What If—
Encyclopedia
"What If—" is a fantasy
short story
by Isaac Asimov
that was first published in the Summer 1952 issue of Fantastic
and reprinted in the 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories
. The story was inspired by the author's wife, who challenged him to produce a story based on a train trip they were taking to New York.
to New York City
. They meet a mysterious silent man known only as Mr. If (his first name is implied to be What, but whether this is true or not is left to the reader), who shows them a small portable television
-like device about 6 by 9 in (15.2 by 22.9 cm) in size.
On the device's screen, Mr. If shows the couple scenes from their earlier lives and what might have happened if certain minor but pivotal events had not occurred.
and his 1958 short story "Spell My Name with an S
".
: "Anthology of Interest" and "Anthology of Interest II
". Professor Farnsworth demonstrates a 'What If—' machine similar to Mr. If's.
A similar idea has also occurred in "Turn Left
", a Series Four episode of the television series Doctor Who
.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
that was first published in the Summer 1952 issue of Fantastic
Fantastic (magazine)
Fantastic was an American digest-size fantasy and science fiction magazine, published from 1952 to 1980. It was founded by Ziff-Davis as a fantasy companion to Amazing Stories. Early sales were good, and Ziff-Davis quickly decided to switch Amazing from pulp format to digest, and to cease...
and reprinted in the 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories
Nightfall and Other Stories
Nightfall and Other Stories is a book collecting previously published science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. Asimov added a brief introduction to each story, explaining some aspect of the story's history and/or how it came to be written. The main criteria for inclusion were that they had...
. The story was inspired by the author's wife, who challenged him to produce a story based on a train trip they were taking to New York.
Plot summary
A married couple are travelling on a train from BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. They meet a mysterious silent man known only as Mr. If (his first name is implied to be What, but whether this is true or not is left to the reader), who shows them a small portable television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
-like device about 6 by 9 in (15.2 by 22.9 cm) in size.
On the device's screen, Mr. If shows the couple scenes from their earlier lives and what might have happened if certain minor but pivotal events had not occurred.
Background
The theme of major events being altered by relatively minor changes would recur in Asimov's 1955 novel The End of EternityThe End of Eternity
The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov is a science fiction novel, with mystery and thriller elements, on the subjects of time travel and social engineering....
and his 1958 short story "Spell My Name with an S
Spell My Name with an S
"Spell My Name with an S" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. The story first appeared in the January 1958 issue of Star Science Fiction under the title S as in Zebatinsky, and was reprinted in the 1959 collection Nine Tomorrows under Asimov's original title...
".
Similar devices in subsequent fiction
The story's theme and idea has been used in two episodes of the animated television series FuturamaFuturama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
: "Anthology of Interest" and "Anthology of Interest II
Anthology of Interest II
"Anthology of Interest II" is episode eighteen of Futuramas third season. It originally aired in North America on January 6, 2002. This episode, as well as the earlier "Anthology of Interest I", serves to showcase three "imaginary" stories.-Plot:...
". Professor Farnsworth demonstrates a 'What If—' machine similar to Mr. If's.
A similar idea has also occurred in "Turn Left
Turn Left (Doctor Who)
"Turn Left" is the eleventh episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by showrunner Russell T Davies and broadcast on BBC One on 21 June 2008....
", a Series Four episode of the television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.