The Domino Effect in Fiction

A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with one face that is blank or marked by dots resembling those on dice. The domino has a line down the middle that divides it visually into two square halves, and each half is numbered with an arrangement of spots (or “pips”) corresponding to numbers from one to six. Each domino is also labeled with its pips on the back of the piece. Dominoes can be produced in any number of colors and come in many different sets, each with a specific game’s rules. Each domino in a set is assigned to a suit. A player’s total score in a game depends on the matching of dominoes, which can be done by laying them edge to edge so that adjacent pips are either identical or make some specified total.

There are many different games played with dominoes, but the simplest involve scoring points by laying a single domino next to another so that the ends of the pieces touch each other. Normally, the ends of a domino are not visible to the players; they must be hidden or out of sight during play. Dominoes may be played in a line or in a circle, and each player must try to lay all of his or her dominoes down before the other player does. The first person to do so wins the game.

The concept of domino has been used metaphorically in other situations, as a description of a series of events that build on each other like falling blocks. For example, the effect of a small action can be seen when an individual makes his or her bed in the morning; by doing so, the person is setting up a chain reaction that will have far-reaching effects.

In the context of writing fiction, the domino effect is a way to describe the sequence of events in a story. The idea is that the main character will do something that causes other characters to react in a particular way. Whether the author of the fiction is writing off the cuff or working from a detailed outline, using the domino effect to construct the story can help to ensure that it will be compelling.

A domino show is a form of live entertainment in which the participants, called builders, compete to see who can set up a complicated series of domino reactions or effects before an audience of fans. The most elaborate displays involve hundreds or even thousands of dominoes, carefully set up and then slammed together in a spectacular fashion. The builders also have to explain how the effects were accomplished, and often take questions from the audience afterward. While this type of live entertainment has become popular around the world, it has its roots in ancient Greece and is still a popular form of family recreation. There are also online domino shows, which allow people to watch the building of a set of dominoes from the comfort of their homes.