The Panchronicon

"The Panchronicon" by Harold Steele MacKaye is a fictional novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around two sisters, Rebecca and Phoebe Wise, who find themselves entangled in the eccentric ideas of Copernicus Droop, a village reprobate with a fantastical theory about time travel. As the narrative unfolds, the characters explore themes of ambition, the passage of time, and the desire for second chances, set against the backdrop of whimsical science fiction. The opening portion of the book introduces the two sisters at their home in Peltonville Center, New Hampshire, where they engage in ordinary tasks and daily life. Rebecca, the older sister, is practical and nurturing, while Phoebe, the younger, is filled with curiosity and ambition, especially regarding her Shakespeare class. Their interactions are light yet revealing, setting the stage for the arrival of Copernicus Droop, who proposes a ludicrous plan to travel back in time using a machine he calls the Panchronicon. As their conversation unfolds, humor and absurdity intertwine, foreshadowing the extraordinary journey the characters are about to embark on. The combination of everyday life with the extraordinary speed of time travel creates a fascinating tension right from the start.