Close Parallels

A “close parallel” is a world very
much like Homeline at some past peri-
od, but with small differences.
Examples include:
Earth-Beta: The first parallel to be
discovered. Like Homeline in 2004 in
most ways, save for the lack of the
crosstime secret.
Cherokee: In this world, now in its
year 1930, the Cherokee Nation was
stronger and more successful in sur-
viving Anglo incursions. When oil was
discovered
in
Oklahoma,
the
Cherokee kept the land and the wealth
– Big Oil is now an Indian-dominated
business.
Holly: A music-lover’s dream world.
Buddy Holly’s plane didn’t crash; in
that world, it’s now 1989, and Holly
and Ritchie Valens are both still rock-
ing. (The Big Bopper went into poli-
tics, and is now in Congress.) Several
other stars lived less self-destructive
lives, and are still around, although
Elvis is still dead. And the Monkees
became a super-group, with Stephen
Stills as a member.