Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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Word Definition
spacing n. 1 (1942) the act of travelling in space; (also) the profession of working in space
spacing n. 2 (1972) the act of executing a person by forcing them into space without a spacesuit; cf. space v. 2
speculative fiction n. 1 (1889) = science fiction n. 2; (sometimes spec.) hard science fiction n.
speculative fiction n. 2 (1952) = imaginative fiction
speculative fiction n. 3 (1968) fiction which includes science fictional elements but which is regarded as not part of the genre of science fiction, as because it is soft science fiction, or to avoid a stigma felt to be associated with the term ‘science fiction’
speeder n. (1932) any of various small personal vehicles, typically travelling on or very close to the ground
Spider-Man principle n. (2003) the adage ‘with great power comes great responsibility’
spider sense n. (1975) in the fictional world of the comic book hero Spider-Man: the precognitive ability to anticipate (and react to) dangerous situations; (hence, in figurative or allusive use) a premonition; intuition; insight
spidey sense n. (1977) = spider sense n.
spindizzy n. (1950) in James Blish’s City in Flight series: a faster-than-light antigravity drive powered by a field that alters the magnetic rotation of atoms
splatterpunk n. 1 (1987) a subgenre of horror fiction characterized by the frequent and graphic description of grisly violence, bloody deaths, and extreme sexual situations; (in later use also) a similar genre of movies, video games, etc.
splatterpunk n. 2 (1987) an author of splatterpunk writing
spy ray n. (1934) a ray that allows a user to detect sound, images, or thoughts at a distant location or through a barrier
Standard n. (1952) (the name of) a language spoken on multiple worlds or by multiple species; the common language of a group or place; cf. Galactic n. 2
starbase n. (1944) an outpost in space, or on a planet remote from the homeworld, used to facilitate military, governmental, or commercial activities
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.
starfarer n. (1961) an interstellar traveller
starfaring n. (1973) interstellar traveling
starfaring adj. (1960) pertaining to interstellar travel
starfleet n. (1939) an organized group of starships, esp. one under military control; a division of a military responsible for interstellar activities
stargate n. (1958) a portal or device that transports something to another point in the universe (usually another such location or device) in a manner that bypasses the intervening space; cf. gate n., jump gate n.
star lane n. (1939) = space lane n.
star liner n. (1932) = space liner n.
starport n. (1950) a place where (interstellar) spacecraft can take off and land; = spaceport n.
starship n. (1926) a spaceship capable of interstellar travel
star system n. (1929) a planetary system; = solar system n.
starway n. (1932) an established route between stars; usu. pl. starways the realm of space travel in general; cf. spaceway n.
stasis field n. (1942) an enclosed area within which time is stopped
steampunk n. 1 (1987) a writer of steampunk n. 2
steampunk n. 2 (1987) a subgenre of science fiction which has a historical setting (esp. based on industrialized, nineteenth-century society) and characteristically features steam-powered, mechanized machinery rather than electronic technology
steampunkish adj. (1993) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of steampunk n. 2
stellar cartography n. (1883) a branch of cartography concerned with astronomical objects; (occas. cap.) an organizational unit or work area devoted to this; cf. astrogation n.