Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological ( asc | desc )
| First date | Word | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | grandfather paradox n. (1939) | a paradox concerning the implications of time travel, expressed by the idea that a time traveller could potentially go back into the past and (deliberately or inadvertently) kill his or her grandfather, thus preventing the time traveller’s existence and the possibility of having travelled back into the past in the first place; cf. time paradox n. |
| 1939 | grav n. 1 (1939) | an anti-gravitational propulsion device; (typically as) gravs: a propulsion system using antigravity |
| 1939 | grav n. 2 (1939) | an earth-standard acceleration; gee n. 2 |
| 1939 | groundlubber n. (1939) | = groundhog n. |
| 1939 | Hamiltonian adj. (1939) | of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of Edmond Hamilton |
| 1939 | home star n. (1939) | the star which the homeworld orbits; cf. earlier home sun n. |
| 1939 | pleasure planet n. (1939) | a planet that is pleasurable to visit, esp. one that functions chiefly as a resort; cf. paradise planet n. |
| 1939 | pseudogravity n. (1939) | = artificial gravity n. |
| 1939 | pulp science fiction n. (1939) | science fiction published in the pulp magazines of the early–mid twentieth century; any science fiction regarded as being characteristic of these magazines, esp. in being action-driven or based on clichéd ideas, plots, or characterizations |
| 1939 | Rhean n. (1939) | a native or inhabitant of the Saturnian moon Rhea; (also) the language of Rheans |
| 1939 | shapeshifter n. (1939) | one that shapeshifts |
| 1939 | skyhook n. 2 (1939) | a hook on an aircraft or spaceship capable of lifting burdens |
| 1939 | sol n. 2 (1939) | = solar n. |
| 1939 | space crew n. (1939) | the crew of a spacecraft |
| 1939 | space field n. 2 (1939) | a place esp. on the surface of a planet where spacecraft can take off and land; = spaceport n. |
| 1939 | space law n. (1939) | a body of laws governing issues relating to outer space |
| 1939 | space patrolman n. (1939) | a man who works for a space patrol n. |
| 1939 | spacer n. 2 (1939) | = spaceship n. |
| 1939 | space scientist n. (1939) | an expert or specialist in a branch of science that deal with regions beyond the earth or beyond Earth’s atmosphere, including astronomy, astrophysics, and exobiology |
| 1939 | space tug n. (1939) | a small powerful spacecraft designed for short-distance tasks, such as maneuvering other vessels, pulling freight ships, etc. |
| 1939 | starfleet n. (1939) | an organized group of starships, esp. one under military control; a division of a military responsible for interstellar activities |
| 1939 | star lane n. (1939) | = space lane n. |
| 1939 | stfandom n. (1939) | science-fiction fandom |
| 1939 | superfan n. (1939) | a fan who exhibits extreme devotion or enthusiasm |
| 1939 | superspace n. (1939) | = hyperspace n. |
| 1939 | vac-suited adj. (1939) | = vacuum-suited adj. |
| 1940 | actifan n. (1940) | someone who is actively involved in fandom |
| 1940 | BEM n. (1940) | = bug-eyed monster n. |
| 1940 | biotechnician n. (1940) | a person, esp. a laboratory technician, involved in biotechnics or biotechnology |
| 1940 | Chicon n. (1940) | a SF convention held in Chicago, esp. the 1940 Chicago Science Fiction Convention |
| 1940 | completist n. (1940) | one who wishes to have or collect complete sets of something |
| 1940 | countergravity adj. (1940) | = antigravity adj. |
| 1940 | earthborn n. (1940) | a person born on Earth; people born on Earth collectively |
| 1940 | elsewhen adv. (1940) | (in time-travel contexts) at or to another point in time |
| 1940 | fankind n. (1940) | fans, considered collectively |
| 1940 | fanning n. (1940) | the practice or activity of being a fan; participation in fandom |
| 1940 | fanzine n. (1940) | a magazine produced for and esp. by fans |
| 1940 | faster-than-light adj. (1940) | that is travelling or can travel faster than light |