Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological ( asc | desc )



First date Word Definition
1964 armorplast n. (1964) a strong protective material likened to plastic (as being light, flexible, or transparent)
1964 Ballardian adj. (1964) of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of J. G. Ballard, esp. in featuring desolate, dystopian settings and a pessimistic view of the effects of modern technological society
1964 class M planet n. (1964) an Earth-type planet
1964 conapt n. (1964) an apartment in a condominium
1964 core n. (1964) the center of a galaxy
1964 graser n. (1964) a device that produces a beam of gamma radiation, usually as an energy weapon n.
1964 hoverboard n. (1964) a board, resembling a skateboard without wheels, which hovers above the ground using antigravity technology and may be ridden like a skateboard; cf. earlier hovercar n.
1964 jump point n. (1964) a location where interstellar jumps are possible
1964 sailship n. (1964) a spacecraft using a solar sail as its chief method of propulsion
1964 widescreen baroque n. (1964) Brian Aldiss’s term for: a subgenre of science fiction characterized by larger-than-life characters, violence, intrigue, extravagant settings or actions, and fast-paced plotting; a form of space opera n.
1963 companion n. (1963) in the British television series Doctor Who: any of the usually human characters who (regularly) travel with the Doctor
1963 dalek n. (1963) in the British television series Doctor Who: a member of a race of aggressive alien mutants in mobile armoured casings
1963 laser gun n. (1963) a weapon that fires a laser
1963 laser pistol n. (1963) a hand weapon of similar size to a pistol that fires a laser
1963 laser rifle n. (1963) a long shoulder weapon that fires a laser
1963 light sail n. (1963) = solar sail n.
1963 multiversal adj. (1963) of or pertaining to a multiverse n. 1
1963 multiverse n. 1 (1963) a space or realm of being consisting of a number of universes, of which our own universe is only one; cf. parallel universe n.
1963 mundane n. 2 (1963) a person who is not a science-fiction fan; an outsider
1963 space-fictional n. (1963) resembling or characteristic of space fiction n.
1963 spider sense n. (1963) in the fictional world of the comic book hero Spider-Man: the precognitive ability to anticipate (and react to) dangerous situations beyond the normal range of human senses; (hence, in figurative or allusive use) a premonition; intuition; insight
1963 spidey sense n. (1963) = spider sense n.
1963 TARDIS n. 1 (1963) in the British television series Doctor Who: a time machine having the outward form of a police telephone box; (hence) any means of travelling through time
1963 wetware n. (1963) biological structures or systems regarded as analogous to computer equipment; (specif.) the human brain; the mind, esp. when able to be affected or altered by computer processes
1962 Clarke’s Law n. (1962) any of three maxims formulated by Arthur C. Clarke (sometimes specified as Clarke’s First Law, Clarke’s Second Law, Clarke’s Third Law): (a) ‘When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong’ (b) ‘The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.’ (c) ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’
1962 croggled adj. (1962) astonished, baffled, bewildered
1962 datapad n. (1962) a thin handheld electronic device for viewing and manipulating information; a tablet computer
1962 dystopianism n. (1962) dystopian quality or characteristics
1962 laser cannon n. (1962) a large weapon, similar in size to a cannon, that fires a laser