Q & A Query (SPOILERS)

[KRAD]

As I said, They would destroy the entire multiverse and start from scratch. That includes the Q-continuum, as Q himself said in the book.

[Quimby]

I just wanted to mention how much I loved the sequence near the end of Q & A with the little vignettes giving us peaks of other Trek universes. I am an alternate universe junky and literally could have read and enjoyed an entire book in that format.

[JD]

Have you read Q-Squared? The whole book jumps back and forth between our universe and two others.

[EJA]

KRAD said:
As I said, They would destroy the entire multiverse and start from scratch. That includes the Q-continuum, as Q himself said in the book.

So in your imagination, all those alternate Enterprises near the end are from alternate universes within a multiverse, rather than alternate quantum timelines within a single universe?

[Christopher]

EJA said:
So in your imagination, all those alternate Enterprises near the end are from alternate universes within a multiverse, rather than alternate quantum timelines within a single universe?

*sigh* Those are just different ways of describing the same thing: the first is a vernacular description, the latter more technical. It's not an either-or question.

[EJA]

^Sorry, but I'm just not so sure. Memory Alpha defines alternate universes and alternate timelines as two separate things. Alternate timelines are created via time travel within a single universe; things like, say, the mirror universe and the various universes encountered by Worf in "Parallels" exist independantly of the "primary" universe.

[EJA]

In Planet X, Q briefly travels into what I like to think of as a subsection of the Marvel Comics Multiverse in order to confer with Uatu, the Watcher. So if They destroy their home multiverse, what do the Q have to be so worried for if they have the ability to jump into other multiverses? Are they connected to the Q Continuum in some way so that if the Continuum is destroyed, they all die too, even if they're in another multiverse?

[jezor]

Given the above discussion, couldn't anyone from any of the quantum-states-that-collectively-though-inaccurately-are-called-the-multiverse have potentially averted the destruction? While "our" Picard was the right man for the job this time, who's to say that one of the similar Picards or someone else might not have succeeded? (Or won't in the future--does the success of Picard this time preclude Them from getting bored again?) {ProfJonathan}

[Christopher]

EJA said:
^Sorry, but I'm just not so sure. Memory Alpha defines alternate universes and alternate timelines as two separate things. Alternate timelines are created via time travel within a single universe; things like, say, the mirror universe and the various universes encountered by Worf in "Parallels" exist independantly of the "primary" universe.

No, that's vernacular again. I'm speaking in terms of real physics. The whole idea of alternate realities in science fiction is pretty much based on the "Many Worlds" model of quantum mechanics. What fiction refers to interchangeably as "alternate universes" or "alternate timelines" are based on the actual physical concept of multiple quantum histories for the universe. Regardless of whether science fiction portrays them as arising spontaneously or being created by time travel, they're both derived from this same principle.

And if Memory Alpha claims the sort of distinction you describe, that's purely the invention of whatever anonymous person wrote that paragraph in that article on Memory Alpha. I've never heard that distinction drawn anywhere else. In fact, I would call it emphatically wrong. "Parallels" was based directly on the Many-Worlds model, on the idea that the universe is routinely, spontaneously splitting into divergent quantum histories. In Data's own words: "For any event, there is an infinite number of possible outcomes. Our choices determine which outcome will follow. But there is a theory in quantum physics that all possibilities that could happen do happen in alternate quantum realities." (Which is actually a common misinterpretation of the Everett-Wheeler Many-Worlds model; just because multiple realities may exist, that doesn't require every possible one to occur.)

Unfortunately, the script follows vernacular by using "universe" interchangeably with "quantum reality," which just creates the kind of confusion that you and that Memory Alpha contributor are subject to. In the actual, real-world quantum theory that Data is referring to, what's happening is that our universe is branching into multiple quantum histories which do not interact with one another and can thus be treated, for practical purposes, as separate "realities." Whatever jargon may be used in a work of fiction or a Wiki based on a work of fiction, that's the actual underlying science from which the fiction is derived.

[EJA]

So is the Q Continuum part of the Trekverse too, only existing in a different "strata" to the one Picard & co. inhabit?

[Therin of Andor]

EJA said:
Memory Alpha defines alternate universes and alternate timelines as two separate things.

Memory Alpha entries are written - and rewritten - by fans. If you disgree with what's there, you can register with the wiki and go in tweaking all over the place!

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Does Q&A reference (directly or not) other Q appearences? Like in "Q-Squared", for example.

Also, KRAD, whats your opinion on the Q novels? Particularly the ones by Peter David?

Also, what do you make of of the "Spock vs. Q" series?

[Bryan316]

It hits on almost every Q appearance as being part of a larger thread.

[KRAD]

Does Q&A reference (directly or not) other Q appearences? Like in "Q-Squared", for example.

All of them, in fact.

Also, KRAD, whats your opinion on the Q novels? Particularly the ones by Peter David?

I don't think there's a Q story out there I don't like, because even the worst Q story has Q in it, and is therefore tons o' fun. Having said that, I'm particularly fond of Q-in-Law, and I think Peter's take on the character is excellent.

Also, what do you make of of the "Spock vs. Q" series?

I actually had the privilege of seeing Nimoy and deLancie perform this live at a Slanted Fedora convention in 2001, and it was fantastic. The audios don't do it justice really. It works a thousand times better live....

[Emh]

Q&A references all book appearances (novels, short stories, etc.) up to this point. No references to Spock vs. Q or any of his comic book appearances.