specifically paradoxes.
Ignoring the one instance of branched time that I know of (the Kelvin timeline), assuming that the prime universe has a single dynamic timeline (considering all the times Voyager reset the timeline):
my thoughts are time travel creates a permanent linkage between two points in the timeline.
- The linkage stores all changes caused by the time travel.
- Linkages are vulnerable to paradoxes.
- Too much paradox stress causes the linkage to rot and break. (like an old rope?)
- If a linkage breaks, all changes it caused are naturally lost, thus the timeline self corrects.
I haven’t seen much around about how paradoxes would physically work. this just came to mind and makes the most sense to me, I’m curious if something like this has been explored before?
very simple illustration below, black line is the main timeline, red line is a linkage created by time travel:
voyager, IMO, is a classic example of why authors should stay the fuck away from messing with time travel. Just leave the universe as causal. Once you open the time machine, it becomes god and you just roll it out everytime you write yourself into a corner.
Haha, yeah time travel strays in to deus ex machina territory pretty easily. It can make for an interesting story if done well, but usually ends up feeling cheap and lowering the emotional stakes.
Dr. Who, for example, or that ds9 trible-tribute episode.