Michael Swanwick's Periodic Table of Science Fiction

Thorium

232.0381

Mjolnir

Of the Atlantean civilization known variously as Asgard or Aesir, only

garbled memories remain, preserved in the Eddas composed during the

barbarian ages following its downfall. Deep linguistic analysis of the

texts has revealed glimpses of a society more technologically advanced

than our own, yet fatally flawed by arrogance and an over-reliance on

military solutions. Asgard was ruled by a committee of computer-enhanced

cyborgs known collectively as the Odin or "All-Father." It was defended

by a military force known as the Thor or "Thunderers." It was ultimately

destroyed in an all-encompassing world disaster called Ragnarok, a word

similar to our own Armageddon.

The war with Asgard's rival power Jotunheim (also known as the "Frost

Giants," suggesting it may actually have been an alliance of Northern

nations) began with an exchange of nuclear weaponry, triggering the

Fimbulwinter, a three-year period of unending snow and ice. This was

followed by an invasion of land forces known as the Fenriswolf, supported

by a naval armada called the Midgard Serpent.

The Thor controlled a doomsday weapon called Mjolnir or "Hammer of the

Gods." As far as can be told it was a meteor composed entirely of the

metal thorium. When defeat was inevitable, the Thor triggered Mjolnir and

by unknown means called it down into the Earth's atmosphere. Low over the

lands of the Frost Giants it flew, its surface burning brighter than any

sun, and destroyed them all. Because thorium has a melting point of 1750°

C (its oxide has an astonishingly high melting point of 3300° C) the

meteor passed through the atmosphere relatively unscathed. Which was

fortunate for us. A direct hit might well have extinguished all higher

life on the planet.

Thus ends our sad tale. Save for one thing. According to the Eddas, the

children of the Thor (that would be us, the human race) survived

Ragnarok. So far, so good. But the Eddas also say that they inherited

Mjolnir.

Deep linguistic analysis suggests that this means that after its

near-encounter with our planet, the meteor went into a sun-grazing orbit.

In and out it darts, crossing the Earth's orbit perhaps once or even

twice a year. But there's no reason to think that it will ever actually

hit us.

On this point, deep linguistic analysis must surely be wrong.

The End