One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates multi-dimensional space and time dimensional execution of computer programs. The system includes a head thread that executes program instructions and a series of speculative threads that execute program instructions in advance of the head thread, wherein each speculative thread executes program instructions in advance of preceding speculative threads in the series. The head thread accesses a primary version of the memory element and the series of speculative threads access space-time dimensioned versions of the memory element. The system starts by receiving a memory access to the memory element. If the memory access is a write operation by the head thread or a speculative thread, the system determines if a version of the memory element associated with the head thread or speculative thread exists. If not, the system creates a version of the memory element for the thread. Next, the system performs the write operation to the version of the memory element. After performing the write operation, the system checks status information associated with the memory element to determine if the memory element has been read by a following speculative thread in the series of speculative threads. If so, the system causes the following speculative thread and any successive speculative threads in the series to roll back so that the following speculative thread and any successive speculative threads in the series can read a result of the write operation. If not, the system performs the write operation to all successive space-time dimensioned versions of the memory element.