A scholar of multiple disciplines, Dr. Edward Tippler was once renowned for his progressive theories in the field of physics, specifically his understanding of the nature of time and space (or “spacetime”) as it relates to gravity and mass. His work on gravitational time dilatation made him something of a legend; however, that academic fame progressively turned to infamy as his theories became too controversial. Eventually he was unable to gain almost any traction at all within the scientific community. He is now driven to prove his theories to the world beyond academe. He sees his opportunity for professional and intellectual redemption in Sam and his mysterious stone. Tippler is pleasant, but primarily a solitary man, living alone in the desert of New Mexico with his cat Schrödinger. He enjoys baseball and old jazz records from the twenties and thirties; believes in healthy, clean living; and has an allergy to nuts.