In science fiction stories involving time travel, an alternative future or alternate future is a possible future which never comes to pass, typically because someone travels back into the past and alters it so that the events of the alternative future cannot occur.
An alternative future differs from alternative history in that alternative history usually speculates on what might have happened in the past if some events in the past had occurred differently, while an alternative future usually speculates on what might happen in the future. Also, alternative histories commonly forgot time travel, while alternative futures do not.
An alternative future should not be confused with a possible future. Many science fiction stories are set in the future and treat it as if it were the only future within the context of the story; an alternative future story is specifically set in an alternative one, that is, one that, within the context of the story, does not come about to pass.
Read more about Alternative Future: Examples in Film, Examples in Television, Examples in Comics
Famous quotes containing the words alternative and/or future:
“No alternative to the
one-man path.”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)
“For a parent, it’s hard to recognize the significance of your work when you’re immersed in the mundane details. Few of us, as we run the bath water or spread the peanut butter on the bread, proclaim proudly, “I’m making my contribution to the future of the planet.” But with the exception of global hunger, few jobs in the world of paychecks and promotions compare in significance to the job of parent.”
—Joyce Maynard (20th century)