The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury

The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury

The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury explores the themes of hope and despair through the story of Craig Bennett Stiles, a time traveler who claims to have visited a utopian future. At 130 years old, Stiles prepares for a public event to reveal his time machine, igniting excitement and skepticism among the masses. The narrative delves into the consequences of belief and the power of imagination, as Stiles reveals that his journey was a fabrication designed to inspire humanity. This thought-provoking tale is ideal for fans of speculative fiction and those interested in the philosophical implications of time travel. Bradbury's work encourages readers to reflect on their own beliefs about the future and the potential for change.

Key Points

  • Explores the themes of hope and despair through time travel.
  • Features Craig Bennett Stiles, a 130-year-old time traveler.
  • Examines the impact of belief on humanity's perception of the future.
  • Discusses the philosophical implications of Stiles' fabricated journey.
  • newtopiccyclegrowin
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“The Toynbee Convector”
Ray Bradbury
“Good! Great! Bravo for me!”
Roger Shumway flung himself into the seat, buckled himself in, revved the rotor and drifted his
Dragonfly Super-6 helicopter up to blow away on the summer sky, heading south toward La Jolla.
“How lucky can you get?”
For he was on his way to an incredible meeting.
The time traveler, after 100 years of silence, had agreed to be interviewed. He was, on this day, 130
years old. And this afternoon, at four o’clock sharp, Pacific time, was the anniversary of his one and only
journey in time.
Lord, yes! One hundred years ago, Craig Bennett Stiles had waved, stepped into his Immense Clock,
as he called it, and vanished from the present. He was and remained the only man in history to travel in
time. And Shumway was the one and only reporter, after all these years, to be invited in for afternoon
tea. And? The possible announcement of a second and final trip through time. The traveler had hinted
at such a trip.
“Old man,” said Shumway, “Mr. Craig Bennett Stiles—here I come!”
The Dragonfly, obedient to fevers, seized a wind and rode it down the coast.
The old man was there waiting for him on the roof of the Time Lamasery at the rim of the hang
glider’s cliff in La Jolla. The air swarmed with crimson, blue, and lemon kites from which young men
shouted, while young women called to them from the land’s edge.
Stiles, for all his 130 years, was not old. His face, blinking up at the helicopter, was the bright face of
one of those hang-gliding Apollo fools who veered off as the helicopter sank down.
Shumway hovered his craft for a long moment, savoring the delay.
Below him was a face that had dreamed architectures, known incredible loves, blueprinted mysteries
of seconds, hours, days, then dived in to swim upstream through the centuries. A sunburst face,
celebrating its own birthday.
For on a single night, one hundred years ago, Craig Bennett Stiles, freshly returned from time, had
reported by Telstar around the world to billions of viewers and told them their future.
“We made it!” he said. “We did it! The future is ours. We rebuilt the cities, freshened the small towns,
cleaned the lakes and rivers, washed the air, saved the dolphins, increased the whales, stopped the
wars, tossed solar stations across space to light the world, colonized the moon, moved on to Mars, then
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Alpha Centauri. We cured cancer and stopped death. We did it—Oh Lord, much thanks—we did it. Oh,
future’s bright and beauteous spires, arise!”
He showed them pictures, he brought them samples, he gave them tapes and LP records, films and
sound cassettes of his wondrous roundabout flight. The world went mad with joy. It ran to meet and
make that future, fling up the cities of promise, save all and share with the beasts of land and sea.
The old man’s welcoming shout came up the wind. Shumway shouted back and let the Dragonfly
simmer down in its own summer weather.
Craig Bennett Stiles, 130 years old, strode forward briskly and, incredibly, helped the young reporter
out of his craft, for Shumway was suddenly stunned and weak at this encounter.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” said Shumway.
“You are, and none too soon,” laughed the time traveler. “Any day now, I may just fall apart and blow
away. Lunch is waiting. Hike!”
A parade of one, Stiles marched off under the fluttering rotor shadows that made him seem a
flickering newsreel of a future that had somehow passed.
Shumway, like a small dog after a great army, followed.
“What do you want to know?” asked the old man as they crossed the roof, double time.
“First,” gasped Shumway, keeping up, “why have you broken silence after a hundred years? Second,
why to me? Third, what’s the big announcement you’re going to make this afternoon at four o’clock,
the very hour when your younger self is due to arrive from the past—when, for a brief moment, you will
appear in two places, the paradox: the person you were, the man you are, fused in one glorious hour for
us to celebrate?”
The old man laughed. “How you do go on!”
“Sorry.” Shumway blushed. “I wrote that last night. Well. Those are the questions.”
“You shall have your answers.” The old man shook his elbow gently. “All in good—time.”
“You must excuse my excitement,” said Shumway. “After all, you are a mystery. You were famous,
world-acclaimed. You went, saw the future, came back, told us, then went into seclusion. Oh, sure; for a
few weeks, you traveled the world in ticker-tape parades, showed yourself on TV, wrote one book,
gifted us with one magnificent two-hour television film, then shut yourself away here. Yes, the time
machine is on exhibit below, and crowds are allowed in each day at noon to see and touch. But you
yourself have refused fame—”
“Not so.” The old man led him along the roof. Below in the gardens, other helicopters were arriving
now, bringing TV equipment from around the world to photograph the miracle in the sky, that moment
when the time machine from the past would appear, shimmer, then wander off to visit other cities
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before it vanished into the past. “I have been busy, as an architect, helping build that very future I saw
when, as a young man, I arrived in our golden tomorrow!” They stood for a moment watching the
preparations below. Vast tables were being set up for food and drink. Dignitaries would be arriving soon
from every country of the world to thank—for a final time, perhaps—this fabled, this almost mythic
traveler of the years.
“Come along,” said the old man. “Would you like to come sit in the time machine? No one else ever
has, you know. Would you like to be the first?”
No answer was necessary. The old man could see that the young man’s eyes were bright and wet.
“There, there,” said the old man. “Oh, dear me; there, there.”
A glass elevator sank and took them below and let them out in a pure white basement at the center of
which stood—The incredible device.
“There.” Stiles touched a button and the plastic shell that had for one hundred years encased the time
machine slid aside. The old man nodded. “Go. Sit.”
Shumway moved slowly toward the machine.
Stiles touched another button and the machine lit up like a cavern of spider webs. It breathed in years
and whispered forth remembrance. Ghosts were in its crystal veins. A great god spider had woven its
tapestries in a single night. It was haunted and it was alive. Unseen tides came and went in its
machinery. Suns burned and moons hid their seasons in it. Here, an autumn blew away in tatters; there,
winters arrived in snows that drifted in spring blossoms to fall on summer fields.
The young man sat in the center of it all, unable to speak, gripping the armrests of the padded chair.
“Don’t be afraid,” said the old man gently. “I won’t send you on a journey.”
“I wouldn’t mind,” said Shumway.
The old man studied his face. “No, I can see you wouldn’t. You look like me one hundred years ago
this day. Damn if you aren’t my honorary son.”
The young man shut his eyes at this, and the lids glistened as the ghosts in the machine sighed all
about him and promised him tomorrows.
“Well, what do you think of my Toynbee Convector?” said the old man briskly, to break the spell.
He cut the power. The young man opened his eyes.
“The Toynbee Convector? What—”
“More mysteries, eh? The great Toynbee, that fine historian who said any group, any race, any world
that did not run to seize the future and shape it was doomed to dust away in the grave, in the past.”
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FAQs of The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury

What is the main premise of The Toynbee Convector?
The Toynbee Convector centers on Craig Bennett Stiles, a time traveler who claims to have visited a future where humanity has overcome its greatest challenges. As he prepares for a public event to unveil his time machine, he reflects on the societal skepticism surrounding his claims. The story reveals that Stiles' journey was a carefully constructed lie meant to inspire hope and belief in a better future, challenging readers to consider the power of imagination and belief in shaping reality.
How does Stiles' character evolve throughout the story?
Craig Bennett Stiles begins as a celebrated figure, known for his supposed time travel and the utopian future he describes. However, as the narrative unfolds, he reveals that his journey was fabricated, leading to a profound transformation in his character. Stiles evolves from a figure of hope to one who grapples with the consequences of his deception, ultimately seeking to inspire humanity to believe in their potential for change. His journey reflects the complexities of human belief and the desire for a brighter future.
What themes are explored in The Toynbee Convector?
The Toynbee Convector delves into several themes, including the nature of hope, the impact of belief, and the consequences of deception. Through Stiles' journey, Bradbury examines how society's skepticism can hinder progress and the importance of imagination in envisioning a better future. The story also highlights the tension between reality and illusion, prompting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and the potential for change in their lives.
What is the significance of the title The Toynbee Convector?
The title The Toynbee Convector references the historical figure Arnold Toynbee, who emphasized the importance of seizing the future. Stiles names his time machine after Toynbee to symbolize the device's purpose: to inspire humanity to take action and shape their destiny. The title encapsulates the central theme of the story, which is the power of belief in creating a hopeful future, even when faced with skepticism and despair.
How does the story address the concept of time travel?
In The Toynbee Convector, time travel serves as a vehicle for exploring deeper philosophical questions about belief and reality. While Stiles presents his time machine as a means of visiting a utopian future, the narrative ultimately reveals that his journey was a fabrication. This twist challenges traditional notions of time travel and prompts readers to consider the implications of belief in shaping one's perception of reality and the future.

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