Point of Divergence: Difference between revisions

{{trope|wppage=ChintzwarePoint of divergence}}

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 TwoII is interrupted by a fleet of lizard-people from outer space).