Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1933 message rocket n. (1933) a (small) rocket used to carry a message
1933 needle pistol n. (1933) a handheld needle gun n.
1933 off-trail adj. (1933) (of a story, esp. one that is not easily categorized) fantastic or science-fictional
1933 planet-wide adv. (1933) on, over, or throughout an entire planet
1933 robotrix n. (1933) a robot assigned a female identity; a robot having female or feminine characteristics
1933 scientifictionally adv. (1933) in a scientifictional manner; towards scientifictional subjects or interests
1933 sci-fic n. (1933) abbreviation of science fiction n. 2
1933 space sailor n. (1933) a person who travels in space, esp. as a profession
1933 spaceway n. (1933) an established route through space; usu. in pl. spaceways space as an area in which people travel; cf. planet v.
1933 spaceworthiness n. (1933) the condition of being spaceworthy adj.
1933 spacewreck n. (1933) the destruction of a spacecraft; a wrecked spacecraft
1933 stfan n. (1933) a fan of science fiction
1933 thought-variant n. (1933) a story characterized by a focus on significant ideas rather than action
1933 time barrier n. (1933) something (either inherent or created) that prevents travel through time
1933 time travel v. (1933) to travel through time n.
1933 topside adv. (1933) in or towards the upper parts of a spacecraft; (also) in or towards orbit
1932 adult fantasy n. (1932) fantasy intended for adults rather than children
1932 alternative future n. (1932) = alternate future n.
1932 areological adj. (1932) of, pertaining to, or derived from areology n.; such as is described, investigated, or ascertained by areology
1932 astrogating n. (1932) = astrogation n.
1932 atomics n. 1 (1932) any device powered by nuclear energy, esp. a nuclear-powered engine
1932 automatics n. (1932) a system that controls the flight of a spacecraft with little or no human intervention; any system or technology for the unsupervised control of a vehicle, environment, etc.
1932 Callistan n. 1 (1932) a native or inhabitant of the Jovian moon Callisto; cf. slightly earlier Callistonian n.
1932 Earth-normal n. (1932) a state, amount, or value of something (as gravity or atmospheric pressure) that is typical of what is found on Earth
1932 energy screen n. (1932) a barrier made of or against energy; a force field n.
1932 escape ship n. (1932) = lifeboat n.; lifeship n.
1932 force screen n. (1932) = force field n.
1932 gravity drive n. (1932) a spaceship drive that uses any technology associated with gravity
1932 hell planet n. (1932) a planet regarded as dangerous or unpleasant, esp. one having climate conditions that are inhospitable for humans
1932 impervium n. (1932) a virtually impenetrable or indestructible substance
1932 Jovian n. 2 (1932) the language of Jovians
1932 jump n. (1932) a journey through hyperspace n.; any (nearly) instantaneous travel over a large distance; cf. jump v.
1932 micro book n. (1932) a book having the text reproduced at a reduced size by the use of microphotography or microprinting
1932 moon base n. (1932) an outpost on a moon, esp. on Earth’s Moon
1932 needle gun n. (1932) a gun that produces a very narrow beam of energy; (also) a gun that fires small slivers of metal