Thread: Idea I had

I had this idea for a story. It's sci-fi with a touch of comedy. It involve this guy whos a really a total redneck. He's in his early 20's drives an old truck and works on a farm picking water-melons... part time. Anyway, he develops a time machine and goes back to Ancient Rome (around 60 Ad during the time of the evil emperor Nero) he takes over the empire and sets out to advance their technology (steam power, electricity, etc) and political system (abolition of slavery, basic human rights, democratically elected government). Any thoughts? Ideas?

Thanks.

A "total redneck" abolishing slavery and fighting for human rights? Are you sure?

adds a touch or irony, dont you think?

You could title it An Alabama Redneck in King Nero's Court.

Problem is, someone beat you to this idea 122 years ago.

Why not add that he can fly, just for good measure?

If he's such a redneck, explain how he could develop something that the top scientific minds have declared "Impossible"?

The underlying technology did not exist in 60 CE. There were many diverse developments over many generations that led eventually to the practical use of steam power.

However, that being said, your story has potential so long as you don't ask the reader to take it seriously. Re-read A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court to see what I mean. The entire novel is told tongue-in-cheek. It's as though Mark Twain is winking at you saying, 'you and I both know this is all b.s., but I'm having fun with it, and I hope you are too'.

If you can tell your story in much that same way, you'll have a winner. If you try to make it a serious sci-fi novel I'm afraid you'll be in trouble.

We'll leave him busily doing nothing, working the whole day through....

The problem with going back in time is that any changes must be bound to fail...... or the redneck wouldn't exist.

Originally Posted by Gamer_2k4

You could title it An Alabama Redneck in King Nero's Court.

Problem is, someone beat you to this idea 122 years ago.

Pretty much every idea has already been done, so if you're going to stop at that point you might as well not bother writing. You just need to write the story it in your own unique way.

'Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl'... clearly no future in that plot-line, it's been done before.

And that title would certainly make me at least read the blurb, it sounds rather fun.

Originally Posted by Bloggsworth

The problem with going back in time is that any changes must be bound to fail...... or the redneck wouldn't exist.

No they don't, because you get to create your own rules when you write the story. No-one really knows how time travel might work so as long as you know your rules you're fine.

Originally Posted by garza

The underlying technology did not exist in 60 CE. There were many diverse developments over many generations that led eventually to the practical use of steam power.

I have a buddy of mine whos an engineer helping me with the technical details. Maybe the redneck will develope all the underlying technology once he arrives in Rome? Heck, he built a time machine, why not a steam engine?

However, that being said, your story has potential so long as you don't ask the reader to take it seriously. Re-read A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court to see what I mean. The entire novel is told tongue-in-cheek. It's as though Mark Twain is winking at you saying, 'you and I both know this is all b.s., but I'm having fun with it, and I hope you are too'. If you can tell your story in much that same way, you'll have a winner. If you try to make it a serious sci-fi novel I'm afraid you'll be in trouble.

Exactly. I'm probably the least serious guy on the planet. Why should my writing be any different?

I'm thinking the novel (at least the first one) should cover about 65 years. It starts when he's in his mid 20's and develops a time machine and goes back and takes over the Roman empire till hes about 85 and watches his grand-son (or perhaps grand-daughter lead an expedition to the America's. Although, they wont be called the America's in this time line... Maybe Nova Roma or something awesome like that?

From the sound of it, you have the framework of a novel well thought out, with obvious groundwork for a series. Could be very interesting.

Yes sir (or ma'am)! I do . It will have atleast 3 books

First book is the one i described.

Second colonization of the new world

And third will take place several 100 years later when Rome is the leader of an interstellar alliance and possesses technology indistinguishable from magic. I'm thinknig in this book they can bring the redneck guy back to life.

Sounds good.

Now get writing.

Having lived in the south (and my current location should be some indication of my dislike of it) I would have a hard time believing any redneck could make a time machine. They might be able to fix the fridge to keep the beer cold, but the tv would have to be bought at wall mart if it broke. In the worst terms, rednecks are generally ignorant by choice. (I have a younger brother that is to the bone redneck, and despite the potential he could have, he has wasted it all and chosen to be as unknowing and ignorant as the rest).

Maybe the rednecks might not agree, but most of them don't read if there aren't pictures. Yes, I know I'm being harsh, but I've known too many to give them any real respect. If it is guns, beer, nascar, or beer, they know all about it. I might believe they are rebuilding a 1960's car that is sitting on blocks with weeds growing up around it since it hasn't been touched in a few years...same for the lawn, but a time machine? Not likely.

Now, if the redneck fell into a wormhole (or some other accidental method of getting there) that dropped him back in time...that I would believe. Abolishing slavery? Are you kidding? They would have a harem, or two!

My point is that you could do it, but by the time you gave the 'redneck' all the qualities he/she needed to be able to do what you are describing, they wouldn't be a redneck anymore. Redneck is an attitude, not just a social environment. I have had to live through that environment, and it took quite a bit of effort not to fall in with the crowd and just go about life without much concern for anything beyond the current desire. Yes, there are other groups just as bad, but having started my life outside of that world, and then being shoved in it when young, culture shock doesn't quite cover it. I've seen them when they stopped pretending to be nice to people, and what I saw was pretty ugly.

For those that don't really know, you could probably pull it off. For me, and anyone who has lived there, it might take a bit more effort to convince me to believe it.

Originally Posted by Lord Darkstorm

Having lived in the south (and my current location should be some indication of my dislike of it) I would have a hard time believing any redneck could make a time machine. They might be able to fix the fridge to keep the beer cold, but the tv would have to be bought at wall mart if it broke. In the worst terms, rednecks are generally ignorant by choice. (I have a younger brother that is to the bone redneck, and despite the potential he could have, he has wasted it all and chosen to be as unknowing and ignorant as the rest).

Maybe the rednecks might not agree, but most of them don't read if there aren't pictures. Yes, I know I'm being harsh, but I've known too many to give them any real respect. If it is guns, beer, nascar, or beer, they know all about it. I might believe they are rebuilding a 1960's car that is sitting on blocks with weeds growing up around it since it hasn't been touched in a few years...same for the lawn, but a time machine? Not likely.

Now, if the redneck fell into a wormhole (or some other accidental method of getting there) that dropped him back in time...that I would believe. Abolishing slavery? Are you kidding? They would have a harem, or two!

My point is that you could do it, but by the time you gave the 'redneck' all the qualities he/she needed to be able to do what you are describing, they wouldn't be a redneck anymore. Redneck is an attitude, not just a social environment. I have had to live through that environment, and it took quite a bit of effort not to fall in with the crowd and just go about life without much concern for anything beyond the current desire. Yes, there are other groups just as bad, but having started my life outside of that world, and then being shoved in it when young, culture shock doesn't quite cover it. I've seen them when they stopped pretending to be nice to people, and what I saw was pretty ugly.

For those that don't really know, you could probably pull it off. For me, and anyone who has lived there, it might take a bit more effort to convince me to believe it.

Yeah.... I live in the south and would have to strongly agree with all of this.

Make the guy "build" the time machine by accident maybe... through some crazy chain of events (beer spills onto the air conditioner, sending an electric shock into the tv, creating an energy field making a wormhole-or something equally silly). I'd take to the story better if he was just this bumbling moron guy who had all of this just sort of fall into his lap, verses it going from random redneck to great leader and human rights activist.

You could do a lot with the accident angle. In fact it could be quite funny... having him completely change their whole society somehow through no direct intention of his own...

The whole premise kinda reminds me of Futurama... don't know if you watch it but it's about a really dumb lil guy who accidentally gets sent into the future...