# Home Again explained — Invaders from the Infinite

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

## What happens

Arcot, Morey, and Wade return to Earth after their accidental time jump, finding the planet under siege by Thessian forces. They reunite with Torlos of Nansal, who has arrived with a fleet to aid Earth. Arcot reveals their time travel experience and begins work on a new apparatus to counter the enemy, culminating in a demonstration for Earth's scientists.

## Themes in this chapter

### Time and Paradox

Arcot and Morey discuss the implications of existing simultaneously in two time rates and the forced time slip when trying to coexist.

### Unity Against a Common Enemy

Torlos brings a Nansalian fleet to aid Earth, demonstrating solidarity across galaxies against the Thessian invasion.

### Technological Progress and Its Consequences

The development of time fields and ray screens shows both the benefits and dangers of advanced technology, including accidental time jumps.

## Character check-ins

### Arcot

Returns to Earth and explains the accidental time jump to his father, then leads the development of new defensive apparatus.

### Morey

Accompanies Arcot back to Earth and participates in the discussion about time paradoxes.

### Wade

Returns with Arcot and Morey, present during the reunion and planning.

### Torlos

Arrives from Nansal with a fleet to aid Earth; assists in building the new apparatus.

### Dad

Arcot's father, who updates them on the war situation and helps coordinate the defense efforts.

## Key lines

> “One thing that puzzles me,” he commented, “is what would happen if we were to go down now, and see ourselves.” “Either we can’t or we don’t want to do it,” pointed out Morey, “because we didn’t.”

Arcot wonders about the paradox of meeting their past selves, and Morey reasons that since they didn't experience it, it must be impossible or avoided.

_Highlights the theme of time paradox and the crew's awareness of temporal mechanics._

> “We have not been idle. Following your suggestion, we built up a large ray screen apparatus, in fact, several of them, and carried them in ships to different parts of the world.”

Arcot's father reports that Earth has constructed multiple ray screen devices based on Arcot's earlier idea, deployed globally.

_Shows the proactive defense measures taken by Earth during Arcot's absence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters/xvi-home-again
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters