Aristotle and the Gun
Encyclopedia
"Aristotle and the Gun" is a classic time travel
and alternate history science fiction
story by L. Sprague de Camp
. It was first published in the magazine Astounding Science-Fiction
for February, 1958, and first appeared in book form in de Camp's collection A Gun for Dinosaur and Other Imaginative Tales
(Doubleday, 1963). It later appeared in the paperback edition of the collection published by Curtis Books
in 1969, and the subsequent de Camp collections Aristotle and the Gun and Other Stories
(Five Star, 2002), and Years in the Making: the Time-Travel Stories of L. Sprague de Camp
(NESFA Press
, 2005), as well as the anthologies Alpha Three (Ballantine Books
, 1972), Space Mail Vol. II (Fawcett Crest
, 1982), Analog Anthology #5: Writers' Choice (Davis Publications, 1983, Robert Adams' Book of Alternate Worlds (Signet Books, 1987), The Legend Book of Science Fiction (Legend
, 1991), Modern Classics of Science Fiction (St. Martin's Press
, 1992), Roads Not Taken: Tales of Alternate History (Del Rey Books
, 1998), and Futures Past
(Ace Books
, 2006). The story has also been translated into German
.
. There he hopes to meet Aristotle
. Believing that the influential ancient philosopher's lack of interest in experiment had retarded scientific progress through much of subsequent history, Weaver aims to nudge the savant in what he considers the proper direction. Equipped with modern-day marvels, he pretends to be a conventional traveler from India, which he represents as their source. With their aid, he attempts to demonstrate to his new acquaintance the value of experimentation in the furtherance of knowledge. Weaver's task is complicated by the malicious mischief of Aristotle's students, the coterie of young Prince Alexander (subsequently Alexander the Great), against whom he is ultimately forced to defend himself with a handgun he has brought.
Snapped back into the present day when the effects of his time projection wears off, Weaver finds himself in a world very different from the one he left–but not in the way he hoped. Aristotle, convinced that the tedious accumulation of experimental knowledge is beneath the dignity of civilized philosophy, and that it is a waste of time attempting to catch up to "India" in that regard, turns out to have come down strongly against the notion in his writings. The result is a backward present of petty states considerably behind Weaver's original timeline in technology. His own United States is not even a dream, its physical confines being controlled by various Amerindian nations influenced by but having long since thrown off any subjection to the civilizations of the Old World. Enslaved in one such state, Weaver is only delivered from endless drudgery after many years when his scholarly talents are finally recognized.
The narrative of the story is set forth by Weaver in a lengthy letter to an acquaintance curious as to his remarkable background, in which he concludes that he would have done better to leave well enough alone.
(1939), the story posits a world changed as the result of time travel, and like his other major work in the field, "The Wheels of If
" (1940) it reveals the long-term consequences of the historical change. The story's popularity has been demonstrated by frequent reprinting and anthologization. For de Camp himself, however, its publication marked the beginning of a lengthy departure from the science fiction field, and pointed the way to the historical novels of the ancient world he would write during the next ten years, beginning with An Elephant for Aristotle
(1958), which serves as an interesting counterpoint to the present story. De Camp would write no more science fiction until 1977.
Time travel in fiction
Time travel is a common theme in science fiction and is depicted in a variety of media. It simply means either going forward in time or backward, to experience the future, or the past.-Literature:...
and alternate history science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
story by L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
. It was first published in the magazine Astounding Science-Fiction
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
for February, 1958, and first appeared in book form in de Camp's collection A Gun for Dinosaur and Other Imaginative Tales
A Gun for Dinosaur and Other Imaginative Tales
A Gun for Dinosaur and Other Imaginative Tales is a short story collection by science fiction and fantasy author L. Sprague de Camp, first published in hardback by Doubleday in 1963, and in paperback by Curtis Books in 1969...
(Doubleday, 1963). It later appeared in the paperback edition of the collection published by Curtis Books
Curtis Publishing Company
The Curtis Publishing Company, founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became one of the largest and most influential publishers in the United States during the early 20th century. The company's publications included the Ladies' Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post, The American Home,...
in 1969, and the subsequent de Camp collections Aristotle and the Gun and Other Stories
Aristotle and the Gun and Other Stories
Aristotle and the Gun and Other Stories is a 2002 collection of short stories by science fiction and fantasy author L. Sprague de Camp, published in hardcover by the Gale Group as part of its Five Star Speculative Fiction Series....
(Five Star, 2002), and Years in the Making: the Time-Travel Stories of L. Sprague de Camp
Years in the Making: the Time-Travel Stories of L. Sprague de Camp
Years in the Making: the Time-Travel Stories of L. Sprague de Camp is a 2005 collection of short stories by science fiction and fantasy author L. Sprague de Camp edited by Mark L. Olson and illustrated by Bob Eggleton, published in hardcover by NESFA Press....
(NESFA Press
NESFA Press
NESFA Press is the publishing arm of the New England Science Fiction Association, Inc. The NESFA Press primarily produces three types of books:...
, 2005), as well as the anthologies Alpha Three (Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
, 1972), Space Mail Vol. II (Fawcett Crest
Fawcett Publications
Fawcett Publications was an American publishing company founded in 1919 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota by Wilford Hamilton "Captain Billy" Fawcett . At the age of 16, Fawcett ran away from home to join the Army, and the Spanish-American War took him to the Philippines. Back in Minnesota, he became a...
, 1982), Analog Anthology #5: Writers' Choice (Davis Publications, 1983, Robert Adams' Book of Alternate Worlds (Signet Books, 1987), The Legend Book of Science Fiction (Legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
, 1991), Modern Classics of Science Fiction (St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
, 1992), Roads Not Taken: Tales of Alternate History (Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
, 1998), and Futures Past
Futures Past
Futures Past Futures Past Futures Past ((2006, ISBN 978-0441014545) is a science fiction anthology edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois. It was published in 2006, and includes stories on the theme of "futures past" that were originally published from 1956 to 2004...
(Ace Books
Ace Books
Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
, 2006). The story has also been translated into German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
Plot summary
Speculating that small changes in past history might have profound consequences on the present day world, scientist Sherman Weaver appropriates a prototype time machine to project himself back to the era of Philip II of MacedonPhilip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
. There he hopes to meet Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
. Believing that the influential ancient philosopher's lack of interest in experiment had retarded scientific progress through much of subsequent history, Weaver aims to nudge the savant in what he considers the proper direction. Equipped with modern-day marvels, he pretends to be a conventional traveler from India, which he represents as their source. With their aid, he attempts to demonstrate to his new acquaintance the value of experimentation in the furtherance of knowledge. Weaver's task is complicated by the malicious mischief of Aristotle's students, the coterie of young Prince Alexander (subsequently Alexander the Great), against whom he is ultimately forced to defend himself with a handgun he has brought.
Snapped back into the present day when the effects of his time projection wears off, Weaver finds himself in a world very different from the one he left–but not in the way he hoped. Aristotle, convinced that the tedious accumulation of experimental knowledge is beneath the dignity of civilized philosophy, and that it is a waste of time attempting to catch up to "India" in that regard, turns out to have come down strongly against the notion in his writings. The result is a backward present of petty states considerably behind Weaver's original timeline in technology. His own United States is not even a dream, its physical confines being controlled by various Amerindian nations influenced by but having long since thrown off any subjection to the civilizations of the Old World. Enslaved in one such state, Weaver is only delivered from endless drudgery after many years when his scholarly talents are finally recognized.
The narrative of the story is set forth by Weaver in a lengthy letter to an acquaintance curious as to his remarkable background, in which he concludes that he would have done better to leave well enough alone.
Importance
"Aristotle and the Gun" is one of de Camp's most notable works. Like his first significant work of alternate history, the novel Lest Darkness FallLest Darkness Fall
Lest Darkness Fall is an alternate history science fiction novel written in 1939 by author L. Sprague de Camp. The book is often considered one of the best examples of the alternate history genre; it is certainly one of the most influential...
(1939), the story posits a world changed as the result of time travel, and like his other major work in the field, "The Wheels of If
The Wheels of If
"The Wheels of If" is a classic alternate history science fiction story by L. Sprague de Camp. It was first published in the magazine Unknown Fantasy Fiction for October, 1940, and first appeared in book form in de Camp's collection The Wheels of If and Other Science Fiction...
" (1940) it reveals the long-term consequences of the historical change. The story's popularity has been demonstrated by frequent reprinting and anthologization. For de Camp himself, however, its publication marked the beginning of a lengthy departure from the science fiction field, and pointed the way to the historical novels of the ancient world he would write during the next ten years, beginning with An Elephant for Aristotle
An Elephant for Aristotle
An Elephant for Aristotle, is a 1958 historical novel by L. Sprague de Camp. It was first published in hardback by Doubleday, and in paperback by Curtis in 1971...
(1958), which serves as an interesting counterpoint to the present story. De Camp would write no more science fiction until 1977.