Alternating Current
(1988)(Book 15 in the Oltion Library of Short Stories series)
A Story by Jerry Oltion
Time travel stories are full of paradoxes. What happens to you if you change something in the past that was necessary for your existence? Do you cease to exist? If so, then you couldn’t go back to the past, which means you would exist again. But that means you would go back to the past and change something vital, so you would cease to exist. What would that feel like?
“Alternating Current” is quite short, only 730 words. Yet like a time travel paradox itself, it packs a punch.
“Alternating Current” is the 15th volume in the collected short stories of Jerry Oltion. Jerry has had his short stories published in most of the major science fiction venues and has had several successful novels, including four highly acclaimed Star Trek books. He has become the most published author in the history of Analog magazine. His stories have won the Nebula award, the Endeavor award, the Seiun award, and have been nominated multiple times for the Hugo award. His stories are often humorous, with likeable characters using intelligence and competence (as opposed to force and violence) to solve their problems. His style harks back to the golden age of science fiction, yet with a modern sensibility and relevance. Even his earliest works hold up well today — and on into the future.
For a complete listing of Jerry’s canon, and for a glimpse into his other life as an amateur astronomer, visit Jerry’s website at www.jerryoltion.com
Genre: Science Fiction
“Alternating Current” is quite short, only 730 words. Yet like a time travel paradox itself, it packs a punch.
“Alternating Current” is the 15th volume in the collected short stories of Jerry Oltion. Jerry has had his short stories published in most of the major science fiction venues and has had several successful novels, including four highly acclaimed Star Trek books. He has become the most published author in the history of Analog magazine. His stories have won the Nebula award, the Endeavor award, the Seiun award, and have been nominated multiple times for the Hugo award. His stories are often humorous, with likeable characters using intelligence and competence (as opposed to force and violence) to solve their problems. His style harks back to the golden age of science fiction, yet with a modern sensibility and relevance. Even his earliest works hold up well today — and on into the future.
For a complete listing of Jerry’s canon, and for a glimpse into his other life as an amateur astronomer, visit Jerry’s website at www.jerryoltion.com
Genre: Science Fiction
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