Alien space bats

"Alien space bats" ("ASBs") is a neologism for plot devices used in alternate history to create a point of divergence that would otherwise be implausible.

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's Stars and Stripes trilogy.^[1] The term eventually evolved into a reference to deus ex machina to create an impossible point of divergences.^[2] 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.^[3]

History

The term "alien space bats" was first coined, then popularized in the usenet group 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.^[4][5] Brooks regretted the use of the ASBs as a supernatural agency, preferring to restrict them to rhetoric.^[2]

S. M. Stirling credited Brooks with creating the term in the acknowledgments section of Dies the Fire^[6] 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.^[7][8] 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.^[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 uses the term often when reviewing the series.^[8][12] The term also appeared in John Birmingham's 2008 novel Without Warning.^[13]

Alien space bats in popular culture

• In Ken MacLeod's Learning the World alien space bats actually appear as characters in the novel as an in-joke.^[14][15]
• The gaming magazine Pyramid published an article describing how someone could play as an alien space bat in a role-playing game.^[5]
• Steven H Silver's "Bats in the Bayou," tells the story of an alien space bat invasion of the Texas bayous.^[16]
• 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 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.

See also

• Assiti Shards series
• Jonbar Hinge
• Deus ex Machina

References

External links

Interactive sites

• Alien Space Bats and Other Magic on the Alternate History Discussion Board.
• Alien Space Bats on the Alternate History FAQ page of the Alternate History Wiki
• Alien Space Bats Yahoo Group
• Alien Space Bats and Such on The Ark: Counter-Factual.Net Discussion Forums

Non-interactive sites

• Alien Space Bats on Alternate History Books
• The Original Alien Space Bats - Irony and Steal—a fictional story featuring alien space bats by Alison Brooks
• TV Tropes - Alien Space Bats