Another vote for Alan Turing.
My uncle John, at 29, the age he died in a car crash. I suppose I could take this opportunity to try and better the world, but … screw that. He’s family.
I would choose the unknown person who first invented the art of lighting a fire. It would be kind of hard to communicate, but I consider him/her to be a hell of an engineer and a very interesting individual to get to know.
The thing about some of the selections, like Twain or Einstein (and arguably, Shakespeare), is that they had already composed their main body of work and their further output was of limited quality. Mozart is a possible; much of his best work was done in the eve of his life. However, the person who could likely have most contributed to the body of human knowledge had he lived longer, is Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, whose output in his five year career as a professional mathematician in the company of peers was prodigious and phenomenal.
Stranger
Tell me more…
Another vote for Franklin. For the reasons stated above, as well as to see his reaction to what the Federal Government has turned into. With any luck, he’d have enough Political, Intellectual, and Personal capital to redesign the system into something functional.
Maudlin answer: My younger sister, age 2. She never made it beyond that.
Non-Maudlin answer:
Robert
Anson
Heinlein
I owe him much more than that.
Thinking of the movie Time After Time, I’d vote either for Jack the Ripper just to establish who the hell he was, or H G Wells, so he could see what the future-he-thought-would-be-a-utopia really turned into.
Or Ed McBain so he could finish his last book EXIT
I’d bring back either Jesus or Mohammed . . . to resolve some issues among their followers. Of course, this might backfire.
More personally, I’d bring back any one of hundreds of people I’ve known who died from AIDS.
Douglas Adams.
Once Terry Pratchett goes, I’d bring him back after a cure for Alzheimer’s is found.
George Kennan. Fellow had some strange beliefs, but he was also the architect of America’s “containment” policy with regard to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. By persuasively laying out the theory behind avoiding both a shooting war and a “hotter” Cold War, he probably saved a lot of lives. Plus, he was right when he predicted that the Soviet economic model was simply not sustainable, and would eventually implode.
George Kennan won the Cold War, and he did it in the 1940s. I’d want to bring him back as a young man, of course, before the crazy set in. But still - Kennan FTW.
I’d probably do the same if Terry Pratchett passed away (or Christopher Moore).
My first thought was my best friend who passed away several years back, though. Selfish, yes, but I’m ok with that.
This, but with Mohammed.
Patrick O’Brian.
Want more!
Janis Joplin. Loved her music, loved her talent, died too young.
Another vote for Jesus. I think he’d straighten a few things out, and make life better for everyone.
Except that those with so much energy devoted to (IMO) mis-interpreting his teachings would probably just label the reincarnation the “anti-Christ” and go on with their sick ways.
Existential tangent - can you “bring back” someone who ostensibly already died and came back, and didn’t exactly “die” again?
Hmmmmnn.
Perhaps he can explain about the cheesemakers, and why they’re so particularly blessed.
Stranger
No one all that close to me has died of anything except old age, so I don’t have a personally motivated choice. My initial feeling was Jesus, though arguably he is not dead and therefore doesn’t qualify. Absent him, waiting for Terry Pratchett is the only option that tempts me off Franklin.
“Terry? Wake up Terry. You’re 40 again. Yes, i know you’re confused. Here is everything you’ve written since. Read. Catch-up. Then give me more Vimes.”