Contrary to popular belief, the goal of science fiction (SF) is not the prediction of the future, but rather to explore the multitude of possible futures. That is, SF is the literature of ‘what-if’ scenarios. This book explores more than a dozen such possibilities, with each chapter ending with a fictional illustration of the theme of that chapter (time travel, topology, alternate worlds, computer intelligence tests for politicians, invisibility, and more). The fictional treatments ask — and sometimes answer — questions like: ⦁ What might happen if you discovered how to induce nuclear fusion in room temperature water? ⦁ Could a combat soldier, and an intelligent, lethal weapon, develop a deep emotional relationship? ⦁ If an archeologist, using x-rays, discovered the lost casket of Jesus in