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{{Short description|Crucial point of divergence to two outcomes}}
In [[science-fiction]] criticism, a '''Jonbar hinge''' or '''Jonbar point<!--redirected here-->'''<ref name=SFE-JP/> is the fictional [[concept]] of a crucial [[point of divergence]] between two outcomes, especially in [[time-travel]] stories. It is alsosometimes referred to as a '''Jon Bar Hingehinge''' or '''change-point'''.<ref>{{cite web |urlname=http:CF1993//www.fanac.org/worldcon/ConFrancisco/w93-rpt.html |title=ConFrancisco 1993 |accessdate=7 December 2008 |author=[[Evelyn C. Leeper]] and [[Mark R. Leeper]] |year=1993 |work= |publisher=}}</ref>
==Origin==
ItThe phrase is derived from the [[Jack Williamson]] novel ''[[The Legion of Time]]'' (serialized 1938, collected 1952). SpecificallyIt itrefers comes fromto one action from its character John Barr, in whichwhose picking up of one of two objects (a magnet andor a pebble) is a major turning point in history: choosing one will lead to a [[utopia]]n civilization named [[Jonbar]], while the other to the tyranny of the state of [[Gyronchi]].
This crucial moment (about which other characters are forewarned and must act), is thus a "Jonbar point" in the novel's timeline, a forking-place upon which hinges the rest of its history.
==Background==
Jonbar hinges often refer to small non-descriptnondescript events that had an important effect on history, but because of [[time travel]] caused the outcome of the choice or event wasto be changed leadingand to lead to a different future or to an [[alternate history]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ask.metafilter.com/85629/The-weak-things-of-the-world-shall-confound-the-mighty |title=The weak things of the world shall confound the mighty |accessdate=6 December 2008 |author= |date=March 8, 2008 |work= |publisher=[[MetaFilter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516135819/http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/articles/books/2005/nz9645.php |title=Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds |accessdate=6 December 2008 |author=Pauline Morgan |date=November 28, 2005 |workurl-status=dead |publisherarchiveurl=SF Crowsnest (via [[https://web.archive.org]])/web/20080516135819/http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/articles/books/2005/nz9645.php |archivedate=May 16, 2008 }}</ref> It can, however, refer to any kind of change in history without having to deal with time travel, as [[Paul Di Filippo]] used the term when reviewinghe reviewed [[S. M. Stirling]]'s ''[[In the Courts of the Crimson Kings]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw18538.html |title=Review:In the Courts of the Crimson Kings |accessdate=6 December 2008 |author=[[Paul Di Filippo]] |date=March 17, 2008 |work= |publisher=[[Sci Fi Weekly]] |archiveurl = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20080621081010/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw18538.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 21 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In [[Michael Chabon]]'s ''[[The Yiddish Policemen's Union]]'' the jonbar hinge was the death of the main opponent to the passing of the [[Slattery Report|King-Havenner Bill]], which if passed would have allowed [[Jewish]] refugees to settle in [[Alaska]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306181718/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=49751 |title=''Yiddish'' Inspired By Phrasebook |accessdate=31 July 2014 |author=[[John Joseph Adams]] |date=March 5, 2008 |workurl-status=dead |publisherarchiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306181718/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=49751 |archivedate=March 6, 2008 }}</ref> The jonbar hinge in ''[[SciBring Fithe WireJubilee]],'' (via[[Ward Moore]]'s 1953 novel of [[archive.orgAmerican Civil War]])}}</ref> Thealternate termhistory, is alsothe usedConfederate whenoccupation describingof anLittle importantRound upcomingTop eventminutes orbefore decisionthe humanityUnion's willattempt, havewhich leads to make[[Robert inE. Lee|Lee]]'s victory at the future1863 [[Battle of Gettysburg]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.groundzeromediabewilderingstories.orgcom/investissue23/7day/7daybooks.html |title=TheBook MartianReview: ChronicleWard forMoore's 'Bring the 21st Century Apocalypse Jubilee'|accessdatefirst=7 December 2008 Don|authorlast=[[Clyde Lewis]] Webb|datewebsite= www.bewilderingstories.com|workaccessdate=4 |publisher=GroundJuly Zero2017}}</ref>
JonbarThe Hingesterm areis oftenalso theused subjectin ofdescribing professional,an important upcoming event or journalisticdecision, andthat amateurhumanity speculationwill need to make.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpostgroundzeromedia.comorg/wp-dyninvest/content7day/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120503154_27day.html |title=RippedThe OffMartian FromChronicle for the Headlines21st Century Apocalypse |accessdate=67 December 2008 |dateauthor=DecemberClyde 6,Lewis 2008|publisher=Ground Zero |workurl-status=dead |publisherarchiveurl=[[Washingtonhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090107231539/http://www.groundzeromedia.org/invest/7day/7day.html |archivedate=7 January 2009 Post]]}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Alien space bats]]
* [[Counterfactual history]]
* [[Butterfly effect]]
* [[PointCounterfactual of divergencehistory]]
* [[For Want of a Nail]]
* [[Alternate history#Paratime themes|Point of divergence]] in [[alternate history]]
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=CF1993>{{cite web |url=http://www.fanac.org/worldcon/ConFrancisco/w93-rpt.html |title=ConFrancisco 1993 |accessdate=7 December 2008 |author=[[Evelyn C. Leeper]] and [[Mark R. Leeper]] |year=1993 |publisher=}}</ref>
<ref name=SFE-JP>{{cite web |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/jonbar_point |title=Jonbar Point |last=Langford |first=David |author-link=David Langford |date=August 21, 2012 |website=[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]] |location=London |publisher=[[Victor Gollancz Ltd|Gollancz]] }}</ref>
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[[Category:Alternate history]]
[[Category:LiteraryNarrative techniques]]
[[Category:Science fiction terminology]]
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