← Back

Wet Blanket

P. J. Plauger

First published February 1974
Type Short Fiction
Length Novelette
Series Wet Blanket Universe #1

A scientist finds out that there are two different states for the universe. He is able to switch the state in one direction locally around earth, but not back again. The altered state differs in one main detail: the fission reactions of heavy elements won't work.

According to the author's introduction to the 2015 edition of "Fighting Madness", the sequel to this story, the 1974 version of the text referred to then-imaginary "President Clinton". The author changed it to "President Callaghan" in the 2015 edition.

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
February 1974 Cover Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, February 1974 Condé Nast MAGAZINE 110
August 1993 Cover Infinite Loop: Stories About the Future by the People Creating It Miller Freeman Anthology 259
August 2015 Cover Short Stories Collection