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{{Short description|Implausible plot device in fiction}}
⚫
"'''Alien space bats'''" ("'''ASBs'''") is a [[neologism]] for [[plot device]]s used in [[alternate history]] to create a [[point of divergence]] that would otherwise be implausible.
{{Distinguish|Great Moon Hoax}}
⚫
"'''Alien space bats'''" ("'''ASBs'''") is a [[neologism]] for [[plot device]]s used in [[alternate history]] to mean an implausible [[point of divergence]].


==Definition==
==Definition==
"Alien space bats" originally was used as a sarcastic attack on poorly written alternate histories due to lack of plausibility. These attacks are usually phrased as the need for alien space bats or by saying the alternate history has gone into "ASB territory". This original definition was used by one critic to criticize [[Harry Harrison (writer)|Harry Harrison]]'s [[Stars and Stripes trilogy|''Stars and Stripes'' trilogy]].<ref name=critical>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/littlegreenmen.geo/RC1862.htm |title=Robert Conroy’s "1862: A Novel": a Critical Analysis |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Bryn Monnery |date= |work= |publisher=|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1255996765385899|archivedate=2009-10-19|deadurl=yes}}</ref> The term eventually evolved into a reference to [[deus ex machina]] to create an impossible point of divergences.<ref name=stason>{{cite web |url=http://stason.org/TULARC/history/what-if/8-What-are-the-Alien-Space-Bats-soc-history-what-if.html |title=What are the Alien Space Bats? (soc.history.what-if) |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Stas Bekman|date= |work= |publisher=stason.org}}</ref> Examples include changes to the physical laws of nature, introducing magic into the world, time travel, and advanced aliens interfering in human affairs. An example of the latter is [[Harry Turtledove]]'s ''[[Worldwar]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.changingthetimes.net/admin/FAQ.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Changing the Times}}</ref>
"Alien space bats" originally was used as a sarcastic attack on poorly written alternate histories seen as being implausible. The attacks are usually phrased as the need for "alien space bats" or by saying that the alternate history has gone into "ASB territory". The term eventually evolved into a reference to ''[[deus ex machina]]'' to create an impossible [[point of divergence]].<ref name=stason>{{cite web |url=http://stason.org/TULARC/history/what-if/8-What-are-the-Alien-Space-Bats-soc-history-what-if.html |title=What are the Alien Space Bats? (soc.history.what-if) |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Stas Bekman|date= |publisher=stason.org}}</ref> Examples include changes to the physical laws of nature, [[time travel]], and advanced aliens interfering in human affairs. An example of the last change is [[Harry Turtledove]]'s ''[[Worldwar]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.changingthetimes.net/admin/FAQ.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author= |date= |publisher=Changing the Times}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The term "alien space bats" was first coined, then popularized in the usenet group [http://groups.google.com/group/soc.history.what-if/topics soc.history.what-if]. Alison Brooks (1959-2002) is credited as the creator of the term, using it to debunk the possibility of a successful [[Operation Sea Lion]] by saying the only way it could be successful was if alien space bats helped the Nazis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://groups.google.com/group/soc.history.what-if/browse_thread/thread/a1ed1ccfe92a3bdf/65e12e60759b121b?lnk=gst&q=Alison+Brooks%2C+alien+space+bats#65e12e60759b121b |title=
The term "alien space bats" was coined and popularized in the [[Usenet]] group "soc.history.what-if" in 1998.<ref name=pyramid/><ref>https://groups.google.com/group/soc.history.what-if/topics soc.history.what-if</ref> Alison Brooks (1959–2002), credited as the creator of the term, used it to debunk the possibility of a successful [[Operation Sea Lion]] by saying that [[Nazi Germany]] could successfully invade the [[United Kingdom]] across the [[English Channel]] only if they had the help of alien space bats.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/soc.history.what-if/oe0cz-kqO98 |title= Alien Space Bats: A History |accessdate =2008-10-09 |author=Alison Brooks |date=1999-04-15 |publisher =soc.history.what-if}} </ref><ref name=pyramid>{{Cite web |url= http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=5675 |title=Alien Space Bats for ''GURPS Fourth Edition'' |accessdate=19 December 2008 |author=Matt Riggsby |date=November 18, 2005| publisher=[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]}}</ref> Brooks regretted the use of the ASBs as a supernatural agency and preferred to restrict them to rhetoric.<ref name=stason />
Alien Space Bats: A History |accessdate=2008-10-09 |author=Alison Brooks |date=1999-04-15 |work= |publisher=soc.history.what-if}}</ref><ref name=pyramid>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=5675|title=Alien Space Bats for GURPS Fourth Edition|accessdate=19 December 2008|author=Matt Riggsby|date=November 18, 2005|work=|publisher=[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]}}</ref> Brooks regretted the use of the ASBs as a supernatural agency, preferring to restrict them to rhetoric.<ref name=stason />


[[S. M. Stirling]] credited Brooks with creating the term in the acknowledgments section of ''[[Dies the Fire]]''<ref>{{cite book | last=Stirling | first=S.M. | authorlink=S.M. Stirling | title=Dies the Fire| location=New York | publisher=Roc | pages=496 | year=2004 |isbn=0-451-45979-2}}</ref> and also used the plot device to send [[Nantucket]] back in time in ''[[Island in the Sea of Time]]'' and change the laws of nature in ''Dies the Fire''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.changingthetimes.net/samples/brooks/alison_brooks.htm |title=Alison Brooks |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Christopher Nuttall |date= |work= |publisher=Changing the Times}}</ref><ref name=Paul>{{cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue382/books.html |title=Off the Shelf: Dies the Fire |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Paul Di Filippo |date= |work=Book Review |publisher=SciFi.com |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080421103355/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue382/books.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-04-21}}</ref> One character throughout ''Dies the Fire'' and its sequels believes the change to the laws of nature was done by an advanced alien race because the changes were finely tailored and refers to this race as alien space bats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Issues/01Stirling.html |title=S.M. Stirling: Turning Points |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author= |date=January 2006 |work=Interview |publisher=Locus Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hem.bredband.net/b104699/books/protwar/protwar_2.html |title=''The Protector's War'' Chapter 2 |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=S. M. Stirling |date= |work=Sample Chapter |publisher=smstriling.com}}</ref> In a review of ''Dies the Fire'', Dale Cozort addressed the perceived implausibility of the novel by saying "Just say to yourself, 'The [[Elder Gods|elder gods]] or alien space bats took our toys away and that’s all there is to it.'"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/althist1/June04/diesthefire.htm |title=Review: Dies The Fire - By Steve Stirling |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Dale Cozort |year=2004 |work= |publisher=Dale Cozort's Alternate History Newsletter}}{{Dead link|date=December 2013}}</ref> [[Paul Di Filippo]] uses the term often when reviewing the series.<ref name=Paul /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw866.html |title=The Protector's War |accessdate=28 November 2008 |last=Filippo |first= Paul Di |date=September 5, 2005 |work=Book review |publisher=[[Sci Fi Weekly]]}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The term also appeared in [[John Birmingham]]'s 2008 novel ''[[Without Warning (2008 novel)|Without Warning]]''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Birmingham | first=John | authorlink=John Birmingham | title=Without Warning| location=New York | publisher=[[Del Rey Books]] | pages=33, 261 | year=2009 |isbn=978-0-345-50289-6}}</ref>
[[S. M. Stirling]] credited Brooks with creating the term in the acknowledgments section of ''[[Dies the Fire]]'' in which he changed the laws of physics<ref>{{cite book | last=Stirling | first=S. M. | authorlink=S. M. Stirling | title=Dies the Fire | location=New York | publisher=Roc | pages=[https://archive.org/details/diesfire00stir/page/496 496] | year=2004 | isbn=0-451-45979-2 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/diesfire00stir/page/496 }}</ref> and also used the plot device to send [[Nantucket]] back in time in ''[[Island in the Sea of Time]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.changingthetimes.net/samples/brooks/alison_brooks.htm |title=Alison Brooks |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Christopher Nuttall |date= |publisher=Changing the Times}}</ref><ref name=Paul>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue382/books.html |title=Off the Shelf: Dies the Fire |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Paul Di Filippo |work=Book Review |publisher=SciFi.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421103355/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue382/books.html |archivedate=2008-04-21 |url-status=live}}</ref> One character throughout ''Dies the Fire'' and its sequels believes the change to the laws of nature to have been done by an advanced alien race because the changes were finely tailored and refers to the race as alien space bats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Issues/01Stirling.html |title=S. M. Stirling: Turning Points |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author= |date=January 2006 |work=Interview |publisher=Locus Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hem.bredband.net/b104699/books/protwar/protwar_2.html |title=''The Protector's War'' Chapter 2 |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=S. M. Stirling |date= |work=Sample Chapter |publisher=smstriling.com |archive-date=2008-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821203448/http://hem.bredband.net/b104699/books/protwar/protwar_2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a review of ''Dies the Fire'', Dale Cozort addressed the perceived implausibility of the novel by saying, "Just say to yourself, 'The [[Elder God (Cthulhu Mythos)|elder gods]] or alien space bats took our toys away and that’s all there is to it.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/althist1/June04/diesthefire.htm |title=Review: Dies The Fire - By Steve Stirling |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author=Dale Cozort |year=2004 |publisher=Dale Cozort's Alternate History Newsletter |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328143757/http://members.aol.com/althist1/June04/diesthefire.htm |archivedate=March 28, 2008}}</ref> [[Paul Di Filippo]] often uses the term in reviewing the series.<ref name=Paul /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw866.html |title=The Protector's War |accessdate=28 November 2008 |last=Filippo |first=Paul Di |date=September 5, 2005 |work=Book review |publisher=[[Sci Fi Weekly]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022065242/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw866.html |archivedate=October 22, 2006}}</ref> The term also appeared in [[John Birmingham]]'s 2008 novel ''[[Without Warning (2008 novel)|Without Warning]]''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Birmingham | first=John | authorlink=John Birmingham | title=Without Warning | location=New York | publisher=[[Del Rey Books]] | pages=[https://archive.org/details/withoutwarning00birm/page/33 33, 261] | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-345-50289-6 | url=https://archive.org/details/withoutwarning00birm/page/33 }}</ref>


==Alien space bats in popular culture==
==In popular culture==
* In [[Ken MacLeod]]'s ''[[Learning the World]]'' alien space bats actually appear as characters in the novel as an [[in-joke]].<ref name=SH>{{cite web |url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2005/12/two_views_cit-comments.shtml |title=Two Views: Learning the World by Ken Macleod |accessdate=2008-10-08 |last=Harrison |first=Niall |author2=Dan Hartland |date=2005-12-15 |work=Book Review |publisher=Strange Horizons}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Issues/09MacLeod.html |title=Ken MacLeod: Politics & SF |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author= |date=September 2006 |work=Interview |publisher=Locus Online}}</ref>
* In [[Ken MacLeod]]'s ''[[Learning the World]]'' alien space bats actually appear as characters in the novel as an [[in-joke]].<ref name=SH>{{cite web|url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2005/12/two_views_cit-comments.shtml |title=Two Views: Learning the World by Ken Macleod |accessdate=2008-10-08 |last=Harrison |first=Niall |author2=Dan Hartland |date=2005-12-15 |work=Book Review |publisher=Strange Horizons |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517091636/http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2005/12/two_views_cit-comments.shtml |archivedate=2008-05-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Issues/09MacLeod.html |title=Ken MacLeod: Politics & SF |accessdate=2008-10-08 |author= |date=September 2006 |work=Interview |publisher=Locus Online}}</ref>
* The gaming magazine ''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]'' published an article describing how someone could play as an alien space bat in a [[role-playing game]].<ref name=pyramid/>
* The gaming magazine ''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]'' published an article describing how someone could play as an alien space bat in a [[role-playing game]].<ref name=pyramid/>
* In [[Failbetter Games]]' browser game ''[[Fallen London]]'', Victorian-era London is stolen by alien bats from space, though the creators said that this was a coincidence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-06 |title=Is it a coincidence … |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2v01c4/were_failbetter_games_developers_of_fallen_london/cod8j6o/?rdt=51704 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Reddit r/IAmA |quote=[Alexis] A total coincidence. I was delighted.}}</ref>
* [[Steven H Silver]]'s "Bats in the Bayou," tells the story of an alien space bat invasion of the Texas bayous.<ref>{{cite book | last=Greenberg | first=Martin H. | title=Zombie Raccoons and Killer Bunnies | location=New York | publisher= DAW | pages= 239–259 | year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7564-0582-3}}</ref>
* [[Steven H Silver]]'s story "Bats in Thebayou" features alien space bats invading Texas.
* In [[Failbetter Games]]' browser game [[Fallen London]], Victorian-era London was literally stolen by alien bats from space.
* In Colin Wilson's [[The Space Vampires]], and the Tobe Hooper film adaptation [[Lifeforce]], the titular creatures are depicted as bat-like extraterrestrials found (apparently long-dead) aboard a derelict alien spacecraft on the outer edges of Earth's solar system.
* In the two-part [[Doctor Who]] story entitled "[[School Reunion]]," the Doctor and Rose Tyler team up with Sara Jane Smith to battle an alien race called the [[Krillitane]], who assimilate the most useful genetic parts of the other races they conquer, such as the flying ability of the bat-like Bessan.
* Giant, non-sentient chiropterids were often used by the villainous Creature King against his arch-enemy [[Space Ghost]], in the 1960s [[Hanna-Barbera]] [[Saturday morning cartoon]] show of the same name.


==See also==
==See also==
{{portal|Novels}}
{{portal|Novels}}
*[[Assiti Shards series]]
*[[Assiti Shards series|''Assiti Shards'' series]]
*[[Jonbar Hinge]]
*[[Jonbar hinge]]
*[[Space bat]]


==References==
==References==
Line 31: Line 28:


===Interactive sites===
===Interactive sites===
*[http://www.alternatehistory.com/Discussion/forumdisplay.php?f=9 Alien Space Bats and Other Magic] on the Alternate History Discussion Board.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081028013242/http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/forumdisplay.php?f=9 Alien Space Bats and Other Magic] on the Alternate History Discussion Board.
*[http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/alternate_history_faq#alien_space_bats_asbs ''Alien Space Bats'' on the Alternate History FAQ] page of the [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/ Alternate History Wiki]
* [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/alternate_history_faq#alien_space_bats_asbs ''Alien Space Bats'' on the Alternate History FAQ] page of the [http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/ Alternate History Wiki]
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alien_space_bats/ Alien Space Bats Yahoo Group]
* [https://archive.today/20130209193147/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alien_space_bats/ Alien Space Bats] [[Yahoo! Group]]
*[http://counter-factual.net/upload/forumdisplay.php?f=17 Alien Space Bats and Such] on [http://counter-factual.net/upload/index.php The Ark: Counter-Factual.Net Discussion Forums]


===Non-interactive sites===
===Non-interactive sites===
*{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=G. W. |title=Alien Space Bats! |url=https://darkworldsquarterly.gwthomas.org/alien-space-bats/ |website=Dark Worlds Quarterly |date=1 January 2020}}
*[http://www.alternatehistorybooks.com/p1_glossary_alien_space_bats.php Alien Space Bats] on [http://www.alternatehistorybooks.com/index.php Alternate History Books]
* [http://www.alternatehistorybooks.com/p1_glossary_alien_space_bats.php Alien Space Bats] on [http://www.alternatehistorybooks.com/index.php Alternate History Books]
*[http://www.changingthetimes.net/samples/brooks/original_alien_space_bats.htm The Original Alien Space Bats - Irony and Steal]—a fictional story featuring alien space bats by Alison Brooks
* [http://www.changingthetimes.net/samples/brooks/original_alien_space_bats.htm "The Original Alien Space Bats - Irony and Steal"]—a fictional story featuring alien space bats by Alison Brooks
*[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AlienSpaceBats TV Tropes - Alien Space Bats]


[[Category:Alternate history]]
[[Category:Alternate history]]
[[Category:Literary techniques]]
[[Category:Narrative techniques]]
[[Category:The Emberverse series]]
[[Category:Nantucket series]]
[[Category:Nantucket series]]
[[Category:Alternate history fandom]]
[[Category:Alternate history fandom]]
[[Category:Science fiction terminology]]
[[Category:Science fiction terminology]]
[[Category:20th-century neologisms]]

Latest revision as of 11:22, 16 December 2024

Not to be confused with Great Moon Hoax.

"Alien space bats" ("ASBs") is a neologism for plot devices used in alternate history to mean an implausible point of divergence.

Definition

[edit]

"Alien space bats" originally was used as a sarcastic attack on poorly written alternate histories seen as being implausible. The attacks are usually phrased as the need for "alien space bats" or by saying that the alternate history has gone into "ASB territory". The term eventually evolved into a reference to deus ex machina to create an impossible point of divergence.[1] Examples include changes to the physical laws of nature, time travel, and advanced aliens interfering in human affairs. An example of the last change is Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series.[2]

History

[edit]

The term "alien space bats" was coined and popularized in the Usenet group "soc.history.what-if" in 1998.[3][4] Alison Brooks (1959–2002), credited as the creator of the term, used it to debunk the possibility of a successful Operation Sea Lion by saying that Nazi Germany could successfully invade the United Kingdom across the English Channel only if they had the help of alien space bats.[5][3] Brooks regretted the use of the ASBs as a supernatural agency and preferred to restrict them to rhetoric.[1]

S. M. Stirling credited Brooks with creating the term in the acknowledgments section of Dies the Fire in which he changed the laws of physics[6] and also used the plot device to send Nantucket back in time in Island in the Sea of Time.[7][8] One character throughout Dies the Fire and its sequels believes the change to the laws of nature to have been done by an advanced alien race because the changes were finely tailored and refers to the race as alien space bats.[9][10] In a review of Dies the Fire, Dale Cozort addressed the perceived implausibility of the novel by saying, "Just say to yourself, 'The elder gods or alien space bats took our toys away and that’s all there is to it.'"[11] Paul Di Filippo often uses the term in reviewing the series.[8][12] The term also appeared in John Birmingham's 2008 novel Without Warning.[13]

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Stas Bekman. "What are the Alien Space Bats? (soc.history.what-if)". stason.org. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  2. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Changing the Times. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  3. ^ a b c Matt Riggsby (November 18, 2005). "Alien Space Bats for GURPS Fourth Edition". Pyramid. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  4. ^ https://groups.google.com/group/soc.history.what-if/topics soc.history.what-if
  5. ^ Alison Brooks (1999-04-15). "Alien Space Bats: A History". soc.history.what-if. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  6. ^ Stirling, S. M. (2004). Dies the Fire. New York: Roc. pp. 496. ISBN 0-451-45979-2.
  7. ^ Christopher Nuttall. "Alison Brooks". Changing the Times. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  8. ^ a b Paul Di Filippo. "Off the Shelf: Dies the Fire". Book Review. SciFi.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  9. ^ "S. M. Stirling: Turning Points". Interview. Locus Online. January 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  10. ^ S. M. Stirling. "The Protector's War Chapter 2". Sample Chapter. smstriling.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  11. ^ Dale Cozort (2004). "Review: Dies The Fire - By Steve Stirling". Dale Cozort's Alternate History Newsletter. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  12. ^ Filippo, Paul Di (September 5, 2005). "The Protector's War". Book review. Sci Fi Weekly. Archived from the original on October 22, 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  13. ^ Birmingham, John (2009). Without Warning. New York: Del Rey Books. pp. 33, 261. ISBN 978-0-345-50289-6.
  14. ^ Harrison, Niall; Dan Hartland (2005-12-15). "Two Views: Learning the World by Ken Macleod". Book Review. Strange Horizons. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  15. ^ "Ken MacLeod: Politics & SF". Interview. Locus Online. September 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  16. ^ "Is it a coincidence …". Reddit r/IAmA. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2024-12-05. [Alexis] A total coincidence. I was delighted.
[edit]

Interactive sites

[edit]

Non-interactive sites

[edit]
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