Mimsy Were the Borogoves

by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore

Release: February 1943
Format: Short Story
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

A scientist in the far future sends back two boxes of educational toys to test his time machine. One is discovered by Charles Dodgson’s niece in the 19th century, and the other by two children in 1942.

This story was in the first book that I got from the SF Book Club in the summer of 1970, The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume 1 (edited by Robert Silverberg). I read and reread those stories until the book fell apart.

Neither Paradine nor Jane guessed how much of an effect the contents of the time machine were having on the kids.

DEBUT

“Mimsy Were the Borogoves,” Astounding, February 1943.

VARIANTS

1 English variant

DERIVATIVE WORKS

The Last Mimzy by Bruce Joel Rubin and Toby Emmerich, directed by Robert Shaye, (Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah, 23 January 2007).

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Groupings

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY: We haven’t yet mapped out the time travel itinerary.