Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1949 teleport n. 2 (1949) a person who is able to teleport, esp. by psychic rather than technological means; teleporter n. 1
1949 teleporter n. 1 (1949) a person who is able to teleport; = teleport n. 2
1949 thruster n. (1949) an engine that creates thrust, esp. a small rocket engine used to adjust the attitude or course of a spacecraft in flight
1949 tie-in n. (1949) a book, film, or the like published to take advantage of the appearance of the same work in another medium
1949 ultradrive n. (1949) a type of faster-than-light star drive
1949 universal translator n. (1949) a device, computer system, etc. that (instantaneously) translates among languages
1949 unperson n. (1949) a person who, usually for political reasons, is deemed not to have existed and whose name is removed from all public records; hence, more generally: a person whose contributions or achievements are officially denied or disregarded; a person regarded as less than human
1949 videophonic adj. (1949) of or related to videophones or their use
1949 xenologist n. (1949) a person who studies aliens; a specialist in xenology n.
1949 xenology n. (1949) the scientific study of aliens, esp. xenobiology n.
1948 apazine n. (1948) an individual fanzine distributed by an apa n.
1948 atmosphere suit n. (1948) = space suit n.
1948 avian n. (1948) a bird-like alien
1948 BNF n. (1948) someone who is extremely prominent within a particular fandom
1948 Bradburyesque adj. (1948) = Bradburyish adj.
1948 Bradburyish adj. (1948) of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of Ray Bradbury, esp. in focusing on psychological concerns (often based on the presumed simplicity of personal interactions) rather than technological developments
1948 fugghead n. (1948) a stupid, obnoxious, or incompetent person
1948 golden age n. (1948) a period in the past regarded as the time when science fiction was at its best
1948 omniverse n. (1948) all universes collectively; cf. multiverse n. 1
1948 paradise planet n. (1948) a planet regarded as peaceful or beautiful, esp. one having unspoilt natural beauty; cf. pleasure planet n.
1948 planet hop n. (1948) a (short) trip made from one planet to another
1948 precog v. (1948) to predict the future; to predict (something) in the future
1948 space ark n. (1948) a large ship designed to move or rescue large numbers of people, often with large ecosystems and many animals and plants on board
1948 space-pale adj. (1948) pale from being in space; cf. space-tanned adj.
1948 star drive n. (1948) a propulsion device for a spaceship capable of interstellar travel, esp. one that permits the ship to travel faster than light; cf. earlier space drive n.
1948 subetherics n. (1948) a device which uses sub-ether (esp. with allusion to a means of faster-than-light communication)
1948 suit up v. (1948) to put on a spacesuit
1948 teleporting adj. (1948) capable of teleportation n.; causing teleportation n.
1948 three-D n. (1948) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three dimensional image or video; (also) a three-dimensional image or video; cf. tri-D n.
1948 time opera n. (1948) a subgenre of science fiction featuring adventure-driven, extravagantly dramatic plots based on time travel; a work in this genre
1948 warp drive n. (1948) a device by which a spaceship is enabled to travel through space by means of a space warp; a faster-than-light drive
1947 astroengineer n. (1947) an engineer who works on spacecraft or in space; a person who designs or operates the propulsion systems of spacecraft
1947 bemmy n. (1947) = BEM n.