Blank!

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"Blank!" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was commissioned by Larry Shaw, editor of Infinity Science Fiction, as being the least inspirational title on which to base a story. Harlan Ellison and Randall Garrett were also invited to submit stories based on the same title; Garrett wrote one with 'Blank?' as the title while Ellison submitted 'Blank'. All all three were published in the magazine in June 1957.

A scientist is experimenting with time travel and persuades a reluctant colleague to join him on a journey in the machine he has developed. Despite the inventor's protestations that nothing can go wrong, something does go wrong, and the two travellers find themselves stuck in non-time, between two time-particles.

As they fade into unconsciousness, they realise that 'where even eternity was meaningless, there would only be - blank!'

v • d • e Buy Jupiter and Other Stories by Isaac Asimov Darwinian Pool Room • Day of the Hunters • Shah Guido G. • Button, Button • The Monkey's Finger • Everest • The Pause • Let's Not • Each an Explorer • Blank! • Does a Bee Care? • Silly Asses • Buy Jupiter • A Statue for Father • Rain, Rain, Go Away • Founding Father • Exile to Hell • Key Item • The Proper Study • 2430 A.D. • The Greatest Asset • Take a Match • Thiotimoline to the Stars • Light Verse