Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological ( asc | desc )



First date Word Definition
1992 inertial damper n. (1992) a device or system that partially negates the effects of inertia, used especially to protect those on board a spaceship from the effects of rapid changes in acceleration
1992 meat world n. (1992) = meatspace n.
1992 metaverse n. (1992) a computer-generated environment within which users can interact with one another and their surroundings, a virtual world; (more generally) the notional environment in which users of networked computers interact; = cyberspace n.
1991 beast mode n. (1991) in a video game: a (temporary) state in which a human transforms into an animal or mythical creature, typically having extra power or skills; (hence) a (temporary) state of aggression or great performance
1991 biopunk n. (1991) a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on the societal effects of biotechnology and genetic engineering
1991 conlang n. (1991) an artificially created language; esp. a language invented to represent the speech of an alien race
1991 counterfactual n. (1991) a work of alternate history n.
1991 morph v. 1 (1991) intransitive (of something physical, esp. a sentient being) to change shape or form; = shapeshift v.
1991 sharecrop n. (1991) fiction set in a universe that was created by (and is sometimes under license from) another, typically more-established, author
1990 Asimovian adj. 2 (1990) (of a robot or AI) governed by the Laws of Robotics
1990 con crud n. (1990) an illness (esp. a cold) suffered while or shortly after attending an SF convention
1990 morph n. (1990) an artificial or duplicate body
1990 morphing n. (1990) the action or process that occurs when something morphs
1990 nanotech n. (1990) = nanotechnology n.
1990 neurolink n. (1990) a technologically based communication connection between a (human) brain and a computer system; a device providing such a connection; cf. jack in v.
1990 superluminal adv. (1990) at a superluminal speed
1989 Borg n. (1989) in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a group of cybernetically enhanced aliens linked in a hive mind n.
1989 cyberpunkish adj. (1989) resembling or reminiscent of cyberpunk n. 1
1989 cyborging n. (1989) the process of converting a biological organism into a cyborg
1989 cyborgized adj. (1989) (of a biological organism) made into a cyborg n.
1989 datasphere n. (1989) the notional environment in which digital data is stored; esp. the internet viewed in this way; (also) the realm of virtual reality; cyberspace n.
1989 gengineer v. (1989) to produce, develop, or alter through genetic engineering n.
1989 kilohour n. (1989) a period of one thousand hours
1989 nanite n. (1989) a nanomachine designed to build other nanomachines; a self-reproducing nanorobot
1989 nanobot n. (1989) a nanoscale self-propelled machine, esp. one that has some degree of autonomy and can reproduce
1989 postcyberpunk adj. (1989) of or pertaining a subgenre of science fiction that employs some of cyberpunk's themes, especially the exploration of the effects of a high rate of technological change on society, but rejects the alienation and dystopianism of cyberpunk
1989 retcon n. (1989) in a fictional work or series: a piece of new (and typically revelatory) information which imposes a different interpretation on previously described events, often employed to facilitate a dramatic plot shift or account for an inconsistency; (also) use of this as a narrative device
1989 retcon v. (1989) to revise retrospectively (an aspect of a fictional work or series), typically by means of a revelation which imposes a different interpretation on previously described events; cf. retcon n.
1989 sharecropped adj. (1989) having the quality of a sharecrop n.
1989 slipstream n. (1989) fiction which, while not classified as science fiction, engages to some extent with scientific or futuristic subject matter, esp. such fiction regarded as constituting an identifiable genre; this genre of fiction
1988 nanorobot n. (1988) = nanobot n.
1988 smeg v. (1988) in the British TV series Red Dwarf: (used as a mild expletive)
1988 smeg n. (1988) in the British TV series Red Dwarf: (used as a mild expletive)
1988 smeghead n. (1988) in the British TV series Red Dwarf: a foolish or contemptible person
1987 gengineer n. (1987) = genetic engineer n.
1987 holodeck n. (1987) chiefly in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a room providing a holographic environment