# Intergalactic Space explained — Invaders from the Infinite

> Chapter companion for Invaders from the Infinite by John W. Campbell.

## What happens

The crew decides to wait out the 80,000-year gap by using time retardation, spending 30,000 years (30 days subjective) working on the theory of artificial matter and energy fields. They briefly land in Neolithic Egypt, observe primitive humans, and then return to space to continue their calculations, with Arcot aiming to harness energy at the scale of a sun ('sol').

## Themes in this chapter

### Time and Paradox

The crew grapples with the paradox of existing 50,000 years before their own birth and the implications of altering history.

### The Value of Knowledge and Science

The chapter focuses on the immense labor of developing new scientific theories (artificial matter, space-energy fields) and the use of time retardation for research.

## Character check-ins

### Arcot

Leads the scientific work on artificial matter and the new energy unit 'sol'; suggests landing in the Nile valley to gauge human advancement.

### Morey

Assists Arcot with calculations and is present during the landing in Neolithic Egypt.

### Wade

Sarcastically comments on waiting 80,000 years; joins the landing party and observes the Neolithic men.

### Zezdon Afthen

Inquires about the nature of the energy work and volunteers to build a mental-control machine.

### Stel Felso Theu

Advises caution about exploring; warns about primitive weapons and joins the landing party.

## Key lines

> If we just wait eighty thousand years, eight hundred centuries, we will be in our own time.

We only need to wait 80,000 years to return to our own era.

_Arcot proposes waiting out the time gap using the time rate control._

> The exploring of our worlds would without doubt be of infinite benefit to science, but I wonder if it would not be of more direct benefit if we were to get back to our own time, alive and well.

Exploring might be scientifically valuable, but returning safely to our own time is more important.

_Stel Felso Theu argues for caution over exploration._

> I am going to invent a new power unit, Afthen. I will call it the 'sol,' the power of a sun.

I will create a new unit of power called the 'sol,' equal to the output of our sun.

_Arcot announces his plan to harness energy at a stellar scale._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters/xiv-intergalactic-space
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters