Of All Possible Worlds

"Of All Possible Worlds" by William Tenn is a science fiction novella that appears to have been written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the 1950s. The story revolves around themes of time travel, human survival, and the consequences of altering historical events, centering on a character's mission to prevent a catastrophic epidemic that arises from a failed missile experiment in 1976. In the narrative, Max Alben, a time traveler, is tasked with going back in time to a critical moment when a guided missile is launched, with the goal of deflecting it to avert a disastrous event known as the Blight. Throughout his journey, he grapples with the implications of his actions, discovering a competing alternative future where a different sequence of events has unfolded. The exploration of human desperation in a dystopian world and the ethical dilemma of intervening in the past weave together a complex tale where personal motivations conflict with the greater good. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn into the moral ambiguity of Alben's choices, questioning the nature of fate and humanity's responsibility to itself.