Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological



Word Definition
holoscreen n. (1969) a screen that displays a hologram
holovid n. (1973) a holographic video; a device or system that displays or records holographic videos; cf. holovision n.
holovision n. (1968) = tri-v n.
home galaxy n. (1936) the galaxy that an individual being is from; the galaxy in which a species originated
home planet n. (1896) = homeworld n.
home star n. (1939) the star which the homeworld orbits; cf. earlier home sun n.
home sun n. (1929) = home star n.
home system n. (1930) the solar system in which an individual being is from; the solar system in which a species originated
homeworld n. (1900) the planet on which an individual being was born; the planet on which a species originated; cf. slightly earlier home planet n.
Homo superior n. (1935) the hypothetical successor species to Homo sapiens, having greater intellect or physical abilities and often possessing paranormal powers
horror n. (1898) a genre intended to create a feeling of fear in the reader or viewer, especially one employing supernatural elements or monstrous creatures
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.
hovercar n. (1958) a car that hovers above the ground, typically conceived as using antigravity technology
hubward adv. (1977) (of a rotating or circular body, as a space station) near or towards the center, rather than the edge
Hugo n. (1953) any of several awards presented annually at the World Science Fiction Convention for excellence in science fiction or fantasy writing, art, publishing, etc.
hull v. (1942) (usu. passive) to rupture the hull of a spaceship (cf. slightly earlier hulled adj.)
hulled adj. (1941) of a spaceship: having a ruptured hull
humanoid n. (1940) a non-human being that has a human-like bodily form
humanoid adj. (1940) esp. of a robot or alien: having a humanoid form; of or relating to humanoids
hyperdrive n. (1946) a spaceship drive that enables travel faster than the speed of light; (also) the state of such travel; cf. hyperspace n.
hyperspace n. (1928) a dimension or other theoretical region that coexists with our own but typically has different physical laws, esp. such a region that allows travel through it such that the total journey occurs at faster-than-light speeds; cf. hyperdrive n.
hyperspatial adj. (1934) in or relating to hyperspace n.
hyperspeed n. (1951) a speed faster than the speed of light
hypospray n. (1947) an injection device that forces a fine, high-pressure jet of fluid through the skin without breaking it
illo n. (1945) an illustration
imaginative adj. (1914) denoting a genre of literature, etc. that is not realistic or mimetic; science fiction, fantasy, and horror collectively
impeller n. (1936) a device used to produce propulsive thrust
impervium n. (1932) a virtually impenetrable or indestructible substance
impossible story n. (1913) esp. in the early pulp era: a work of imaginative fiction; a different story n.