Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1984 cyberpunk n. 1 (1984) a subgenre of science fiction typified by a bleak, high-tech setting in which a lawless subculture exists within an oppressive society dominated by computer technology
1984 cyberpunk n. 2 (1984) an author of, or protagonist in, cyberpunk n. 1
1984 dirtsider n. (1984) a person who lives on a planet (in contrast to a person who lives or frequently travels in space)
1984 meat puppet n. (1984) the human body; a physical human being, esp. in contrast to virtual reality or artificial intelligence
1984 slash n. (1984) a subgenre of fiction, originally published in fanzines and now esp. online, in which characters who appear together in popular films or other media are portrayed as having a sexual (esp. homosexual) relationship
1984 Tardis-like adj. (1984) denoting something whose capacity is greater than is suggested by its exterior appearance
1983 cryosuspension n. (1983) = cryostasis n.
1983 filking n. (1983) among science fiction and fantasy fans: the writing or performing of filk songs
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 Singularity n. (1983) usually with the: the point at which technological innovation radically transforms society, esp. the point at which artificial general intelligence outpaces human intelligence; the transition to posthumanity
1983 teleport n. 3 (1983) an act of teleportation 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 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
1981 big dumb object n. (1981) a large, mysterious, alien-made artifact encountered in space or on another world
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 filker n. (1981) one who sings filk songs; = filk singer n.
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 SF/F n. (1981) science fiction and fantasy, regarded as a single broad genre
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.
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)