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The Worlds of If
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1935
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About the author
Stanley G. Weinbaum
357 books70 followersFull name: Stanley Grauman Weinbaum.
"In his short career, Stanley G. Weinbaum revolutionized science fiction. We are still exploring the themes he gave us." —Poul Anderson
"Stanley G. Weinbaum's name deserves to rank with those of Wells and Heinlein—and no more than a handful of others—as among the great shapers of modern science fiction." —Frederik Pohl
"In his short career, Stanley G. Weinbaum revolutionized science fiction. We are still exploring the themes he gave us." —Poul Anderson
"Stanley G. Weinbaum's name deserves to rank with those of Wells and Heinlein—and no more than a handful of others—as among the great shapers of modern science fiction." —Frederik Pohl
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 15, 2020
An interesting twist on time travel stories
Time travel of a sort, romance and, of course, a conundrum. A protagonist who is always late finds romance.
Weinbaum published his first story in July 1934. He wrote several more but died in 1935. A crater on Mars is named in his honor.
Time travel of a sort, romance and, of course, a conundrum. A protagonist who is always late finds romance.
Weinbaum published his first story in July 1934. He wrote several more but died in 1935. A crater on Mars is named in his honor.
April 2, 2020
Ah, the curse of always being late.
Sideways in time? The fascination with time travel waxes and wanes in sci fi. One wonders if you could see sideways in time could you collect scandals that are revealed by accident?
Sideways in time? The fascination with time travel waxes and wanes in sci fi. One wonders if you could see sideways in time could you collect scandals that are revealed by accident?
October 3, 2023
This is the first short story of Stanley G. Weinbaum that I have read but it certainly shan't be the last. Following this moving vintage sci-fi tale of poor timekeeping and missed opportunities, I shall definitely keep reading.
The Worlds of If is a simple and dated tale: an early 20th Century writer's vision of the distant future (the 2010s). Nevertheless it's such a joy to discover a golden age science fiction author who writes charming characters.
Dixon Wells is a young businessman who is late for all occasions until the day he makes a chance encounter with his old professor Haskel van Manderpootz. As it happens, the vain genius scientist has created the subjunctivisor, a way of looking into alternate realities based on personal experiences. Applying the Horsten psychomat, a pre-existing device which offers minds a canvas to replay their memories, Manderpootz helps Wells see what would have happened on seemingly important occasions where he was tardy.
As one might expect from classic sci-fi, this leads to a lucky break but also a missed connection. Indeed The Worlds of If ends with surprising action followed by bitter irony. It's a cautionary tale that goes places.
Perhaps I'm trying to nourish a discovery that feels uniquely personal, but reading Weinbaum's weird yet human storytelling makes me excited. This tale alone suggests that Weinbaum is a writer unfairly neglected by the speculative fiction community. He seems to deserve remembering just as much as the likes of Burroughs and Wells. As I continue to read his back catalogue, I hope to find more reasons to champion this writer.
In the meantime, I recommend The Worlds of If to anyone who enjoys a slightly naive but still vibrant tale exploring what could have been.
The Worlds of If is a simple and dated tale: an early 20th Century writer's vision of the distant future (the 2010s). Nevertheless it's such a joy to discover a golden age science fiction author who writes charming characters.
Dixon Wells is a young businessman who is late for all occasions until the day he makes a chance encounter with his old professor Haskel van Manderpootz. As it happens, the vain genius scientist has created the subjunctivisor, a way of looking into alternate realities based on personal experiences. Applying the Horsten psychomat, a pre-existing device which offers minds a canvas to replay their memories, Manderpootz helps Wells see what would have happened on seemingly important occasions where he was tardy.
As one might expect from classic sci-fi, this leads to a lucky break but also a missed connection. Indeed The Worlds of If ends with surprising action followed by bitter irony. It's a cautionary tale that goes places.
Perhaps I'm trying to nourish a discovery that feels uniquely personal, but reading Weinbaum's weird yet human storytelling makes me excited. This tale alone suggests that Weinbaum is a writer unfairly neglected by the speculative fiction community. He seems to deserve remembering just as much as the likes of Burroughs and Wells. As I continue to read his back catalogue, I hope to find more reasons to champion this writer.
In the meantime, I recommend The Worlds of If to anyone who enjoys a slightly naive but still vibrant tale exploring what could have been.
November 29, 2016
When I added this to iBooks from Gutenberg, I thought, with that title, it was a collection of stories. But this is a single story about the “subjunctivisor”, a Calvin & Hobbes-ish device that, rather than allowing time travel, allows viewing of alternate time paths. “What if” I did that instead of this? The subjunctivisor will let you see it!
The inventor’s motto: “it might have been— worse!”
Weinbaum milks this for the humor of it—the main character is always late, and so people wonder, what if he’d been on time for various things.
Interestingly, the story takes place almost in the present: about 2022, that is, eight years since 2014, so all of the dates match of up with recent years. He was in college in 2014; there was the Pacific War of 2004, the Crash of 2010. It’s always weird reading old science fiction stories set far into the future of years that have long-since past; it’s weirder reading one that’s set in what is now the present.
The inventor’s motto: “it might have been— worse!”
Weinbaum milks this for the humor of it—the main character is always late, and so people wonder, what if he’d been on time for various things.
Interestingly, the story takes place almost in the present: about 2022, that is, eight years since 2014, so all of the dates match of up with recent years. He was in college in 2014; there was the Pacific War of 2004, the Crash of 2010. It’s always weird reading old science fiction stories set far into the future of years that have long-since past; it’s weirder reading one that’s set in what is now the present.
November 22, 2017
Absolutely loved the professor, he made the book. The rest of the book was very ..meh. Ending was extremely rushed.
September 7, 2018
More of a short story than an actual book, but it was funny as hell! Good story, and a super fast read. 10/10 would recommend.
March 3, 2025
An arrogant physicist named van Manderpootz invents a unique time travel device called the subjunctivisor. After a disastrous accident with a passenger rocket, one of his former students uses the device to see what would have happened had the rocket’s launch been delayed by five minutes to wait for his arrival instead of leaving without him.
January 1, 2021
Excellent entertaining reading 📚
A very will written fantasy novella about what if I would have or would have made a in action would the result be different. I would recommend this novella to anyone who is looking for a quick entertaining read. Enjoy reading 🔰2021
A very will written fantasy novella about what if I would have or would have made a in action would the result be different. I would recommend this novella to anyone who is looking for a quick entertaining read. Enjoy reading 🔰2021
July 30, 2024
fun story by a master
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews