Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological



Word Definition
terrestrian adj. (1930) of Earth
tesser v. (1962) in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time: to travel through space by means of a tesseract n.
tesseract n. (1962) in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time: a means of travelling through space by manipulating the dimensions of spacetime
thionite n. (1937) an addictive drug which induces euphoric dreams
thought-controlled adj. (1934) of devices, computers, etc.: controlled by a person’s thoughts or neural impulses
thought-reading machine n. (1931) a machine that can read a person’s thoughts
thought screen n. (1931) = thought shield n.
thought shield n. (1931) a mental barrier that prevents one’s thoughts from being read by a telepath; = mind shield n.
thought-variant n. (1933) a story characterized by a focus on significant ideas rather than action
thought wave n. (1849) a thought emanating from one's mind, esp. a telepathic emanation; a thought or thoughts travelling on a hypothetical medium of thought transfer
three-D n. (1955) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three dimensional image; (also) a three-dimensional image; cf. tri-D n.
threedy n. (1984) three-dimensional television or film
three vee n. (1954) a device capable of transmitting or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image
thruster n. (1949) an engine that creates thrust, esp. a small rocket engine used to adjust the attitude or course of a spacecraft in flight
thud and blunder n. (1940) (a disparaging term for) an adventure story that features violent exploits
tie-in n. (1949) a book, film, or the like published to take advantage of the appearance of the same work in another medium
tight-beam n. (1930) a highly focused energy beam, esp. one that conveys communications; a device that sends such a beam; a message sent by such a device
tight-beam v. (1959) to send (esp. a message) by means of a tight-beam n.; to send to (someone) by means of a tight-beam n.; also intrans.
tight-beamed adj. (1951) of a message: sent by means of a tight-beam n.
time n. (1866) time viewed as a medium through which travel into the past or future is hypothesized or imagined to be possible
time barrier n. (1933) something (either inherent or created) that prevents travel through time
time binding n. (1921) in General Semantics: the characteristically human ability to transmit knowledge to succeeding generations by means of (written) language; (hence, in Fandom) the act of documenting fannish activities
time cop n. (1953) a member of the time police n.
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.
time fault n. (1934) a disturbance in time; a place where time travel is possible, or where time progresses in unpredictable ways; cf. time-slip n., time storm n.
time hopper n. 1 (1955) = time machine n.
time hopper n. 2 (1967) = time traveller n.
timeline n. (1935) the set of all events from past to future, esp. when regarded as one of many possible such sets
time lord n. (1969) in the British television series Doctor Who: one of a race of humanoid aliens from the planet Gallifrey who are able to control time-travel technology