Jonbar hinge

In science-fiction criticism, a Jonbar hinge or Jonbar point[1] is the fictional concept of a crucial point of divergence between two outcomes, especially in time-travel stories. It is sometimes referred to as a Jon Bar hinge or change-point.[2]

Origin

The phrase is derived from the Jack Williamson novel The Legion of Time (serialized 1938, collected 1952). It refers to one action from its character John Barr, whose picking up of one of two objects (a magnet or a pebble) is a major turning point in history: choosing one will lead to a utopian civilization named Jonbar, while the other to the tyranny of the state of Gyronchi.

This crucial moment (about which other characters are forewarned and must act), is thus a "Jonbar point" in the novel's timeline, a forking-place upon which hinges the rest of its history.

Background

Jonbar hinges often refer to small nondescript events that had an important effect on history, but time travel caused the outcome of the choice or event to be changed and to lead to a different future or to an alternate history.[3][4] It can, however, refer to any kind of change in history without having to deal with time travel, as Paul Di Filippo used the term when he reviewed S. M. Stirling's In the Courts of the Crimson Kings.[5] In Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union the jonbar hinge was the death of the main opponent to the passing of the King-Havenner Bill, which would have allowed Jewish refugees to settle in Alaska.[6] The jonbar hinge in Bring the Jubilee, Ward Moore's 1953 novel of American Civil War alternate history, is the Confederate occupation of Little Round Top minutes before the Union's attempt, which leads to Lee's victory at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.[7]

The term is also used in describing an important upcoming event or decision, that humanity will need to make.[8]

See also

References
  1. Langford, David (August 21, 2012). "Jonbar Point". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. London: Gollancz.
  2. Evelyn C. Leeper and Mark R. Leeper (1993). "ConFrancisco 1993". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  3. "The weak things of the world shall confound the mighty". MetaFilter. March 8, 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  4. Pauline Morgan (November 28, 2005). "Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds". Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  5. Paul Di Filippo (March 17, 2008). "Review:In the Courts of the Crimson Kings". Sci Fi Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  6. John Joseph Adams (March 5, 2008). "Yiddish Inspired By Phrasebook". Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  7. Webb, Don. "Book Review: Ward Moore's 'Bring the Jubilee'". www.bewilderingstories.com. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  8. Clyde Lewis. "The Martian Chronicle for the 21st Century Apocalypse". Ground Zero. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
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