(Found) Teacher has to convince an alien inspector not to destroy Earth / universe by teaching him about physics

[Non_thoms]

My husband is trying to remember the name of a fiction book he read when he was about 18 (approx 2002). He thinks it’s a teen / YA book but not 100% sure.
There’s an alien inspector / inquisitor who has been sent to assess our universe to see if it should continue or be destroyed to make way for a new universe.
He visits several world leaders (maybe even the UN) for them to make the case for Earth/universe’s survival. - but he’s not impressed.
He meets a teacher who teaches the alien interesting things about physics / science to get him to keep the universe. One of the lessons is about time could go forward or backwards on an atomic level.
She gets him interested in the lesson, then says she needs to head off somewhere & will complete the lesson the next day (Scheherazade-style). He returns each time to hear the end of the lesson -land then the start of the next one. So the teacher manages to convince him to not destroy the universe.
The cover has the inspector (who looks like an old man) looking at Earth, either holding a pin over it or pointing at the globe.

 

[tobl]

My husband is trying to remember the name of a fiction book he read when he was about 18 (approx 2002). He thinks it’s a teen / YA book but not 100% sure.
There’s an alien inspector / inquisitor who has been sent to assess our universe to see if it should continue or be destroyed to make way for a new universe.
He visits several world leaders (maybe even the UN) for them to make the case for Earth/universe’s survival. - but he’s not impressed.
He meets a teacher who teaches the alien interesting things about physics / science to get him to keep the universe. One of the lessons is about time could go forward or backwards on an atomic level.
She gets him interested in the lesson, then says she needs to head off somewhere & will complete the lesson the next day (Scheherazade-style). He returns each time to hear the end of the lesson -land then the start of the next one. So the teacher manages to convince him to not destroy the universe.
The cover has the inspector (who looks like an old man) looking at Earth, either holding a pin over it or pointing at the globe.

yeah i read that one. is in my public library.... i will see if i can remember the title. it is ya in mi opinion also but is quite funny

 

[PaulMmn]

Almost sounds like the Callahan's Cross-Time Saloon stories... Spider Robinson, I believe. There are several books in the telling.

 

[tobl]

Almost sounds like the Callahan's Cross-Time Saloon stories... Spider Robinson, I believe. There are several books in the telling.

no, is a short book for young adult. unfortunely i don't remember the title or author

 

[Non_thoms]

Almost sounds like the Callahan's Cross-Time Saloon stories... Spider Robinson, I believe. There are several books in the telling.

I had a look at these, but unfortunately it's not the book I'm looking for. Thank you though!

 

[Non_thoms]

no, is a short book for young adult. unfortunely i don't remember the title or author

You're absolutely right - it's a short book. Can you remember any other details that might help me search? I don't know if the teacher had a name?

 

[tobl]

You're absolutely right - it's a short book. Can you remember any other details that might help me search? I don't know if the teacher had a name?

sorry i'm trying to find the book but with the covid and work going to the library hasn't been possible

 

[Dave Shorts]

Almost sounds like the Callahan's Cross-Time Saloon stories... Spider Robinson, I believe. There are several books in the telling.

It’s not that - I read that book at least yearly it’s pretty much my favourite ensemble of connected shorts.

 

[tobl]

here you go
russell stannard
1001 mysteries
World of 1001 Mysteries: Stannard, Russell, Priestley, Chris: 9780571167753: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Non_thoms]

here you go
russell stannard
1001 mysteries
World of 1001 Mysteries: Stannard, Russell, Priestley, Chris: 9780571167753: Amazon.com: Books

Oh my gosh - you are an absolute hero! Thank you so much!

 

[tobl]

Oh my gosh - you are an absolute hero! Thank you so much!

don't mention it glad i could help. sorry about the delay but this covid situation is annoying. by the way does prices for this book seem kind of strange but whtat do i know... good luck finding it