into the future using the alchemist's gate.
  • He follows his older self's advice, avoids misfortunes, and discovers hidden treasure.
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