Parallel universes in fiction

History

Early examples

One of the first science-fiction examples of a parallel universe is Murray Leinster's short story Sidewise in Time, published in 1934. Although Leinster's story was not the first example of parallel universes, it is credited with popularizing the concept.

The use of parallel universes as a device in superhero fiction was popularized with the publication of the 123rd issue of The Flash, "Flash of Two Worlds", in 1961. In the issue, the Flashes of Earth-One and Earth-Two, Barry Allen and Jay Garrick, meet, establishing the concept of the DC Comics multiverse.

Modern examples

The multiverse has seen much usage in popular media in the late 2010s and early 2020s, particularly in superhero films, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the animated Spider-Verse franchise, as well as the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Some filmmakers and critics, including MCU director Joe Russo, have expressed concern that film studios may be embracing multiverse-centric plotlines to capitalize on characters and intellectual property with pre-existing popularity, ultimately to the detriment of originality and creativity in filmmaking.

Associated genres

Isekai

Main article: Isekai

Isekai is a subgenre of Japanese fantasy light novels, manga, anime, and video games revolving around a normal person being transported to or trapped in a parallel universe. Often, this universe already exists in the protagonist's world as a fictional universe, but it may also be unbeknownst to them.

Fan fiction

In fan fiction, parallel universes are commonly used as a setting for a story that departs from the canon of the fictional universe that the fan work is based on. Such works are usually referred to as "alternate universe" works, often abbreviated to "AU". Common motivations for writing such stories are to either explore alternative narrative possibilities not depicted in the original media, or to "fix" plot points which were disliked by the fandom.

References

References

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2. "NOVA {{!}} Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives {{!}} Science Fiction and Fact (non-Flash)".
3. Burt, Stephanie. (31 October 2022). "Is the Multiverse Where Originality Goes to Die?".
4. Wolfe, Gary. (2007-07-04). "Surfing the multiverse". Nature.
5. Dockterman, Eliana. (27 April 2022). "A Guide to All the Major Cinematic Multiverses".
6. Weiss, Josh. (24 February 2022). "'Avengers: Endgame' co-director Joe Russo warns multiverse could be too much of a good thing".
7. Kain, Erik. (November 14, 2023). "The Madness Of The Multiverse: How Infinite Universes Are Killing The Superhero Genre".
8. Dennison, Kara. (January 17, 2018). "Hacking the Isekai: Make Your Parallel World Work for You". [[Crunchyroll]].
9. Finn, Kavita Mudan. (2016). "Exit, pursued by a fan: Shakespeare, Fandom, and the Lure of the Alternate Universe". Critical Survey.
10. Koning, A. J.. (June 25, 2015). "THE FAMOUS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS FANFICTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF LITERARY CRITICISM". Utrecht University.