Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1979 xenocidal adj. (1979) of, pertaining to, or involving xenocide n.
1980 carbonite n. (1980) a carbon-based material in which a person can be cryogenically preserved
1980 Darth n. 2 (1980) (used as a title before the name of someone regarded as evil or an enemy)
1980 replicant n. 1 (1980) an artificial being in the form of a human or other creature; an android
1980 uplift v. (1980) to transform a non-sentient species into a sentient species, esp. by genetic engineering
1980 uplift n. (1980) the making of a sentient species from a non-sentient one, esp. by genetic engineering
1980 uplifting n. (1980) = uplift n.
1980 xenopsychologist n. (1980) a specialist in xenopsychology n.
1981 big dumb object n. (1981) a large, mysterious, alien-made artifact
1981 Clarke belt n. (1981) the ring-shaped region around the Earth containing all possible geostationary orbits
1981 doppel n. (1981) a duplicate version of a person, as a clone, a virtual-reality representation, a shapeshifter, etc.
1981 flux capacitor n. (1981) in the film Back to the Future and its sequels: the core component of the time machine made of a DeLorean automobile
1981 Jedi mind trick n. (1981) in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise: a telepathic technique of psychological manipulation used by the Jedi
1981 jump engine n. (1981) = jump drive n.
1981 Raygun Gothic n. (1981) a retrofuturistic aesthetic and architectural style associated with mid-20th century design
1981 retro-futurist adj. (1981) = retro-futuristic adj.
1981 skin job n. 2 (1981) a robot that has skin; (spec.) an android that cannot easily be distinguished from a human
1981 utopian adj. (1981) possessing or regarded as having impossibly or extravagantly ideal conditions in respect of politics, customs, social organization, etc.
1981 Whoniverse n. (1981) the fictional universe used as the setting for the British television series Doctor Who; (also) any media, fandom, etc. connected to Doctor Who
1981 xenoanthropologist n. (1981) a person who studies alien cultures; a specialist in xenoanthropology n.
1982 cyberspace n. (1982) the notional environment within which electronic communication occurs, esp. when represented as the inside of a computer system; space perceived as such by an observer but generated by a computer system and having no real existence; a virtual reality environment
1982 gravitics n. 2 (1982) any of various devices or systems making use of gravity or gravitational waves, as (a) sensors that use gravitational waves to detect objects in space; (b) a system that creates artificial gravity
1982 Kobayashi Maru n. (1982) in the Star Trek universe: a training exercise in which a cadet commanding a ship must rescue a civilian vessel in enemy territory, with any strategy leading to an unsuccessful outcome; (hence) any no-win situation, esp. one used as a test of character
1982 nowhen adv. (1982) (in time-travel contexts): in or at no time
1982 Whovian n. (1982) a fan of the British television series Doctor Who
1983 anime n. (1983) a Japanese animated film or television programme, drawn in a brightly colorful and meticulously detailed style, and typically having a science-fiction or fantasy theme; this genre or style of entertainment
1983 cryosuspension n. (1983) = cryostasis n.
1983 jump pilot n. (1983) one who pilots a spaceship through a jump n.
1983 power-up n. (1983) in a video game: an item that immediately provides temporary extra abilities to a player
1983 retro-futuristic adj. (1983) having both retro and futuristic elements; of or resembling a style or aesthetic considered futuristic in an earlier era