The Billiard Ball
Encyclopedia
"The Billiard Ball" is a science fiction
short story
by Isaac Asimov
, written in September 1966 and first published in the March 1967 issue of If
. It appeared in Asimov's 1968 collection Asimov's Mysteries
, in his 1973 collection The Best of Isaac Asimov
in his 1986 Collection Robot Dreams
and in The Complete Stories, Vol. 2
.
An example of Asimov's "late style", the story is a journalist's recollection of the events surrounding the discovery of an anti-gravity
device in the mid-21st century. Heavy with physics theory, the story describes the relationship between the creator of the device, the billionaire inventor Edward Bloom, and his former classmate James Priss, a Nobel Prize
-winning theoretical physicist who had discovered most of the theory that made the device possible.
The men are expert billiards players and bitter rivals. Challenged to execute a shot on a table which is equipped with the device, Priss sends a ball on a complicated trajectory which finishes when it enters the device's field. At that point the ball vanishes and Bloom collapses, dead. There is a mysterious hole drilled completely through his chest.
Central to the story is the concept of a pure anti-gravity machine that turns out to be a perpetual motion machine of the 1st order. Energy can be freely created in a volume of space time which is pulled 'flat' as defined within the Theory of Relativity
as determined by Einstein. However, this field possesses remarkable properties, which are the centrepiece of the story. There is also the unprovable speculation as to whether Priss knew, from his own theory and the nature of the blue glow produced by the field, what would happen, and if he then directed the ball in such a way as to kill Bloom.
Asimov himself had some reservations about the name of the story, and noted that his friend Frederik Pohl
's suggested title of "Dirty Pool" was far better than his own. The story retains its title despite the feeling of its author, as he preferred to remain consistent.
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...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
, written in September 1966 and first published in the March 1967 issue of If
If (magazine)
If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. Quinn hired Paul W. Fairman to be the first editor, but early circulation figures were disappointing, and Quinn fired Fairman after only three issues. Quinn then took over the...
. It appeared in Asimov's 1968 collection Asimov's Mysteries
Asimov's Mysteries
Asimov's Mysteries, published in 1968, is a collection of 14 short stories by Isaac Asimov, all of them science fiction mysteries...
, in his 1973 collection The Best of Isaac Asimov
The Best of Isaac Asimov
The Best of Isaac Asimov is a collection of twelve science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. It begins with a short introduction giving various details on the stories, such as how they came to be written, or what significance merits their inclusion in a "best of" collection, as well as some...
in his 1986 Collection Robot Dreams
Robot Dreams
Robot Dreams is a collection of science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov, illustrated by Ralph McQuarrie. The title story is about Susan Calvin's discovery of a robot with rather disturbing dreams. It was written specifically for this volume and inspired by the McQuarrie cover illustration...
and in The Complete Stories, Vol. 2
The Complete Stories (Asimov)
The Complete Stories is a discontinued series intended to form a definitive collection of Isaac Asimov's short fiction. Originally published in 1990 and 1992 by Doubleday, it was discontinued after the second book of the planned three....
.
An example of Asimov's "late style", the story is a journalist's recollection of the events surrounding the discovery of an anti-gravity
Anti-gravity
Anti-gravity is the idea of creating a place or object that is free from the force of gravity. It does not refer to the lack of weight under gravity experienced in free fall or orbit, or to balancing the force of gravity with some other force, such as electromagnetism or aerodynamic lift...
device in the mid-21st century. Heavy with physics theory, the story describes the relationship between the creator of the device, the billionaire inventor Edward Bloom, and his former classmate James Priss, a Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
-winning theoretical physicist who had discovered most of the theory that made the device possible.
The men are expert billiards players and bitter rivals. Challenged to execute a shot on a table which is equipped with the device, Priss sends a ball on a complicated trajectory which finishes when it enters the device's field. At that point the ball vanishes and Bloom collapses, dead. There is a mysterious hole drilled completely through his chest.
Central to the story is the concept of a pure anti-gravity machine that turns out to be a perpetual motion machine of the 1st order. Energy can be freely created in a volume of space time which is pulled 'flat' as defined within the Theory of Relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
as determined by Einstein. However, this field possesses remarkable properties, which are the centrepiece of the story. There is also the unprovable speculation as to whether Priss knew, from his own theory and the nature of the blue glow produced by the field, what would happen, and if he then directed the ball in such a way as to kill Bloom.
Asimov himself had some reservations about the name of the story, and noted that his friend Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
's suggested title of "Dirty Pool" was far better than his own. The story retains its title despite the feeling of its author, as he preferred to remain consistent.