The Value of Timelines

The full Star Trek timeline, which contains the good, the bad, and the ugly of the series (source: https://laughingsquid.com/star-trek-timelines/)

Introduction to the Establishing Timelines topic

A common problem I've seen in many fictional universes is the failure to create a realistic timeline of events within the official lore. Often times, there are often significant gaps and inconsistencies present that leaves us with a messy picture. Writers often forgo any noticeable progression in societal development, tech, or environment. First and foremost, I wish to make it clear that I am not attacking any series for flawed timelines. After all, plotting a logical progression of events for a whole universe can be a very challenging task for any writer. In the case of franchises like Star Wars, creative control of the associated universe can pass through many hands, which can muddle the narrative. I also realize that the emphasis is usually on the individual stories rather than on the broader universe.

What I would rather focus on are the good implementations of timelines, how weaker ones could be improved, and ways in which glaring time gaps could be filled. There have been many pivotal moments in our own world that have shaped the course of our history. Progress has been made in both spurts and leaps. Challenges and periods of regression have arisen many times as well. Any writer who accurately captures the essence of these kind of events accurately should be commended for their sound understanding of the passage of time.

As a historian, I have come to greatly appreciate the power of political revolutions. These are events that involve a massive societal upheaval that results in significant change. Throughout human history, we have seen countless transformations that resulted from the growing contradictions within declining civilizations. Most have passed through some form of tribal society, slave empire, and feudal monarchy before reaching the modern nation-state of today. Each iteration of society is unique in its cultural traditions, modes of production, and class composition. Natural timelines give us a rich story of civilization, filled with heroic deeds and epic achievements. There are also lessons to learn, cruelties to avoid, and scars that linger. Any fictional story that is able to replicate this kind of organic development will undoubtedly succeed in creating a compelling universe.

Along with social change comes technological advancement. Old means of production are replaced with new, often having a direct relationship with the aforementioned political revolutions. Innovations lead to new goals, expand the horizons of exploration, and challenge our perceptions of the universe. Unfortunately, this worldbuilding aspect tends to be the most often neglected aspect in fiction. There are often glaringly long periods of tech stagnation that are poorly explained or waved away entirely by the writers. While I can understand the complexity of constructing tech evolution, it does present great opportunities for multigenerational stories in different stages of tech.

On a smaller scale, I also enjoy the dynamic between successive generations of characters. It is interesting to see subtle changes in cultural mores and political views as their shared society evolves over time. Political upheaval, environmental circumstances, and tech innovations can shape characters from one generation to the next. Older generations have incredible stories to tell, and younger folk are eager to make their own experiences.

In some cases, the characters within a story will be haunted by the ghosts of the past. Unresolved conflicts can take their toll on societies, passing the burden of trauma onto future generations. Post-apocalyptic universes suffer the most from the sins of their ancestors. Following the disaster, the rotting edifice of the old world stifles growth of new societies. One of the best examples of this theme is the Fallout series. Fallout has an interesting timeline that shows a number of diversions from our own history. In this alternative universe, poor planning and resource shortages leads to a nuclear war. It is a gripping tale of corruption, hubris, misuse of tech, and provides light political commentary on our own world.

From a historian's perspective, proper implementation of these elements can help casual observers obtain a better understanding of our own world. Real-life societies are never static and the behavior of individuals can changes with the times. It can sometimes be difficult to comprehend the actions and motivations of past figures and social groups. In this vein, fictional universes do have educational potential as well as entertainment value.