Magic is any sufficiently advanced technology – Arthur C. Clarke
Lithograph of a fictionalized version of the Salem Witch Trails from 1892 (from www.wikipedia.org)
Now a days, the idea that advance science and technology would look like magic to us, or that our technology would look like magic to ancient civilizations is a common theme in science fiction stories. However, in 1932 when Lovecraft wrote The Dreams in the Witch House, such ideas were more innovative and his established connection between New England witchcraft and quantum mechanics was unique. Essentially, in the story, a witch can draw symbols and shapes to slip out of time and space and a graduate student in the 20th century is figuring out how to accomplish the same goal through mathematics. But how is this done? What is the mechanism behind it?
From what is currently known about hyperspace travel (and its not a lot) a rip or tear in space-time is created, opening the universe to hyperspace. This opening, tube or tunnel is called a “wormhole” which allows one to travel through space and time. An illustration of this is shown below.
Theoretical diagram of traveling through hyperspace with a wormhole (from www.zamandayolculuk.com)
Using hyperspace theory it is actually possible to calculate the amount of energy needed to twist, tear or alter space-time to create wormholes. Unfortunately, the estimated amount of energy needed to create a wormhole is astronomical. It is estimated that the energy needed to create a wormhole is a quadrillion times larger than the energy of our largest particle accelerators (Kaku, 1994). Needless to say we won’t be creating wormholes any time soon.
So how could a witch or a graduate student generate that much energy through mathematics and geometry to create a tear in time and space and slip through? I hypothesize that they don’t. Instead, I hypothesize that when Keziah Mason or Walter Gilman draw their symbols or run their calculations this results in shooting a “flare” or message into the void beyond our reality saying “Here I am.”
More than likely it was either Brown Jenkin or “the Black Man” (Nyarlathotep) who folds or tears space-time to allow travel through hyperspace. Remember, it was Brown Jenkin who whispered into Gilman’s ear about Azathoth and Nyarlathotep and not the witch. In addition to knowing how to signal Brown Jenkin or the Black Man, with symbols or math, the Witch House or possibly the Town of Arkham itself may be a “power point” or “weak spot” in our space-time that allows for residents in our reality to signal others. But why? Why would an extra-dimensional entity want to help creatures in our space-time to travel through hyperspace? Why would they want to give such power to others? We may never know the answer to this but I would guess they are not doing it for altruistic reasons; Brown Jenkin or the Black Man must get something out of the arrangement. Maybe it’s a two way street; maybe they need such curious creatures to stick a light out into the audient void to enter our reality.
Nyarlathotep – the Black Man (by Jens Heimdahl)
Next time we will talk about Brown Jenkin and what exactly he is – Thank you. Fred.