Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1954 genetic engineer n. (1954) a scientist who works in the field of genetic engineering n.
1954 hobbitlike adj. (1954) like a hobbit
1954 mindlink n. (1954) a telepathic connection between people; cf. mind-meld n.
1954 near-future adj. (1954) denoting a subgenre of science fiction set in a future recognizably similar to a contemporary setting, having only moderate differences in technology
1954 posthuman n. (1954) a (hypothetical) descendant of humans who is sufficiently different from present-day humans in form or capabilities to be regarded as a new species or otherwise fundamentally different from present-day humans; (also) a human who has been genetically or bionically augmented; cf. earlier posthuman adj.
1954 precog n. 1 (1954) a person with precognitive abilities; cf. earlier precog v.
1954 precog n. 2 (1954) precognition; foreknowledge, esp. as a form of extrasensory perception; cf. precog n. 1 and earlier precog v.
1954 SF/F n. (1954) science fiction and fantasy, regarded as a single broad genre
1954 slugthrower n. (1954) a weapon that fires a physical projectile, in contrast to an energy weapon n.
1954 temporal paradox n. (1954) = time paradox n.
1954 three vee n. (1954) a device capable of transmitting or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image
1954 timequake n. (1954) a sudden significant disturbance in the continuity of time; cf. time storm n., time-slip n.
1954 Tolkienian adj. (1954) of or pertaining to J.R.R. Tolkien or his writings; cf. Tolkienesque adj.
1954 tri-v n. (1954) a device or system capable of recording, transmitting, or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image; such a system as a form of entertainment
1954 trufan n. (1954) a science fiction fan who adheres to the ideals and practices of fandom
1954 trufandom n. (1954) the state of being a trufan; excellence in fannish behavior
1954 Tuckerism n. (1954) using the name of a real person as a name of a character in a work of fiction; an instance of this
1954 xenobiologist n. (1954) a specialist in xenobiology n.
1954 xenobiology n. (1954) the study of the biology of extraterrestrial life forms
1955 countergrav n. (1955) = antigravity n.
1955 dirtside n. (1955) the surface of a planet
1955 dystopia n. 2 (1955) an imaginary place or state of affairs in which there is great suffering or injustice, esp. as the result of a totalitarian or dehumanizing political state; the genre of fiction set in such a situation; cf. utopia n.
1955 generation ship n. (1955) an interstellar spacecraft in which multiple generations of passengers are born, live, and die before arrival at its destination
1955 null-grav adj. (1955) = null-g n.
1955 planetside adj. (1955) located or occurring on the surface of a planet
1955 rimworld n. (1955) a planet orbiting a star near the edge of a galaxy, typically regarded as being isolated from mainstream galactic culture
1955 sci-fi n. (1955) = science fiction n. 2
1955 sercon adj. (1955) of fans or fan activities: (obsessively) concerned with matters of criticism or scholarship, rather than fandom itself; cf. faan n.
1955 subgenre n. (1955) a style or category (of fiction, film, etc.) that is a regarded as a subset of another, broader genre
1955 time crime n. (1955) a violation of time travel laws, esp. an illegal attempt to change the past; such violations collectively; cf. time police n.
1955 time hopper n. 1 (1955) = time machine n.
1955 time patrol n. (1955) = time police n.
1955 tri-vid n. (1955) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three-dimensional image
1955 xenolinguist n. (1955) a specialist in alien languages