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* EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: The Society of Ancients is founded upon the idea that [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter Earth used to be the only world with human beings on it]], and therefore the most important world in the galaxy. They also teach that Earth will be the most important world again. In recent centuries, Earth has tried to revolt against the Galactic Empire three times, [[spoiler:and rebel elements are currently attempting a mass genocide of other worlds]].
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* EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: The Society of Ancients is founded upon the idea Averted: Once Schwartz has figured out that [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter he is indeed on Earth used to be but it's the only world with human beings on it]], distant future and therefore the most important world in the galaxy. They also teach that Earth will be the most important world again. In recent centuries, Earth has tried to revolt against the Galactic Empire three times, [[spoiler:and rebel elements there are currently attempting a mass genocide of civilizations on other worlds]].planets, he says, "Earth is the boss, right?" which is treated as a patently ridiculous and near-offensive assumption to make, seeing as it's a radioactive mess.
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* SpaceSector: Earth is described as being in the Sirius Sector (or the Sirian Sector). The Rigel Sector is also mentioned.
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* AmbiguouslyJewish: Joseph Schwartz has a Hebrew first name and there are two Old Testament references; Earthers are a "stubborn and stiff-necked people", and "making the desert bloom" ([[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter most of the Earth had become a radioactive wasteland in earlier centuries]]). Dr Asimov admitted to basing the conditions of Earth on the conditions in ancient Judea (now Israel) under the Romans. Procurator Ennius even gets to use Pontius Pilate's line: "I find no fault in this man..." These factors add up to reinforce the notion of Schwartz as a Jewish man. However there are no explicit references to Schwartz's religion, and when questioned Asimov himself says he gave no thought to it.
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* AmbiguouslyJewish: Joseph Schwartz has a Hebrew first name and there a stereotypically Jewish occupation. There are two Old Testament references; Earthers are a "stubborn and stiff-necked people", and "making the desert bloom" ([[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter most of the Earth had become a radioactive wasteland in earlier centuries]]). Dr Asimov admitted to basing the conditions of Earth on the conditions in ancient Judea (now Israel) under the Romans. Procurator Ennius even gets to use Pontius Pilate's line: "I find no fault in this man..." These factors add up to reinforce the notion of Schwartz as a Jewish man. However there are no explicit references to Schwartz's religion, and when questioned Asimov himself says he gave no thought to it.
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First published in January 1950, by Creator/IsaacAsimov with the help of {{Creator/Doubleday}}, this is the first[[note]](third in chronological order)[[/note]] book in what would later be published as ''Literature/TheEmpireNovels'', as well as the first {{Novel}} he ever published. This ScienceFiction speculative novel is about a contemporary man being [[TimeTravel flung into]] the [[TheFuture far future]] on accident.
Joseph Schwartz, a retired and uneducated tailor, suddenly finds himself in [[AlternativeCalendar Galactic Era 827]]. It's a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater strange world]]; the Galaxy is inhabited, but [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter the people of Earth are social outcasts, discriminated against because the planet has turned radioactive]].
Joseph Schwartz is drawn into an [[TimeTravelersAreSpies ongoing web of intrigue]], as Earth-born terrorists prepare a biological weapon against the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]], a young Galactic archeologist (who wishes to prove that Earth is the homeworld of humanity, an idea against the current scientific understanding) falls in love with the daughter of an eminent Earth scientist (and a capable engineer in her own right), and the Empire's representative on Earth tries to cool the flames of revolution.
Joseph Schwartz, a retired and uneducated tailor, suddenly finds himself in [[AlternativeCalendar Galactic Era 827]]. It's a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater strange world]]; the Galaxy is inhabited, but [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter the people of Earth are social outcasts, discriminated against because the planet has turned radioactive]].
Joseph Schwartz is drawn into an [[TimeTravelersAreSpies ongoing web of intrigue]], as Earth-born terrorists prepare a biological weapon against the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]], a young Galactic archeologist (who wishes to prove that Earth is the homeworld of humanity, an idea against the current scientific understanding) falls in love with the daughter of an eminent Earth scientist (and a capable engineer in her own right), and the Empire's representative on Earth tries to cool the flames of revolution.
to:
First published in January 1950, 1950 by Creator/IsaacAsimov with the help of at {{Creator/Doubleday}}, this is the first[[note]](third in the internal chronological order)[[/note]] book in what would later be published as ''Literature/TheEmpireNovels'', as well as the ''Literature/TheEmpireNovels''. The first {{Novel}} he that Creator/IsaacAsimov ever published. This published, this ScienceFiction speculative novel is about a contemporary man being [[TimeTravel flung into]] the [[TheFuture far future]] on by accident.
Joseph Schwartz, a retired and uneducated tailor, suddenly finds himself in [[AlternativeCalendar the year 827 of the GalacticEra 827]]. Era]]. It's a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater strange world]]; the Galaxy is inhabited, but [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter the people of Earth are social outcasts, discriminated against because the planet has turned radioactive]].
is largely radioactive wasteland]].
Joseph Schwartz is drawn into an [[TimeTravelersAreSpies ongoing web of intrigue]], as Earth-born terrorists prepare a biological weapon against the [[GalacticSuperpower GalacticEmpire]], Empire]]. Simultaneously, Bel Arvardan, a young Galactic archeologist (who who wishes to prove that Earth is the original homeworld of humanity, an idea against stumbles into the current scientific understanding) falls in love with same conspiracy after meeting Pola Shekt, the daughter of an eminent Earth scientist (and a capable engineer in her own right), and who has been pressed into the Empire's representative on Earth tries to cool conspiracy's service. With [[FantasticRacism hatred between all factions]] the flames of revolution.
question is if galactic catastrophe can be averted.
Joseph Schwartz, a retired and uneducated tailor, suddenly finds himself in [[AlternativeCalendar the year 827 of the Galactic
Joseph Schwartz is drawn into an [[TimeTravelersAreSpies ongoing web of intrigue]], as Earth-born terrorists prepare a biological weapon against the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic
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* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Published in 1950, Joseph Swartz is originally from the year 1957, and we see him TimeTravel to the [[TheFuture distant future]]. Our brief look at 1957 America is not substantially detailed, making it a plausible future for several years, even after 1957.
* NinetyPercentOfYourBrain: The main character, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently been pushed forward from our time]] to the far future setting of the novel, gets an experimental "Synapsifier" treatment in the hope it will help him learn the language. It does that and more ... he starts becoming telepathic, and strongly enough so that at one point he kills one of the bad guys that way, without even intending to. Played with in that novel makes quite clear ''why'' humans only use a small percentage of their brain at any one time (within the context of the setting): [[ExplosiveOverclocking using more is damaging to the person in question]], to fatal levels (partly because once the Synapsifier has been used on a person, the effect is permanent). Evidently those ninety percent are there to keep the brain running for year after year.
* AccidentalTimeTravel: Joseph Schwartz is a fairly average man from our modern day (of the mid-twentieth century), when an accident at a local university with a crucible full of [[GreenRocks subcritical uranium]] creates a [[PortalCut cone of destruction as it sends only things within the cone into the future]]. The lack of transition initially gives Schwartz the impression that he's an [[IdentityAmnesia amnesiac]] and he's [[LanguageDrift unable to speak the future language]]. After being experimented on, he begins to [[FishOutOfTemporalWater adjust to the strange future]], learning that he's currently in the [[AlternativeCalendar year 827, Galactic Era]].
* NinetyPercentOfYourBrain: The main character, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently been pushed forward from our time]] to the far future setting of the novel, gets an experimental "Synapsifier" treatment in the hope it will help him learn the language. It does that and more ... he starts becoming telepathic, and strongly enough so that at one point he kills one of the bad guys that way, without even intending to. Played with in that novel makes quite clear ''why'' humans only use a small percentage of their brain at any one time (within the context of the setting): [[ExplosiveOverclocking using more is damaging to the person in question]], to fatal levels (partly because once the Synapsifier has been used on a person, the effect is permanent). Evidently those ninety percent are there to keep the brain running for year after year.
* AccidentalTimeTravel: Joseph Schwartz is a fairly average man from our modern day (of the mid-twentieth century), when an accident at a local university with a crucible full of [[GreenRocks subcritical uranium]] creates a [[PortalCut cone of destruction as it sends only things within the cone into the future]]. The lack of transition initially gives Schwartz the impression that he's an [[IdentityAmnesia amnesiac]] and he's [[LanguageDrift unable to speak the future language]]. After being experimented on, he begins to [[FishOutOfTemporalWater adjust to the strange future]], learning that he's currently in the [[AlternativeCalendar year 827, Galactic Era]].
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* AccidentalTimeTravel: Joseph Schwartz is a fairly average man from
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* AlternativeCalendar: Every planet in the galaxy now uses the Galactic Era calendar, which starts from the coronation of [[KingBobTheNth Frankenn the First]], 827 years before the main setting of the work. (The book started in the 1950s, then TimeTravel moved the setting, some fifty thousand years or more into the future.)
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* AlternativeCalendar: Every planet in the galaxy now uses the Galactic Era calendar, which starts from the coronation of [[KingBobTheNth Frankenn the First]], 827 years before the main setting of the work. (The book started Exactly how far in the 1950s, then TimeTravel moved future this is from the setting, some fifty thousand modern day is not clear, with estimates placing it 50,000 to 100,000 years or more into the in our future.)
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* AmbiguouslyJewish: Joseph Schwartz is often assumed, not just just by readers but also by reviewers and members of the publishing industry, to be Jewish. This assumption is based on his Hebrew first name and German last name, and Dr Asimov's own Jewish ancestry, pegging him as something of an AuthorAvatar. However, when he was asked about Schwartz's faith, he explained that he had given absolutely no thought to it while writing the novel. There are two Old Testament references; Earthers are a "stubborn and stiff-necked people", and "making the desert bloom" ([[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter most of the Earth had become a radioactive wasteland in earlier centuries]]). Dr Asimov admitted to basing the conditions of Earth on the conditions in ancient Judea (now Israel) under the Romans. Procurator Ennius even gets to use Pontius Pilate's line: "I find no fault in this man..." These factors add up to reinforce the notion of Schwartz as a Jewish man.
to:
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Joseph Schwartz is often assumed, not just just by readers but also by reviewers and members of the publishing industry, to be Jewish. This assumption is based on his has a Hebrew first name and German last name, and Dr Asimov's own Jewish ancestry, pegging him as something of an AuthorAvatar. However, when he was asked about Schwartz's faith, he explained that he had given absolutely no thought to it while writing the novel. There there are two Old Testament references; Earthers are a "stubborn and stiff-necked people", and "making the desert bloom" ([[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter most of the Earth had become a radioactive wasteland in earlier centuries]]). Dr Asimov admitted to basing the conditions of Earth on the conditions in ancient Judea (now Israel) under the Romans. Procurator Ennius even gets to use Pontius Pilate's line: "I find no fault in this man..." These factors add up to reinforce the notion of Schwartz as a Jewish man. However there are no explicit references to Schwartz's religion, and when questioned Asimov himself says he gave no thought to it.
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* DeadlyUpgrade: Joseph Schwartz is unable to communicate with anyone due to having [[TimeTravel travelled so far forward in time]] that LanguageDrift has left 'English' incomprehensible to him. Unable to protest, he's used as a subject for the 'Synapsifier', which helps him learn more quickly and turns him [[{{Telepathy}} telepathic]]. Unfortunately for Schwartz, the treatment has essentially stuck his brain in 'high gear'. Do this for several weeks, maybe a few months at most, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty. Evidently NinetyPercentOfYourBrain is there to keep the brain running year after year.
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* DeadlyUpgrade: Joseph Schwartz The Synapsifier is unable able to communicate with anyone due to having [[TimeTravel travelled so far forward in time]] that LanguageDrift has left 'English' incomprehensible to him. Unable to protest, he's used as a subject for greatly increase the 'Synapsifier', which helps him learn more quickly learning capacity of a subject, and turns him [[{{Telepathy}} telepathic]]. Unfortunately for Schwartz, the treatment has essentially stuck his brain in 'high gear'. Do this for several weeks, maybe a few months at most, some it even grants PsychicPowers. However it is fatal to almost all of its subjects, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty. Evidently NinetyPercentOfYourBrain is there to keep the brain running year after year.many also become delusional as they degenerate.
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* ExplosiveOverclocking: A permanent and technologically induced [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain mental state]] that is implied to essentially an {{Overdrive}} situation: you think faster and clearer, and might even develop telepathic powers, but wear and tear increases. Do this for a couple of weeks, maybe some months at most, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty.
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* ExplosiveOverclocking: A permanent The Synapsifier increases the human learning capacity, and technologically induced [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain mental state]] that is implied to essentially an {{Overdrive}} situation: you explained as making the subject think faster and clearer, and might even develop telepathic powers, but wear and tear increases. Do ''faster''. However this for a couple of weeks, maybe some months at most, is also extremely dangerous, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty.majority of the subjects die under the strain, some even becoming delusional as they degenerate.
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* FantasticRacism: Dr Asimov delves into subtle elements of racism as he explores the concept of minorities vs majority using Earth vs the rest of the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]].
** At the individual level, different characters show different prejudices and most don't change their opinions during the events of the novel. Bel Arvardan is the exception, starting with the belief that he is enlightened and liberal, but brimming with what we now call systemic racism. Falling in love with an Earthwoman helps him [[CharacterDevelopment realize and overcome]] his prejudices, beginning to treat Earthpeople as normal human beings.
** On a cultural level, there's extreme scientific resistance to the idea that humanity might have originated on Earth. Given that this novel was written in the 1950s, when there was still substantial racism towards African-Americans and resistance to the idea that humanity originated in Africa, this can easily be read as an allusion to debates of the time.
** At the individual level, different characters show different prejudices and most don't change their opinions during the events of the novel. Bel Arvardan is the exception, starting with the belief that he is enlightened and liberal, but brimming with what we now call systemic racism. Falling in love with an Earthwoman helps him [[CharacterDevelopment realize and overcome]] his prejudices, beginning to treat Earthpeople as normal human beings.
** On a cultural level, there's extreme scientific resistance to the idea that humanity might have originated on Earth. Given that this novel was written in the 1950s, when there was still substantial racism towards African-Americans and resistance to the idea that humanity originated in Africa, this can easily be read as an allusion to debates of the time.
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* FantasticRacism: Dr Asimov delves into subtle elements of racism as he explores There is near-universal mutual hate between the concept of minorities vs majority using Earth vs Galaxy at large and the rest inhabitants of the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]].Earth.
**At Earth believes itself to be the individual level, different characters show different prejudices ancestral home of humanity and most therefore the rightful ruler of the galaxy, and resents the Galactic Empire's harsh rule over the planet and its military oppression. The zealots who control the planet don't simply want an end to oppression, they want to change their opinions during places and become the events oppressors themselves.
** The citizens of thenovel. Empire in turn hate Earthmen for their arrogance at thinking themselves ''better'' than the rest of the galaxy, and regard the people as 'dirty' and 'diseased'. The Sirian sector is particularly noted for its virulent anti-Terrestrial sentiments. Bel Arvardan is the exception, starting with the belief that he is enlightened and liberal, but brimming with what we now call systemic racism. Falling in love with an Earthwoman helps him [[CharacterDevelopment realize and overcome]] his prejudices, beginning to treat Earthpeople as normal human beings.
** On a cultural level, there's extreme scientific resistance to the idea that humanity might have originated on Earth. Given that this novel was writtenfrom Baronn in the 1950s, when there was still substantial racism towards African-Americans Sirian sector, and resistance though he makes an effort to the idea that humanity originated in Africa, this can easily be read as an allusion to debates of the time.present a non-judgemental face he has his own deep-seated prejudices.
**
** The citizens of the
** On a cultural level, there's extreme scientific resistance to the idea that humanity might have originated on Earth. Given that this novel was written
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* FishbowlHelmet: The cover of ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), which includes ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', has a man and woman in spacesuits, who are wearing bell-shaped glass helmets with metal near the ears and on the top of the bulb.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Joseph Schwartz, a tailor from contemporary Chicago, is inadvertently and permanently displaced into TheFuture some several thousand years due to a scientific experiment gone strangely wrong.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Joseph Schwartz, a tailor from contemporary Chicago, is inadvertently and permanently displaced into TheFuture some several thousand years due to a scientific experiment gone strangely wrong.
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* FishbowlHelmet: FishbowlHelmet:
** The cover of ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), which includes ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', has a man and woman in spacesuits, who are wearing bell-shaped glass helmets with metal near the ears and on the top of the bulb.
** In the novel itself, the Empire soldiers that respond to the report of Radiation Fever are wearing disease-protective equipment, including glass 'globe' helmets.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Joseph Schwartz, a tailor from contemporary Chicago, is inadvertently and permanently displaced into TheFuture some several thousand years due to a scientific experiment gone strangely wrong. He cannot speak the local language, and even after he learns the words he has no idea about any local customs or culture. Because of this, he is [[TimeTravelersAreSpies believed to be an Outsider sent by the Galactic Empire to spy on Earth]].
** The cover of ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), which includes ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', has a man and woman in spacesuits, who are wearing bell-shaped glass helmets with metal near the ears and on the top of the bulb.
** In the novel itself, the Empire soldiers that respond to the report of Radiation Fever are wearing disease-protective equipment, including glass 'globe' helmets.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Joseph Schwartz, a tailor from contemporary Chicago, is inadvertently and permanently displaced into TheFuture some several thousand years due to a scientific experiment gone strangely wrong. He cannot speak the local language, and even after he learns the words he has no idea about any local customs or culture. Because of this, he is [[TimeTravelersAreSpies believed to be an Outsider sent by the Galactic Empire to spy on Earth]].
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* GalacticSuperpower: The [[GenericanEmpire Galactic Empire]] capital is the [[NamingYourColonyWorld planet/system Trantor]], and has essentially conquered or absorbed all rivals, to the point where [[AlternativeCalendar the local calendar sets the coronation of the first emperor as year 1]]. It stands strong.
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* GalacticSuperpower: The [[GenericanEmpire Galactic Empire]] capital is Empire]], ruled from the [[NamingYourColonyWorld planet/system Trantor]], and planet Trantor, which has essentially conquered or absorbed all rivals, to the point where rivals. [[AlternativeCalendar the The local calendar sets the coronation of the first emperor as year 1]]. It stands strong.1]], and it's so powerful that the idea of a successful revolution on Earth is laughable.
* GoalOrientedEvolution: The Merger Theory of human evolution proposes that the human species is the inevitable product of evolution on all planets that have a suitable biosphere to support human life. Proponents of the Radiation Theory point out that this is fundamentally improbable.
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* HegemonicEmpire: Territories within the Galactic Empire are allowed at least some degree of self-governance, especially Earth, which is [[TheTheocracy ruled by the Society of Ancients]].
* IdentityAmnesia: When Joseph Schwartz realizes he's in a strange land, his first conclusion is that he forgot who he is and several years. He even questions if his memories of wife and children are accurate. However, it isn't memory loss; he's been [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent flung into the far future]].
* IdentityAmnesia: When Joseph Schwartz realizes he's in a strange land, his first conclusion is that he forgot who he is and several years. He even questions if his memories of wife and children are accurate. However, it isn't memory loss; he's been [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent flung into the far future]].
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* HegemonicEmpire: Territories within HollywoodEvolution: The origin and evolution of humanity is [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] throughout the Galactic Empire novel, and plays a key role in the competing social dynamics. The discussions are allowed at least some degree loosely based on the then-current debates about the evolution of self-governance, especially Earth, humanity in Africa before migrating to the rest of the world, which is [[TheTheocracy ruled by recognized humanity as a single species and denied pseudoscience theories that Africans (And other races) were sub-species.
** The majority of archaeologists in theSociety galaxy are supporters of Ancients]].
the Merger Theory of human evolution, which proposes that humanity evolved on multiple different planets simultaneously and interbred when the different species attained spaceflight. Some even propose that humanity is [[GoalOrientedEvolution the eventual endpoint of evolution]] on ''all'' planets with a suitable biosphere. They point to Earth as an example of a world where humanity evolved differently, explaining how Earthmen are 'inferior' and not related to the rest of humanity.
** The primary opposition to the Merger Theory is the Radiation Theory, which posits that humanity evolved on a single planet in the distant past and ''radiated'' out to settle the rest of the galaxy. Earth is one of the proposed candidates of the homeworld of humanity, and their local traditions also maintain that they are the originator of the species. This is scientifically probable, but the inhabitants of the galaxy [[FantasticRacism so despise Earthmen]] that they refuse to consider them their ancestors, or even distant relations.
* IdentityAmnesia: When Joseph Schwartz realizes he's in a strange land, his first conclusion is that he forgot who he is and he spent severalyears.years wandering the Earth in this state. He even questions if his memories of wife and children are accurate. However, it isn't memory loss; he's been [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent flung into the far future]].
** The majority of archaeologists in the
** The primary opposition to the Merger Theory is the Radiation Theory, which posits that humanity evolved on a single planet in the distant past and ''radiated'' out to settle the rest of the galaxy. Earth is one of the proposed candidates of the homeworld of humanity, and their local traditions also maintain that they are the originator of the species. This is scientifically probable, but the inhabitants of the galaxy [[FantasticRacism so despise Earthmen]] that they refuse to consider them their ancestors, or even distant relations.
* IdentityAmnesia: When Joseph Schwartz realizes he's in a strange land, his first conclusion is that he forgot who he is and he spent several
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* NextSundayAD: The majority of the story takes place in the far-flung future of [[AlternativeCalendar 827 Galactic Era]]. Joseph Swartz, a time-traveller from [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the modern day]], is at least fifty thousand years displaced.
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* NextSundayAD: The majority of Published in 1950, Joseph Swartz is originally from the story takes place in year 1957, and we see him TimeTravel to the far-flung [[TheFuture distant future]]. Our brief look at 1957 America is not substantially detailed, making it a plausible future of [[AlternativeCalendar 827 Galactic Era]]. Joseph Swartz, a time-traveller from [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the modern day]], is at least fifty thousand years displaced.for several years, even after 1957.
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* PortalCut: Joseph Schwartz is suddenly [[TimeTravel transported into the far-future]]. He loses the toe of a shoe and only half of a doll that was lying on the ground is carried along with him.
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* PortalCut: The effect that [[TimeTravel transports Joseph Schwartz is suddenly [[TimeTravel transported into the far-future]]. far-future]] is expanding out from its source in a straight line. Anything caught in the cone is sent forward, while anything outside is left behind. He loses the toe of a shoe shoe, and only half of a doll that was lying on the ground is carried along with him.him.
* PsychicPowers: After the Synapsifier is applied to him, Schwartz develops what he calls the "Mind Touch". This initially allows him to sense the location and intentions of those around him, and eventually individual thoughts. He also learns to control the bodies and minds of others, and even kills once.
* PsychicPowers: After the Synapsifier is applied to him, Schwartz develops what he calls the "Mind Touch". This initially allows him to sense the location and intentions of those around him, and eventually individual thoughts. He also learns to control the bodies and minds of others, and even kills once.
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* RadiationImmuneMutants: Earth has become radioactive and the humans still there are [[DownplayedTrope slightly more resistant to radiation]] than the rest of the Galactic Empire, but it's not statistically significant. [[spoiler:However they are resistant to radiation-mutated diseases that are lethal to off-worlders.]]
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* RadiationImmuneMutants: Earth has become radioactive and the humans still there are [[DownplayedTrope slightly more resistant to radiation]] than the rest of the Galactic Empire, but it's not statistically significant. [[spoiler:However [[spoiler:However, due to exposure and adaptation they are resistant to radiation-mutated diseases that are lethal to off-worlders.]]
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* SpaceRomans: This story's [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]] (which is later [[CanonWelding merged into]] the same one from the ''Literature/FoundationSeries'') is playing the role of Space Rome to Earth's Judea (now Israel). Made obvious by Procurator Ennius (inadvertently) [[AsTheGoodBookSays using Pontius Pilate's line]]: "I find no fault in this man..." Also [[WordOfGod confirmed by Dr Asimov]] that the allusion between Rome and Israel was intentional.
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* SpaceRomans: This story's [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]] (which is later [[CanonWelding merged into]] the same one from the ''Literature/FoundationSeries'') is playing the role of Space Rome to Earth's Judea (now Israel).Judea. Made obvious by Procurator Ennius (inadvertently) [[AsTheGoodBookSays using Pontius Pilate's line]]: "I find no fault in this man..." Also [[WordOfGod confirmed by Dr Asimov]] that the allusion between Rome and Israel was intentional.
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* TimeTravelersAreSpies: Schwartz, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently travelled to the far future]], is assumed, by Secretary Balkis and agent Natter of the [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients]], to be a spy from the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]]. Therefore, Natter is assigned to keep an eye on him.
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* TimeTravelersAreSpies: Schwartz, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently travelled to the far future]], is assumed, assumed by Secretary Balkis and agent Natter of the [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients]], Ancients]] to be a spy from the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]]. Therefore, Natter Empire]]. Ironically it is assigned not because Schwartz has any advanced technology or superior capabilities, but because he is ''so'' out of place that the Society thinks he is [[ObfuscatingStupidity pretending to keep be an eye on him.unintelligible fool to not attract attention]].
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* WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture: The natives of a [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter backwater, slowly dying future Earth]] has a [[DystopianEdict rule]] that citizens, when they reach "The Sixty"-their sixtieth birthday, must die. Anyone who is unable to work is also euthanized. People who try to cheat the system are almost universally reviled.
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* WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture: The natives of a [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter backwater, slowly dying future Earth]] has have a [[DystopianEdict rule]] that citizens, when they reach citizens must die on their sixtieth birthday. It is referred to euphemistically only as "The Sixty"-their sixtieth birthday, must die.Sixty". Anyone who is unable to work is also euthanized. People who try to cheat the system are almost universally reviled.
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[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pebble_72.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:250: 2019 Creator/HarperVoyager cover]]
First published in January 1950, by Creator/IsaacAsimov with the help of {{Creator/Doubleday}}, this is the first[[note]](third in chronological order)[[/note]] book in what would later be published as ''Literature/TheEmpireNovels'', as well as the first {{Novel}} he ever published. This ScienceFiction speculative novel is about a contemporary man being [[TimeTravel flung into]] the [[TheFuture far future]] on accident.
Joseph Schwartz, a retired and uneducated tailor, suddenly finds himself in [[AlternativeCalendar Galactic Era 827]]. It's a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater strange world]]; the Galaxy is inhabited, but [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter the people of Earth are social outcasts, discriminated against because the planet has turned radioactive]].
Joseph Schwartz is drawn into an [[TimeTravelersAreSpies ongoing web of intrigue]], as Earth-born terrorists prepare a biological weapon against the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]], a young Galactic archeologist (who wishes to prove that Earth is the homeworld of humanity, an idea against the current scientific understanding) falls in love with the daughter of an eminent Earth scientist (and a capable engineer in her own right), and the Empire's representative on Earth tries to cool the flames of revolution.
''Pebble in the Sky'' was republished in ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), ''{{Magazine/Urania}}'' (issue #442, 1966 August), and several {{Omnibus}}es. An early draft of this story, called ''Literature/GrowOldWithMe'', is published in ''Literature/TheAlternateAsimovs''.
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!!''Pebble in the Sky'' provides examples of:
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Published in 1950, Joseph Swartz is originally from the year 1957, and we see him TimeTravel to the [[TheFuture distant future]]. Our brief look at 1957 America is not substantially detailed, making it a plausible future for several years, even after 1957.
* NinetyPercentOfYourBrain: The main character, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently been pushed forward from our time]] to the far future setting of the novel, gets an experimental "Synapsifier" treatment in the hope it will help him learn the language. It does that and more ... he starts becoming telepathic, and strongly enough so that at one point he kills one of the bad guys that way, without even intending to. Played with in that novel makes quite clear ''why'' humans only use a small percentage of their brain at any one time (within the context of the setting): [[ExplosiveOverclocking using more is damaging to the person in question]], to fatal levels (partly because once the Synapsifier has been used on a person, the effect is permanent). Evidently those ninety percent are there to keep the brain running for year after year.
* AccidentalTimeTravel: Joseph Schwartz is a fairly average man from our modern day (of the mid-twentieth century), when an accident at a local university with a crucible full of [[GreenRocks subcritical uranium]] creates a [[PortalCut cone of destruction as it sends only things within the cone into the future]]. The lack of transition initially gives Schwartz the impression that he's an [[IdentityAmnesia amnesiac]] and he's [[LanguageDrift unable to speak the future language]]. After being experimented on, he begins to [[FishOutOfTemporalWater adjust to the strange future]], learning that he's currently in the [[AlternativeCalendar year 827, Galactic Era]].
* AgonyBeam: The neuronic whip has several degrees of power, but Dr Arvardan gets to experience the highest levels, which cause every nerve in the body to react in pain, overstimulating him into unconsciousness.
* AllLowercaseLetters: the 1950 {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has the title and asimov's name all in lowercase.
* AlternativeCalendar: Every planet in the galaxy now uses the Galactic Era calendar, which starts from the coronation of [[KingBobTheNth Frankenn the First]], 827 years before the main setting of the work. (The book started in the 1950s, then TimeTravel moved the setting, some fifty thousand years or more into the future.)
-->"It's 827 years since the foundation of the Galactic Empire; 827 years since the coronation of Frankenn the First.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Joseph Schwartz is often assumed, not just just by readers but also by reviewers and members of the publishing industry, to be Jewish. This assumption is based on his Hebrew first name and German last name, and Dr Asimov's own Jewish ancestry, pegging him as something of an AuthorAvatar. However, when he was asked about Schwartz's faith, he explained that he had given absolutely no thought to it while writing the novel. There are two Old Testament references; Earthers are a "stubborn and stiff-necked people", and "making the desert bloom" ([[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter most of the Earth had become a radioactive wasteland in earlier centuries]]). Dr Asimov admitted to basing the conditions of Earth on the conditions in ancient Judea (now Israel) under the Romans. Procurator Ennius even gets to use Pontius Pilate's line: "I find no fault in this man..." These factors add up to reinforce the notion of Schwartz as a Jewish man.
* ApocalypseHow: Once the setting shifts to Earth in the far future, it's established that [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter Earth now has large areas of nuclear wasteland, and visitors from off-world wear lead-lined clothing]]. The radioactive planet is slowly becoming completely uninhabitable.
* AsTheGoodBookSays: In chapter 20, "The Deadline That Was Reached", Procurator Ennius is the representative of the Galactic Empire for Earth (which [[SpaceRomans evokes an allusion to Rome's rule over Judea]]), and he uses Pontius Pilate's line, "I find no fault in this man...", when describing the main villain. InUniverse, the allusion is not recognized.
* BookEnds: In both the first and last chapters, Joseph Schwartz is quoting Creator/RobertBrowning's "Literature/RabbiBenEzra";
-->"Grow old along with me!\\
The best is yet to be, \\
The last of life, for which the first was made..."
* CruelMercy: Balkis begins his interrogation of the protagonists by claiming that they are scheduled for a quick death, but if they don't agree to help them, he will guarantee that they will experience a very unpleasant death. It is at this moment when Schwartz claims to be able to kill Balkis [[PsychicPowers with a thought]]. He's decided instead that Balkis should live, promising a terrible retribution. Schwartz begins by puppeting Balkis, leading them to escape their imprisonment.
-->"Or perhaps you, Schwartz. You killed our agent. It was you, was it not? Perhaps you think you can kill me?"\\
For the first time Schwartz looked at Balkis. He said coldly, "I can, but I won't."\\
"That is kind of you."\\
"Not at all. It is very cruel of me. You say yourself that there are things worse than simple death."
* {{Dedication}}: Dr Asimov dedicated this book to his father for having introduced him to ScienceFiction.
-->''To my father, who''\\
''first introduced me to science fiction.''
* DeadlyUpgrade: Joseph Schwartz is unable to communicate with anyone due to having [[TimeTravel travelled so far forward in time]] that LanguageDrift has left 'English' incomprehensible to him. Unable to protest, he's used as a subject for the 'Synapsifier', which helps him learn more quickly and turns him [[{{Telepathy}} telepathic]]. Unfortunately for Schwartz, the treatment has essentially stuck his brain in 'high gear'. Do this for several weeks, maybe a few months at most, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty. Evidently NinetyPercentOfYourBrain is there to keep the brain running year after year.
* DomedHometown:
** The 1983 Creator/DelRey[=/=]{{Creator/Ballantine}} cover shows the Procurator's Mt Everest palace enclosed under a dome to protect it from Earth's inhospitable environment.
** The 1987 {{Creator/Grafton}} cover shows an asteroid with a dome to hold buildings and trees at the edge of an atmosphere.
* {{Doorstopper}}:
** Creator/UnicornPress published a [[{{Omnibus}} 4-in-1 volume]] with over 900 pages in 1950, including ''Literature/BlandBeginning'', ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', ''Literature/JustForTheBride'', and ''Literature/TheOwlAndThePussycat''.
** Creator/{{Servire}} published a 500+ page volume in 1970, titled ''Science Fiction {{Omnibus}}'', a Dutch translation of four American ScienceFiction {{Novel}}s; ''Literature/TheBigEye'' by Creator/MaxEhrlich, ''Literature/TheManWhoSoldTheMoon'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, ''Literature/{{Requiem}}'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, and ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'' by Creator/IsaacAsimov.
* DystopianEdict: A [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter slowly dying future Earth]] has [[TheTheocracy the Society of Ancients as their local government]]. Any rule called a "custom" is enforced by the death penalty, including [[WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture euthanasia for those who are sixty years old]].
* EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: The Society of Ancients is founded upon the idea that [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter Earth used to be the only world with human beings on it]], and therefore the most important world in the galaxy. They also teach that Earth will be the most important world again. In recent centuries, Earth has tried to revolt against the Galactic Empire three times, [[spoiler:and rebel elements are currently attempting a mass genocide of other worlds]].
* EarthThatUsedToBeBetter: The [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients rules the local government]], and is founded upon the idea that Earth was the origin world of humanity. Part of their teachings is that [[EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Earth will again be the most important world in the galaxy]]. Meanwhile, they [[DystopianEdict mandate]] [[WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture euthanasia at sixty]], large areas of the planet are completely uninhabitable, and [[spoiler:rebel elements are plotting a mass viral genocide of other worlds]].
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The High Minister isn't given a name in this story, because Secretary Balkis is the true villain and [[PuppetKing the High Minister is just a pawn]].
* ExplosiveOverclocking: A permanent and technologically induced [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain mental state]] that is implied to essentially an {{Overdrive}} situation: you think faster and clearer, and might even develop telepathic powers, but wear and tear increases. Do this for a couple of weeks, maybe some months at most, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty.
* FakeOutMakeOut: When Bel Arvardan is secretly meeting with Pola in chapter 14, "Second Meeting", she tells him that he should try to kiss her if he hears any noise to disguise their meeting. During their discussion, she lies that someone is coming, to trick him into kissing her.
-->"First-I don't think anyone followed us, but if you hear any noise at all, would you-would you"-her eyes dropped-"put your arms about me, and-and-you know."\\
He nodded his head and said dryly, "I believe I can improvise without any trouble. Is it necessary to wait for noise?"
* FantasticRacism: Dr Asimov delves into subtle elements of racism as he explores the concept of minorities vs majority using Earth vs the rest of the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]].
** At the individual level, different characters show different prejudices and most don't change their opinions during the events of the novel. Bel Arvardan is the exception, starting with the belief that he is enlightened and liberal, but brimming with what we now call systemic racism. Falling in love with an Earthwoman helps him [[CharacterDevelopment realize and overcome]] his prejudices, beginning to treat Earthpeople as normal human beings.
** On a cultural level, there's extreme scientific resistance to the idea that humanity might have originated on Earth. Given that this novel was written in the 1950s, when there was still substantial racism towards African-Americans and resistance to the idea that humanity originated in Africa, this can easily be read as an allusion to debates of the time.
* FictionalDocument:
** The newspaper that [[FirstNameBasis Grew]] reads is called the ''Tribune''. It provides information about Bel Arvardan, the archeologist, visiting Earth and Affret Shekt's search for volunteers to test his Synapsifier.
** ''Journal of the Galactic Archaeological Society'' is a prestigious science magazine, which has published Bel Arvardan's research.
** ''Physical Reviews'', a less-popular scientific magazine but still with galactic circulation, has published an article about Affret Shekt's invention of the Synapsifier.
* FictionalFieldOfScience: The mapping and demographics of Galactography is mentioned, due to having a GalacticSuperpower.
* FirstNameBasis: Grew, Arbin Maren's father-in-law, is never referred to by his family name, just by the name Grew, which is probably his first name, since his daughter, Loa Maren, simply calls him Father.
* FishbowlHelmet: The cover of ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), which includes ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', has a man and woman in spacesuits, who are wearing bell-shaped glass helmets with metal near the ears and on the top of the bulb.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Joseph Schwartz, a tailor from contemporary Chicago, is inadvertently and permanently displaced into TheFuture some several thousand years due to a scientific experiment gone strangely wrong.
* ForbiddenZone: In Earth's future, it is [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter covered with uninhabitable nuclear wastelands]], and the Society of Ancients, [[TheTheocracy religious fanatics ruling the planet]], have decreed that nobody enters the radioactive areas. Bel Arvardan's archeological project would require him to investigate one of these wastelands for ancient human artifacts, so they naturally refuse permission.
-->"Do you know what it means to enter the radioactive areas? They're Forbidden. It's one of the strongest Customs these Earthmen have. No one can enter the Forbidden Areas, and all radioactive areas are Forbidden." -- '''Procurator Ennius''', to his wife
* ForWantOfANail: During Chapter 8, "Confluence at Chica", the narration takes a moment to point out where Dr Arvardan could have innocently left Pola Shekt, which would have caused a completely different course of events, ending in disaster.
-->Looking back on it later, Arvardan realized that at this point he could have left the girl. Left her! Never seen her again! Have nothing to reproach himself with!...And all would have been different. The great Galactic Empire would have dissolved in chaos and destruction.
* GalacticSuperpower: The [[GenericanEmpire Galactic Empire]] capital is the [[NamingYourColonyWorld planet/system Trantor]], and has essentially conquered or absorbed all rivals, to the point where [[AlternativeCalendar the local calendar sets the coronation of the first emperor as year 1]]. It stands strong.
* GenericanEmpire: The [[GalacticSuperpower only galactic nation]] is simply called the Galactic Empire.
* GreenRocks: Subcritical uranium is used to excuse AccidentalTimeTravel, kicking off the plot of the story with Schwartz. Radioactivity does not work like is described in the book, which was first published during the 1950s, [[ScienceMarchesOn soon after nuclear fission was discovered]].
* HegemonicEmpire: Territories within the Galactic Empire are allowed at least some degree of self-governance, especially Earth, which is [[TheTheocracy ruled by the Society of Ancients]].
* IdentityAmnesia: When Joseph Schwartz realizes he's in a strange land, his first conclusion is that he forgot who he is and several years. He even questions if his memories of wife and children are accurate. However, it isn't memory loss; he's been [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent flung into the far future]].
* ImHavingSoulPains: The neuronic whip has several degrees of power, but Dr Arvardan gets to experience the highest levels, which cause every nerve in the body to react in pain, overstimulating him into unconsciousness.
* IstanbulNotConstantinople: Earth has changed in the tens of thousands of years since "present day". Washington has become "Washenn", Chicago has become "Chica", St Louis has become "Senloo", San Francisco has become "Senfran", and Buenos Aires has become "Bonair".
-->"Chica first stop, he thought. Largest collection of Earthmen on the planet. Washenn next; local capital. Senloo! Senfran! Bonair!...He had plotted an itinerary all over the western continents[.]"
-->"In my time," said Schwartz, "there was a city called St. Louis. It was at the junction of two great rivers...We found Senloo."
* KingBobTheNth:
** Stannell II is established as a short-lived emperor who was assassinated about fifty years ago (his immediate successor was Emperor Edard and the current monarch is unnamed). This name is taken from the earlier ''Foundation'' story, "Literature/TheMerchantPrinces", which mentions an Emperor Stannell VI, a distant successor.
** The first ruler of the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]] is named emperor Frankenn the First, and their rule [[AlternativeCalendar forms the basis of the Galactic Era calendar]].
* LanguageDrift: The protagonist, Joseph Schwartz, inadvertently [[TimeTravel steps into the future]], where his 20th century English is so different (he says Chicago, [[IstanbulNotConstantinople they say Chica]]) that it is unintelligible to all except a few historical linguists. Bel Arvardan recognizes Schwartz's English due to his specialty as a prehistory archeologist.
* MistakenForSpies: In chapter 10, "Interpretation Of Events", Secretary Balkis is explaining to the High Minister of the [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients]] why Schwartz and Dr. Bel Arvardan must be spies from the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]]. Overlaps with TimeTravelersAreSpies in Schwartz's case.
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: The Mind Touch, part of Schwartz's PsychicPowers, gives him the ability to sense the location and intentions of the people around him, up to a great distance and through solid walls. It doesn't exactly give him the ability to predict their actions, but to know what they've decided to do before they're able to do it.
* NamingYourColonyWorld: The planet Ophiuchus takes its name from the constellation of Ophiuchus, rather than just one star.
* NextSundayAD: The majority of the story takes place in the far-flung future of [[AlternativeCalendar 827 Galactic Era]]. Joseph Swartz, a time-traveller from [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the modern day]], is at least fifty thousand years displaced.
* {{Omnibus}}:
** Creator/UnicornPress published a [[{{Doorstopper}} volume with over 900 pages]] in 1950, titled ''Bland Beginning, Pebble in the Sky, Just for the Bride, The Owl and the Pussycat'', with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin those four books]]; ''Literature/BlandBeginning'' by Creator/JulianSymons, ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'' by Creator/IsaacAsimov, ''Literature/JustForTheBride'' by Creator/DorothyParkClark, and ''Literature/TheOwlAndThePussycat'' by Creator/OwenCameron.
** Creator/{{Servire}} published a [[{{Doorstopper}} 500+ page volume]] in 1970, titled ''Science Fiction Omnibus'', a Dutch translation of four American ScienceFiction {{Novel}}s; ''Literature/TheBigEye'' by Creator/MaxEhrlich, ''Literature/TheManWhoSoldTheMoon'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, ''Literature/{{Requiem}}'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, and ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'' by Creator/IsaacAsimov.
* OurTimeTravelIsDifferent: Part of the IncitingIncident causing Joseph Schwartz to be [[FishOutOfTemporalWater inadvertently and permanently displaced many thousands of years into the future]] is a local University crucible with [[GreenRocks subcritical uranium]] that creates a [[PortalCut cone of destruction as it sends only things within the cone into the future]]. The lack of transition initially gives Schwartz the impression that he's an [[IdentityAmnesia amnesiac]].
* PortalCut: Joseph Schwartz is suddenly [[TimeTravel transported into the far-future]]. He loses the toe of a shoe and only half of a doll that was lying on the ground is carried along with him.
* PuppetKing: The High Minister, leader of the Society of Ancients, is a pawn in the schemes of his own Secretary. The High Minister is, in theory, an absolute dictator with the power to dismiss Secretary Balkis and assign the post to someone else. However, they rely on Balkis for just about everything related to their job.
-->It was the High Minister, of course, who had the semblance of power; the Secretary who had the reality. And in the privacy of the High Minister's office that circumstance was quite plain.\\
For the High Minister was pettishly puzzled and the Secretary coolly indifferent.
* RadiationImmuneMutants: Earth has become radioactive and the humans still there are [[DownplayedTrope slightly more resistant to radiation]] than the rest of the Galactic Empire, but it's not statistically significant. [[spoiler:However they are resistant to radiation-mutated diseases that are lethal to off-worlders.]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: DeconstructedTrope with Ennius, Imperial Procurator of Earth. Arvardin, Shekt, Pola, and Schwartz warn him about the Zealots' plot. Unfortunately, due to his reasonableness, he doesn't simply take their word for it, and can't act with no real evidence. Unfortunately, his inaction nearly dooms the Empire, but Schwartz resorts to exploiting a hatemonger's bigotry to thwart the Zealots' plan.
* ShoutOut:
** Creator/RobertBrowning's "Literature/RabbiBenEzra" is quoted by Joseph Schwartz at the very beginning of the work, [[BookEnds and at the very end]], saying
--->"Grow old along with me!\\
The best is yet to be, \\
The last of life, for which the first was made..."
** A ''Toy/RaggedyAnn'' doll is lying in the streets when Joseph Schwartz is [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent sent into the future]], but [[PortalCut cut in half]] because of the edge of the field.
* SpaceRomans: This story's [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]] (which is later [[CanonWelding merged into]] the same one from the ''Literature/FoundationSeries'') is playing the role of Space Rome to Earth's Judea (now Israel). Made obvious by Procurator Ennius (inadvertently) [[AsTheGoodBookSays using Pontius Pilate's line]]: "I find no fault in this man..." Also [[WordOfGod confirmed by Dr Asimov]] that the allusion between Rome and Israel was intentional.
* StupidityInducingAttack: Discussed when the villain threatens to ReversePolarity on the "synapsifier", an intelligence-boosting machine, causing it to reduce the heroes to vegetables.
* SyntheticPlague: In chapter 15, "The Odds That Vanished", Dr Shekt explains how the Society of Ancients has developed a variation of the Common Fever which will be incredibly virulent and as far as Outsiders are concerned, incredibly deadly.
* TheTheocracy: Earth is ruled by the Society of Ancients, a theological group who utilize SecretPolice and {{Dystopian Edict}}s to enforce their rule and [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter belief in the superiority of the Earth]].
* TimeTravelersAreSpies: Schwartz, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently travelled to the far future]], is assumed, by Secretary Balkis and agent Natter of the [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients]], to be a spy from the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]]. Therefore, Natter is assigned to keep an eye on him.
* TranslationConvention: When Joseph Schwartz [[TimeTravel travels tens of thousands of years into the future]], he finds that [[LanguageDrift English has changed far too much to be comprehensible]]. The narration from Schwartz's perspective maintains this obfuscation until he learns their modern English, at which point everyone is speaking in English as we know it.
* VariantChess: Set thousands of years into TheFuture, this story mentions 3d and other variants of chess existing, though the game that features as a plot point during chapter 11 is of the common sort, with glowing pieces.
-->Grew told him of variations of chess. There was fourhanded chess, in which each player had a board, touching each other at the corners, with a fifth board filling the hollow in the center as a common No Man's Land. There were three-dimensional chess games in which eight transparent boards were placed one over the other and in which each piece moved in three dimensions as they formerly moved in two, and in which the number of pieces and pawns were doubled, the win coming only when a simultaneous check of both enemy kings occurred. There were even the popular varieties, in which the original position of the chessmen were decided by throws of the dice, or where certain squares conferred advantages or disadvantages to the pieces upon them, or where new pieces with strange properties were introduced.\\
But chess itself, the original and unchangeable, was the same-and the tournament between Schwartz and Grew had completed its first fifty games.
* WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture: The natives of a [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter backwater, slowly dying future Earth]] has a [[DystopianEdict rule]] that citizens, when they reach "The Sixty"-their sixtieth birthday, must die. Anyone who is unable to work is also euthanized. People who try to cheat the system are almost universally reviled.
* WeWillNotHaveAppendixesInTheFuture: [[SpaceRomans Imperial officials]] realize Joseph Schwartz is a time traveler by the fact he has wisdom teeth and an unusually large appendix. Justified by [[spoiler:Earth is now covered in radiation after a nuclear war]], which would increase mutation rates vastly. How much time passed between the "present" and the "future" is disputed by the fanbase due to inconsistencies within the series (One character estimates between fifty thousand to a hundred thousand years since humanity only existed on a single planet, even assuming that humans didn't evolve simultaneously on multiple planets).
* WorldWarIII: Schwartz assumes that Earth's radioactive crust is due to a war fought with atomic bombs.
* YouAreACreditToYourRace: In chapter 20, "The Deadline That Was Reached", the colonel of the Galactic Empire is unashamedly racist against Earthmen, but as Balkis (an Earthman) manipulates him by claiming that long imprisonment is acceptable as long as the truth of treason against the Galactic Empire is uncovered, the colonel sees him as doing his duty for the GalacticSuperpower and gives Balkis the greatest compliment that he can.
-->The colonel said stiffly, "I admire your feelings, sir, and freely admit that were I in your place my attitude would be quite different. You are a credit to your race, sir. I will attempt contact with the Procurator."
----
[[caption-width-right:250: 2019 Creator/HarperVoyager cover]]
First published in January 1950, by Creator/IsaacAsimov with the help of {{Creator/Doubleday}}, this is the first[[note]](third in chronological order)[[/note]] book in what would later be published as ''Literature/TheEmpireNovels'', as well as the first {{Novel}} he ever published. This ScienceFiction speculative novel is about a contemporary man being [[TimeTravel flung into]] the [[TheFuture far future]] on accident.
Joseph Schwartz, a retired and uneducated tailor, suddenly finds himself in [[AlternativeCalendar Galactic Era 827]]. It's a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater strange world]]; the Galaxy is inhabited, but [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter the people of Earth are social outcasts, discriminated against because the planet has turned radioactive]].
Joseph Schwartz is drawn into an [[TimeTravelersAreSpies ongoing web of intrigue]], as Earth-born terrorists prepare a biological weapon against the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]], a young Galactic archeologist (who wishes to prove that Earth is the homeworld of humanity, an idea against the current scientific understanding) falls in love with the daughter of an eminent Earth scientist (and a capable engineer in her own right), and the Empire's representative on Earth tries to cool the flames of revolution.
''Pebble in the Sky'' was republished in ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), ''{{Magazine/Urania}}'' (issue #442, 1966 August), and several {{Omnibus}}es. An early draft of this story, called ''Literature/GrowOldWithMe'', is published in ''Literature/TheAlternateAsimovs''.
----
!!''Pebble in the Sky'' provides examples of:
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Published in 1950, Joseph Swartz is originally from the year 1957, and we see him TimeTravel to the [[TheFuture distant future]]. Our brief look at 1957 America is not substantially detailed, making it a plausible future for several years, even after 1957.
* NinetyPercentOfYourBrain: The main character, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently been pushed forward from our time]] to the far future setting of the novel, gets an experimental "Synapsifier" treatment in the hope it will help him learn the language. It does that and more ... he starts becoming telepathic, and strongly enough so that at one point he kills one of the bad guys that way, without even intending to. Played with in that novel makes quite clear ''why'' humans only use a small percentage of their brain at any one time (within the context of the setting): [[ExplosiveOverclocking using more is damaging to the person in question]], to fatal levels (partly because once the Synapsifier has been used on a person, the effect is permanent). Evidently those ninety percent are there to keep the brain running for year after year.
* AccidentalTimeTravel: Joseph Schwartz is a fairly average man from our modern day (of the mid-twentieth century), when an accident at a local university with a crucible full of [[GreenRocks subcritical uranium]] creates a [[PortalCut cone of destruction as it sends only things within the cone into the future]]. The lack of transition initially gives Schwartz the impression that he's an [[IdentityAmnesia amnesiac]] and he's [[LanguageDrift unable to speak the future language]]. After being experimented on, he begins to [[FishOutOfTemporalWater adjust to the strange future]], learning that he's currently in the [[AlternativeCalendar year 827, Galactic Era]].
* AgonyBeam: The neuronic whip has several degrees of power, but Dr Arvardan gets to experience the highest levels, which cause every nerve in the body to react in pain, overstimulating him into unconsciousness.
* AllLowercaseLetters: the 1950 {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has the title and asimov's name all in lowercase.
* AlternativeCalendar: Every planet in the galaxy now uses the Galactic Era calendar, which starts from the coronation of [[KingBobTheNth Frankenn the First]], 827 years before the main setting of the work. (The book started in the 1950s, then TimeTravel moved the setting, some fifty thousand years or more into the future.)
-->"It's 827 years since the foundation of the Galactic Empire; 827 years since the coronation of Frankenn the First.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Joseph Schwartz is often assumed, not just just by readers but also by reviewers and members of the publishing industry, to be Jewish. This assumption is based on his Hebrew first name and German last name, and Dr Asimov's own Jewish ancestry, pegging him as something of an AuthorAvatar. However, when he was asked about Schwartz's faith, he explained that he had given absolutely no thought to it while writing the novel. There are two Old Testament references; Earthers are a "stubborn and stiff-necked people", and "making the desert bloom" ([[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter most of the Earth had become a radioactive wasteland in earlier centuries]]). Dr Asimov admitted to basing the conditions of Earth on the conditions in ancient Judea (now Israel) under the Romans. Procurator Ennius even gets to use Pontius Pilate's line: "I find no fault in this man..." These factors add up to reinforce the notion of Schwartz as a Jewish man.
* ApocalypseHow: Once the setting shifts to Earth in the far future, it's established that [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter Earth now has large areas of nuclear wasteland, and visitors from off-world wear lead-lined clothing]]. The radioactive planet is slowly becoming completely uninhabitable.
* AsTheGoodBookSays: In chapter 20, "The Deadline That Was Reached", Procurator Ennius is the representative of the Galactic Empire for Earth (which [[SpaceRomans evokes an allusion to Rome's rule over Judea]]), and he uses Pontius Pilate's line, "I find no fault in this man...", when describing the main villain. InUniverse, the allusion is not recognized.
* BookEnds: In both the first and last chapters, Joseph Schwartz is quoting Creator/RobertBrowning's "Literature/RabbiBenEzra";
-->"Grow old along with me!\\
The best is yet to be, \\
The last of life, for which the first was made..."
* CruelMercy: Balkis begins his interrogation of the protagonists by claiming that they are scheduled for a quick death, but if they don't agree to help them, he will guarantee that they will experience a very unpleasant death. It is at this moment when Schwartz claims to be able to kill Balkis [[PsychicPowers with a thought]]. He's decided instead that Balkis should live, promising a terrible retribution. Schwartz begins by puppeting Balkis, leading them to escape their imprisonment.
-->"Or perhaps you, Schwartz. You killed our agent. It was you, was it not? Perhaps you think you can kill me?"\\
For the first time Schwartz looked at Balkis. He said coldly, "I can, but I won't."\\
"That is kind of you."\\
"Not at all. It is very cruel of me. You say yourself that there are things worse than simple death."
* {{Dedication}}: Dr Asimov dedicated this book to his father for having introduced him to ScienceFiction.
-->''To my father, who''\\
''first introduced me to science fiction.''
* DeadlyUpgrade: Joseph Schwartz is unable to communicate with anyone due to having [[TimeTravel travelled so far forward in time]] that LanguageDrift has left 'English' incomprehensible to him. Unable to protest, he's used as a subject for the 'Synapsifier', which helps him learn more quickly and turns him [[{{Telepathy}} telepathic]]. Unfortunately for Schwartz, the treatment has essentially stuck his brain in 'high gear'. Do this for several weeks, maybe a few months at most, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty. Evidently NinetyPercentOfYourBrain is there to keep the brain running year after year.
* DomedHometown:
** The 1983 Creator/DelRey[=/=]{{Creator/Ballantine}} cover shows the Procurator's Mt Everest palace enclosed under a dome to protect it from Earth's inhospitable environment.
** The 1987 {{Creator/Grafton}} cover shows an asteroid with a dome to hold buildings and trees at the edge of an atmosphere.
* {{Doorstopper}}:
** Creator/UnicornPress published a [[{{Omnibus}} 4-in-1 volume]] with over 900 pages in 1950, including ''Literature/BlandBeginning'', ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', ''Literature/JustForTheBride'', and ''Literature/TheOwlAndThePussycat''.
** Creator/{{Servire}} published a 500+ page volume in 1970, titled ''Science Fiction {{Omnibus}}'', a Dutch translation of four American ScienceFiction {{Novel}}s; ''Literature/TheBigEye'' by Creator/MaxEhrlich, ''Literature/TheManWhoSoldTheMoon'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, ''Literature/{{Requiem}}'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, and ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'' by Creator/IsaacAsimov.
* DystopianEdict: A [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter slowly dying future Earth]] has [[TheTheocracy the Society of Ancients as their local government]]. Any rule called a "custom" is enforced by the death penalty, including [[WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture euthanasia for those who are sixty years old]].
* EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: The Society of Ancients is founded upon the idea that [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter Earth used to be the only world with human beings on it]], and therefore the most important world in the galaxy. They also teach that Earth will be the most important world again. In recent centuries, Earth has tried to revolt against the Galactic Empire three times, [[spoiler:and rebel elements are currently attempting a mass genocide of other worlds]].
* EarthThatUsedToBeBetter: The [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients rules the local government]], and is founded upon the idea that Earth was the origin world of humanity. Part of their teachings is that [[EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Earth will again be the most important world in the galaxy]]. Meanwhile, they [[DystopianEdict mandate]] [[WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture euthanasia at sixty]], large areas of the planet are completely uninhabitable, and [[spoiler:rebel elements are plotting a mass viral genocide of other worlds]].
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The High Minister isn't given a name in this story, because Secretary Balkis is the true villain and [[PuppetKing the High Minister is just a pawn]].
* ExplosiveOverclocking: A permanent and technologically induced [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain mental state]] that is implied to essentially an {{Overdrive}} situation: you think faster and clearer, and might even develop telepathic powers, but wear and tear increases. Do this for a couple of weeks, maybe some months at most, and the wear and tear is pronounced enough to make metaphorical 'engine failure' a statistical near-certainty.
* FakeOutMakeOut: When Bel Arvardan is secretly meeting with Pola in chapter 14, "Second Meeting", she tells him that he should try to kiss her if he hears any noise to disguise their meeting. During their discussion, she lies that someone is coming, to trick him into kissing her.
-->"First-I don't think anyone followed us, but if you hear any noise at all, would you-would you"-her eyes dropped-"put your arms about me, and-and-you know."\\
He nodded his head and said dryly, "I believe I can improvise without any trouble. Is it necessary to wait for noise?"
* FantasticRacism: Dr Asimov delves into subtle elements of racism as he explores the concept of minorities vs majority using Earth vs the rest of the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]].
** At the individual level, different characters show different prejudices and most don't change their opinions during the events of the novel. Bel Arvardan is the exception, starting with the belief that he is enlightened and liberal, but brimming with what we now call systemic racism. Falling in love with an Earthwoman helps him [[CharacterDevelopment realize and overcome]] his prejudices, beginning to treat Earthpeople as normal human beings.
** On a cultural level, there's extreme scientific resistance to the idea that humanity might have originated on Earth. Given that this novel was written in the 1950s, when there was still substantial racism towards African-Americans and resistance to the idea that humanity originated in Africa, this can easily be read as an allusion to debates of the time.
* FictionalDocument:
** The newspaper that [[FirstNameBasis Grew]] reads is called the ''Tribune''. It provides information about Bel Arvardan, the archeologist, visiting Earth and Affret Shekt's search for volunteers to test his Synapsifier.
** ''Journal of the Galactic Archaeological Society'' is a prestigious science magazine, which has published Bel Arvardan's research.
** ''Physical Reviews'', a less-popular scientific magazine but still with galactic circulation, has published an article about Affret Shekt's invention of the Synapsifier.
* FictionalFieldOfScience: The mapping and demographics of Galactography is mentioned, due to having a GalacticSuperpower.
* FirstNameBasis: Grew, Arbin Maren's father-in-law, is never referred to by his family name, just by the name Grew, which is probably his first name, since his daughter, Loa Maren, simply calls him Father.
* FishbowlHelmet: The cover of ''Magazine/TwoCompleteScienceFictionAdventureBooks'' (Winter 1950 issue), which includes ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'', has a man and woman in spacesuits, who are wearing bell-shaped glass helmets with metal near the ears and on the top of the bulb.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Joseph Schwartz, a tailor from contemporary Chicago, is inadvertently and permanently displaced into TheFuture some several thousand years due to a scientific experiment gone strangely wrong.
* ForbiddenZone: In Earth's future, it is [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter covered with uninhabitable nuclear wastelands]], and the Society of Ancients, [[TheTheocracy religious fanatics ruling the planet]], have decreed that nobody enters the radioactive areas. Bel Arvardan's archeological project would require him to investigate one of these wastelands for ancient human artifacts, so they naturally refuse permission.
-->"Do you know what it means to enter the radioactive areas? They're Forbidden. It's one of the strongest Customs these Earthmen have. No one can enter the Forbidden Areas, and all radioactive areas are Forbidden." -- '''Procurator Ennius''', to his wife
* ForWantOfANail: During Chapter 8, "Confluence at Chica", the narration takes a moment to point out where Dr Arvardan could have innocently left Pola Shekt, which would have caused a completely different course of events, ending in disaster.
-->Looking back on it later, Arvardan realized that at this point he could have left the girl. Left her! Never seen her again! Have nothing to reproach himself with!...And all would have been different. The great Galactic Empire would have dissolved in chaos and destruction.
* GalacticSuperpower: The [[GenericanEmpire Galactic Empire]] capital is the [[NamingYourColonyWorld planet/system Trantor]], and has essentially conquered or absorbed all rivals, to the point where [[AlternativeCalendar the local calendar sets the coronation of the first emperor as year 1]]. It stands strong.
* GenericanEmpire: The [[GalacticSuperpower only galactic nation]] is simply called the Galactic Empire.
* GreenRocks: Subcritical uranium is used to excuse AccidentalTimeTravel, kicking off the plot of the story with Schwartz. Radioactivity does not work like is described in the book, which was first published during the 1950s, [[ScienceMarchesOn soon after nuclear fission was discovered]].
* HegemonicEmpire: Territories within the Galactic Empire are allowed at least some degree of self-governance, especially Earth, which is [[TheTheocracy ruled by the Society of Ancients]].
* IdentityAmnesia: When Joseph Schwartz realizes he's in a strange land, his first conclusion is that he forgot who he is and several years. He even questions if his memories of wife and children are accurate. However, it isn't memory loss; he's been [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent flung into the far future]].
* ImHavingSoulPains: The neuronic whip has several degrees of power, but Dr Arvardan gets to experience the highest levels, which cause every nerve in the body to react in pain, overstimulating him into unconsciousness.
* IstanbulNotConstantinople: Earth has changed in the tens of thousands of years since "present day". Washington has become "Washenn", Chicago has become "Chica", St Louis has become "Senloo", San Francisco has become "Senfran", and Buenos Aires has become "Bonair".
-->"Chica first stop, he thought. Largest collection of Earthmen on the planet. Washenn next; local capital. Senloo! Senfran! Bonair!...He had plotted an itinerary all over the western continents[.]"
-->"In my time," said Schwartz, "there was a city called St. Louis. It was at the junction of two great rivers...We found Senloo."
* KingBobTheNth:
** Stannell II is established as a short-lived emperor who was assassinated about fifty years ago (his immediate successor was Emperor Edard and the current monarch is unnamed). This name is taken from the earlier ''Foundation'' story, "Literature/TheMerchantPrinces", which mentions an Emperor Stannell VI, a distant successor.
** The first ruler of the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]] is named emperor Frankenn the First, and their rule [[AlternativeCalendar forms the basis of the Galactic Era calendar]].
* LanguageDrift: The protagonist, Joseph Schwartz, inadvertently [[TimeTravel steps into the future]], where his 20th century English is so different (he says Chicago, [[IstanbulNotConstantinople they say Chica]]) that it is unintelligible to all except a few historical linguists. Bel Arvardan recognizes Schwartz's English due to his specialty as a prehistory archeologist.
* MistakenForSpies: In chapter 10, "Interpretation Of Events", Secretary Balkis is explaining to the High Minister of the [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients]] why Schwartz and Dr. Bel Arvardan must be spies from the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]]. Overlaps with TimeTravelersAreSpies in Schwartz's case.
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: The Mind Touch, part of Schwartz's PsychicPowers, gives him the ability to sense the location and intentions of the people around him, up to a great distance and through solid walls. It doesn't exactly give him the ability to predict their actions, but to know what they've decided to do before they're able to do it.
* NamingYourColonyWorld: The planet Ophiuchus takes its name from the constellation of Ophiuchus, rather than just one star.
* NextSundayAD: The majority of the story takes place in the far-flung future of [[AlternativeCalendar 827 Galactic Era]]. Joseph Swartz, a time-traveller from [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the modern day]], is at least fifty thousand years displaced.
* {{Omnibus}}:
** Creator/UnicornPress published a [[{{Doorstopper}} volume with over 900 pages]] in 1950, titled ''Bland Beginning, Pebble in the Sky, Just for the Bride, The Owl and the Pussycat'', with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin those four books]]; ''Literature/BlandBeginning'' by Creator/JulianSymons, ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'' by Creator/IsaacAsimov, ''Literature/JustForTheBride'' by Creator/DorothyParkClark, and ''Literature/TheOwlAndThePussycat'' by Creator/OwenCameron.
** Creator/{{Servire}} published a [[{{Doorstopper}} 500+ page volume]] in 1970, titled ''Science Fiction Omnibus'', a Dutch translation of four American ScienceFiction {{Novel}}s; ''Literature/TheBigEye'' by Creator/MaxEhrlich, ''Literature/TheManWhoSoldTheMoon'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, ''Literature/{{Requiem}}'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, and ''Literature/PebbleInTheSky'' by Creator/IsaacAsimov.
* OurTimeTravelIsDifferent: Part of the IncitingIncident causing Joseph Schwartz to be [[FishOutOfTemporalWater inadvertently and permanently displaced many thousands of years into the future]] is a local University crucible with [[GreenRocks subcritical uranium]] that creates a [[PortalCut cone of destruction as it sends only things within the cone into the future]]. The lack of transition initially gives Schwartz the impression that he's an [[IdentityAmnesia amnesiac]].
* PortalCut: Joseph Schwartz is suddenly [[TimeTravel transported into the far-future]]. He loses the toe of a shoe and only half of a doll that was lying on the ground is carried along with him.
* PuppetKing: The High Minister, leader of the Society of Ancients, is a pawn in the schemes of his own Secretary. The High Minister is, in theory, an absolute dictator with the power to dismiss Secretary Balkis and assign the post to someone else. However, they rely on Balkis for just about everything related to their job.
-->It was the High Minister, of course, who had the semblance of power; the Secretary who had the reality. And in the privacy of the High Minister's office that circumstance was quite plain.\\
For the High Minister was pettishly puzzled and the Secretary coolly indifferent.
* RadiationImmuneMutants: Earth has become radioactive and the humans still there are [[DownplayedTrope slightly more resistant to radiation]] than the rest of the Galactic Empire, but it's not statistically significant. [[spoiler:However they are resistant to radiation-mutated diseases that are lethal to off-worlders.]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: DeconstructedTrope with Ennius, Imperial Procurator of Earth. Arvardin, Shekt, Pola, and Schwartz warn him about the Zealots' plot. Unfortunately, due to his reasonableness, he doesn't simply take their word for it, and can't act with no real evidence. Unfortunately, his inaction nearly dooms the Empire, but Schwartz resorts to exploiting a hatemonger's bigotry to thwart the Zealots' plan.
* ShoutOut:
** Creator/RobertBrowning's "Literature/RabbiBenEzra" is quoted by Joseph Schwartz at the very beginning of the work, [[BookEnds and at the very end]], saying
--->"Grow old along with me!\\
The best is yet to be, \\
The last of life, for which the first was made..."
** A ''Toy/RaggedyAnn'' doll is lying in the streets when Joseph Schwartz is [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent sent into the future]], but [[PortalCut cut in half]] because of the edge of the field.
* SpaceRomans: This story's [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]] (which is later [[CanonWelding merged into]] the same one from the ''Literature/FoundationSeries'') is playing the role of Space Rome to Earth's Judea (now Israel). Made obvious by Procurator Ennius (inadvertently) [[AsTheGoodBookSays using Pontius Pilate's line]]: "I find no fault in this man..." Also [[WordOfGod confirmed by Dr Asimov]] that the allusion between Rome and Israel was intentional.
* StupidityInducingAttack: Discussed when the villain threatens to ReversePolarity on the "synapsifier", an intelligence-boosting machine, causing it to reduce the heroes to vegetables.
* SyntheticPlague: In chapter 15, "The Odds That Vanished", Dr Shekt explains how the Society of Ancients has developed a variation of the Common Fever which will be incredibly virulent and as far as Outsiders are concerned, incredibly deadly.
* TheTheocracy: Earth is ruled by the Society of Ancients, a theological group who utilize SecretPolice and {{Dystopian Edict}}s to enforce their rule and [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter belief in the superiority of the Earth]].
* TimeTravelersAreSpies: Schwartz, who has [[AccidentalTimeTravel inadvertently travelled to the far future]], is assumed, by Secretary Balkis and agent Natter of the [[TheTheocracy Society of Ancients]], to be a spy from the [[GalacticSuperpower Galactic Empire]]. Therefore, Natter is assigned to keep an eye on him.
* TranslationConvention: When Joseph Schwartz [[TimeTravel travels tens of thousands of years into the future]], he finds that [[LanguageDrift English has changed far too much to be comprehensible]]. The narration from Schwartz's perspective maintains this obfuscation until he learns their modern English, at which point everyone is speaking in English as we know it.
* VariantChess: Set thousands of years into TheFuture, this story mentions 3d and other variants of chess existing, though the game that features as a plot point during chapter 11 is of the common sort, with glowing pieces.
-->Grew told him of variations of chess. There was fourhanded chess, in which each player had a board, touching each other at the corners, with a fifth board filling the hollow in the center as a common No Man's Land. There were three-dimensional chess games in which eight transparent boards were placed one over the other and in which each piece moved in three dimensions as they formerly moved in two, and in which the number of pieces and pawns were doubled, the win coming only when a simultaneous check of both enemy kings occurred. There were even the popular varieties, in which the original position of the chessmen were decided by throws of the dice, or where certain squares conferred advantages or disadvantages to the pieces upon them, or where new pieces with strange properties were introduced.\\
But chess itself, the original and unchangeable, was the same-and the tournament between Schwartz and Grew had completed its first fifty games.
* WeWillHaveEuthanasiaInTheFuture: The natives of a [[EarthThatUsedToBeBetter backwater, slowly dying future Earth]] has a [[DystopianEdict rule]] that citizens, when they reach "The Sixty"-their sixtieth birthday, must die. Anyone who is unable to work is also euthanized. People who try to cheat the system are almost universally reviled.
* WeWillNotHaveAppendixesInTheFuture: [[SpaceRomans Imperial officials]] realize Joseph Schwartz is a time traveler by the fact he has wisdom teeth and an unusually large appendix. Justified by [[spoiler:Earth is now covered in radiation after a nuclear war]], which would increase mutation rates vastly. How much time passed between the "present" and the "future" is disputed by the fanbase due to inconsistencies within the series (One character estimates between fifty thousand to a hundred thousand years since humanity only existed on a single planet, even assuming that humans didn't evolve simultaneously on multiple planets).
* WorldWarIII: Schwartz assumes that Earth's radioactive crust is due to a war fought with atomic bombs.
* YouAreACreditToYourRace: In chapter 20, "The Deadline That Was Reached", the colonel of the Galactic Empire is unashamedly racist against Earthmen, but as Balkis (an Earthman) manipulates him by claiming that long imprisonment is acceptable as long as the truth of treason against the Galactic Empire is uncovered, the colonel sees him as doing his duty for the GalacticSuperpower and gives Balkis the greatest compliment that he can.
-->The colonel said stiffly, "I admire your feelings, sir, and freely admit that were I in your place my attitude would be quite different. You are a credit to your race, sir. I will attempt contact with the Procurator."
----
