Point of Divergence: Difference between revisions
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A point of divergence is a specific event in an [[Alternate Universe|alternate history]] story that occurs differently than it did in factual history. Most alternate history authors will change a single event, creating a "ripple effect" that sets up the scenario. This divergence, which acts as the story's [[The "Unicorn In The Garden" Rule|"unicorn in the garden"]] or [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness/One Big Lie|"one big lie"]], may range in importance and realism from a character dropping or not dropping a piece of paper at a crucial time, to time travel and alien invasion (such as Harry Turtledove's [[Worldwar|"Balance" series]], when World War II is interrupted by a fleet of lizard-people from outer space). |
A '''point of divergence''' is a specific event in an [[Alternate Universe|alternate history]] story that occurs differently than it did in factual history. Most alternate history authors will change a single event, creating a "ripple effect" that sets up the scenario. This divergence, which acts as the story's [[The "Unicorn In The Garden" Rule|"unicorn in the garden"]] or [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness/One Big Lie|"one big lie"]], may range in importance and realism from a character dropping or not dropping a piece of paper at a crucial time, to time travel and alien invasion (such as Harry Turtledove's [[Worldwar|"Balance" series]], when [[World War II]] is interrupted by a fleet of lizard-people from outer space). |
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Revision as of 18:06, 30 March 2023
A point of divergence is a specific event in an alternate history story that occurs differently than it did in factual history. Most alternate history authors will change a single event, creating a "ripple effect" that sets up the scenario. This divergence, which acts as the story's "unicorn in the garden" or "one big lie", may range in importance and realism from a character dropping or not dropping a piece of paper at a crucial time, to time travel and alien invasion (such as Harry Turtledove's "Balance" series, when World War II is interrupted by a fleet of lizard-people from outer space).
Examples of Point of Divergence include:
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