How to Stop Time / The Humans / The Radleys

1. Living for centuries brings profound loneliness and the pain of constant loss.

To exist when the point of you has gone.

Witnessing fleeting lives. Tom Hazard, living for over 400 years, experiences the constant cycle of human life and death. Ordinary humans, or "mayflies" as the Albatross Society calls them, live and die in a blink of an eye from his perspective, making deep connections inherently temporary and painful. This leads to an overwhelming sense of loneliness.

Accumulation of grief. Each passing generation brings new losses – friends, lovers, family. The sheer volume of farewells over centuries creates a unique burden of grief that never fully dissipates. This perpetual state of mourning makes forming new bonds increasingly difficult, as the pain of future loss is always anticipated.

Feeling out of time. Tom feels disconnected from the rapidly changing world and the short-lived concerns of mayflies. His vast historical perspective makes contemporary issues seem cyclical and often trivial, further isolating him from those around him. This detachment is a defense mechanism against loss but deepens his solitude.

2. Anageria: A rare condition causing extremely slow aging, not true immortality.

So, we are not immortal.

Slowed biological clock. Anageria is a condition where the body ages at a significantly slower rate, typically around a 1:15 ratio. This means for every 15 years that pass, the affected individual ages only one year physically. While granting extreme longevity, it is not a state of stasis.

Gradual physical changes. Individuals with anageria still experience the effects of aging, albeit at a delayed pace. They will eventually show signs like graying hair, wrinkles, and physical ailments such as arthritis. The condition merely stretches the human lifespan over many centuries.

Heightened immune system. A notable quirk of anageria is a temporarily enhanced immune system, offering protection against many common diseases. However, this benefit fades with extreme age, and albas remain vulnerable to injury, malnutrition, and ultimately, the slow decay of time.

3. The Albatross Society offers protection but demands strict control and secrecy.

The first rule is that you don’t fall in love.

Founded for survival. The Albatross Society, established by Hendrich Pietersen, exists to unite and protect albas from the dangers of exposure. It provides resources, new identities, and a network to help members navigate life across centuries while maintaining secrecy.

Enforced rules and obligations. Membership comes with stringent rules, most notably the prohibition of falling in love or forming deep attachments to mayflies. Members are also required to change identities and locations frequently (the "Eight-Year Rule") and undertake assignments for the society, often involving recruiting new albas.

Control and manipulation. While framed as protection, the society, particularly under Hendrich, exerts significant control over its members' lives. Hendrich uses manipulation, emotional leverage (like the promise of finding Marion), and veiled threats to ensure compliance, blurring the lines between safeguard and prison.

4. Love and deep human connection are both life's anchors and sources of immense, enduring pain.

Love is pain.

The anchor of existence. For Tom, the few deep loves in his life – his mother, Rose, and his daughter Marion – provided the primary meaning and anchor for his existence. These connections offered moments of profound happiness and grounded him in the present, counteracting the disorientation of time.

The cost of attachment. The inevitable loss of loved ones due to their short lifespans inflicts deep, lasting wounds. The pain of outliving those you care for is so severe that the society's primary rule is to avoid love altogether, viewing it as an unacceptable risk to an alba's psychological well-being.

Enduring impact of loss. Even centuries after their deaths, the memories of loved ones remain vivid and painful, contributing to Tom's "memory aches." The love itself doesn't die, but its continued presence in the face of absence becomes a source of perpetual sorrow, making the past feel more real than the present.

5. The past is never truly gone; it lives within us and the world, causing a persistent "memory ache."

The past is never gone. It just hides.

Memories as physical pain. Tom experiences his vast accumulation of memories not just as mental recollections but as physical sensations, manifesting as debilitating headaches or "memory aches." The weight of centuries of lived experience becomes a tangible burden on his mind and body.

History in the present. The past is not confined to books or museums; it is embedded in the physical world – in buildings, streets, objects, and even people's faces and gestures. Walking through London, Tom constantly sees the layers of history, the ghosts of past lives and events superimposed onto the present landscape.

The burden of knowledge. Knowing the deep history of places and the cyclical nature of human behavior makes it difficult for Tom to fully inhabit the present. He is constantly pulled back into previous eras, comparing, contrasting, and feeling the echoes of past joys and traumas, making the "now" feel fragile and fleeting.

6. History reveals constant patterns: human nature, ignorance, and fear repeat across centuries.

The main lesson of history is: humans don’t learn from history.

Cyclical human behavior. Despite technological and societal changes, fundamental aspects of human nature remain constant. Tom observes the same mistakes, prejudices, and desires repeating across centuries, from the witch trials of the 16th century to the political conflicts and social anxieties of the 21st.

Ignorance and fear as drivers. History demonstrates how ignorance and fear fuel persecution and conflict. Whether it's the superstition leading to witch hunts or the pseudo-science targeting albas, the fear of the unknown or different consistently drives people to seek scapegoats and explanations, often with lethal consequences.

The illusion of progress. While humanity makes advancements in science and technology, the core emotional and psychological landscape remains largely unchanged. Tom sees humans as "glorified chimpanzees, just with ever bigger weapons," suggesting that true moral or emotional progress is elusive, and the same dangers resurface in new forms.

7. Finding meaning in a long life requires purpose, often found in connection with others.

You must find your purpose.

Beyond mere existence. Living for centuries without a driving purpose leads to a state of drifting and emptiness. Tom experiences periods of profound aimlessness and despair, contemplating suicide, when he lacks a reason to continue beyond simply surviving.

Purpose through connection. His initial purpose is the search for Marion, a promise made to Rose. Later, becoming a history teacher provides a new sense of meaning by connecting with younger generations and sharing his unique perspective on the past. Helping other albas through the society also offers a form of purpose, despite his reservations about the organization itself.

Impact on others. Witnessing the positive impact he has on a student like Anton, inspiring his interest in history and helping him navigate personal challenges, provides Tom with a tangible sense of fulfillment. This suggests that connecting with and contributing to the lives of others, even mayflies, can provide essential meaning for an alba.

8. The lifelong search for a lost loved one becomes a central, driving force.

Have you found her?

A promise kept. Tom's search for his daughter Marion, who inherited his condition and disappeared as a girl, becomes a quest spanning centuries. This search is fueled by a promise made to Rose and the deep paternal love he feels, providing a constant motivation even in the darkest times.

Hope against despair. Despite decades of fruitless searching and the low probability of finding someone lost across time, Tom clings to the hope that Marion is alive. This hope, though often feeling pathetic and hopeless, is a vital lifeline that prevents him from succumbing to complete despair or giving up on life.

Leverage for control. Hendrich and the Albatross Society exploit Tom's desire to find Marion, using the promise of assistance in his search as a primary means of ensuring his loyalty and compliance. This highlights how deeply his love for his daughter drives his actions and decisions.

9. Hiding one's true nature is essential for survival but leads to profound isolation.

I am a dangerous secret.

The necessity of disguise. To avoid persecution, albas must constantly conceal their true age and identity. This involves creating elaborate backstories, changing names and professions, and moving frequently, preventing them from ever truly settling or being known for who they are.

Living a lie. Maintaining secrecy requires constant vigilance and the suppression of genuine emotions and memories that could reveal their longevity. This perpetual performance of a "normal" life is exhausting and contributes to a feeling of being a "crowd in one body," fragmented and disconnected from their true self.

Barrier to intimacy. The need for secrecy makes deep, lasting relationships with mayflies almost impossible. Sharing the truth is too dangerous, forcing albas into superficial connections or complete isolation. This reinforces the loneliness inherent in their condition, as they can never fully be themselves with others.

10. Even after centuries, the possibility of new love brings both terrifying vulnerability and renewed desire.

I am in love for the first time in four centuries.

Unexpected connection. After centuries of avoiding deep attachments, Tom finds himself drawn to Camille, a colleague at the school. Her genuine nature, intelligence, and unexpected recognition of him from a past life break through his carefully constructed emotional barriers.

Fear and desire intertwined. The possibility of falling in love again after the devastating loss of Rose is terrifying. It reawakens the vulnerability and potential for pain he has long suppressed. Yet, the desire for connection, for intimacy, and for the simple joys of shared life proves powerful, making him question the society's rules and his own defenses.

A chance for the present. Connecting with Camille offers Tom a chance to live more fully in the present moment, something he struggles with due to the weight of his past. Her presence and the potential for a shared future provide a counterpoint to the historical echoes that constantly pull him away, offering a path towards feeling "vaguely human again."

11. The Albatross Society enforces rules, including avoiding deep attachments and frequent identity changes.

Eight years, that’s the rule.

The Eight-Year Rule. A core tenet of the society is that albas must change their identity and location approximately every eight years. This rule is based on the observation that after this period, people in their community begin to notice their lack of aging, increasing the risk of exposure.

Preventing anchors. Hendrich emphasizes that albas must not "lay down an anchor," meaning they should avoid anything that ties them too strongly to one place or group of people. This includes possessions, routines, and most importantly, deep emotional bonds, particularly with mayflies.

Assignments as transitions. The end of an eight-year cycle is often marked by an assignment from Hendrich. These tasks, ranging from recruitment to eliminating threats, serve as the catalyst for the next identity change, reinforcing the society's control and preventing members from settling into a stable, independent life.

12. Exposure is the ultimate threat, leading to persecution by science or superstition.

Scientists are the new witchfinders.

Historical and modern dangers. Albas face existential threats from both historical superstition and modern science. In earlier centuries, they were accused of witchcraft and demonism, leading to violent persecution. In the modern era, the danger comes from scientists and biotech firms who view them as specimens for research, seeking to exploit their condition.

The cost of being known. Any public revelation of anageria, or even strong suspicion, triggers the society's intervention, often with lethal consequences for those who discover the truth. Dr. Hutchinson, who studied Tom's condition, was murdered by the society to prevent his findings from being published, illustrating the extreme measures taken to maintain secrecy.

The society's paradox. While protecting albas from external threats, the society itself becomes a source of danger and control. Its methods, including murder and manipulation, highlight the moral compromises made in the name of collective survival, forcing members like Tom to participate in actions they find abhorrent.

Last updated: July 14, 2025