Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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Word Definition
offworlder n. (1957) a person or being from another planet; an alien
omniverse n. (1948) all universes collectively; cf. multiverse n. 1
orbital tower n. (1975) a structure linking a planet, moon, etc., with a space station or satellite which is in stationary orbit around it; cf. skyhook n. 4
organlegger n. (1967) a person who illegally removes organs from people or corpses and sells them to use for transplantation
organlegging n. (1969) the illegal trading of human organs for transplant; cf. organlegger n.
Orwellian n. (1971) an admirer of the works and ideas of George Orwell
Orwellian adj. (1949) characteristic or suggestive of the writings of George Orwell, esp. of the totalitarian state depicted in his dystopian account of the future, Nineteen Eighty-four (1949)
other-dimensional adj. (1934) of or from another dimension
otherspace n. (1937) any of various types of space, as hyperspace or subspace, subject to different physical laws than our own; cf. realspace n.
outer space n. (1842) the region of space beyond Earth’s atmosphere or beyond the solar system; in extended use: a place or region beyond the usual limits of awareness or accessibility
out-planet n. (1943) = outworld n.
out-planet adj. (1944) = outworld adj.
out-system n. (1957) an area outside of a solar system
out-system adj. (1949) of or relating to another solar system; outside of a solar system; cf. in-system adj.
out-system adv. (1951) in or toward the outer parts of a solar system; away from a solar system’s star; outside of a solar system; cf. in-system adv.
outworld n. (1902) a planet that is remote from the homeworld; a planet far from a solar system’s star
outworld adj. (1932) on or from another planet, esp. one remote from the homeworld or far from a solar system’s star
outworlder n. (1934) someone from an outworld n.; an alien; an outsider
out-worldly adj. (1934) from an outworld n.; foreign, unusual
overdrive n. (1945) = hyperdrive n.
overmind n. (1949) a single, non-material consciousness composed of the consciousnesses of a large number of beings
Padawan n. (1973) in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise: an apprentice Jedi; also (often humorously) in extended and allusive use: a youthful, naive, or untrained person
pantropy n. (1952) James Blish’s term for: the modification of humans, esp. by genetic engineering, to make them able to survive in an alien environment
paradise planet n. (1948) a planet regarded as peaceful or beautiful, esp. one having unspoilt natural beauty; cf. pleasure planet n.
parallel universe n. (1923) a universe conceived of as existing alongside our own, having many similarities to it but usually differing from it in some significant way (as having a different history or different physical laws)
parallel world n. (1931) a world that exists alongside or in addition to the known world; = parallel universe n.
parking orbit n. (1941) an orbit around the earth or some other planet from which a space vehicle can be launched farther into space; also, an orbit which is stable and from which visits to the planet surface can conveniently be made
Peter Parker principle n. (No cites) see Spider-Man principle n.
pew n. (1971) (used to represent the sound of a weapon, esp. a beam weapon)
phaser n. (1966) in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a (usu. hand-held) weapon incorporating an energy beam whose phase can be altered to create different effects (such as stunning, disintegration, etc.) on the target
photon torpedo n. (1968) in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a ship-based weapon in which a destructive force is generated by a collision of matter and antimatter
plane n. (1927) = dimension n.