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reality-degradation

Repeated temporal operations damage the richness and integrity of reality, leading to a potential 'Change Death' analogous to cosmic heat death.

1 chapter across 1 book

The Big Time (1958)Fritz Leiber Jr.

Chapter 8 A PLACE TO STAND

In this chapter, Bruce reflects on the symbolic names of the warring factions, the Spiders and the Snakes, and explores the deeper implications of their cosmic conflict, the Change War. He warns of the deteriorating fabric of history and reality due to continuous temporal warfare, suggesting that the universe risks collapse into a hollowed, less meaningful existence. Bruce proposes a radical hope that time travel could be used for healing and peace rather than destruction, but his ideas are met with resistance and tension among his comrades.