torch n.
Propulsion
-
1950
page image
Robert A. Heinlein
bibliography
The Mayflower was top shaped. The point of the top was her jet—Chief Engineer Ortega, who showed us around, called it her ‘torch’.
Satellite Scout in Boy’s Life Sept. 28 -
1953
Robert A. Heinlein
bibliography
The conversion chamber of a torch was a tiny sun; particles expelled from it approached the speed of light.
Sky Lift in Imagination Nov. 14/2 -
1953
Robert A. Heinlein
bibliography
The idea that anyone but a torcher could work a torch ballistic did not sink in.
Sky Lift in Imagination Nov. 19/1 -
1956
Robert A. Heinlein
bibliography
From the air the Lewis and Clark looked like a basket-ball floating in water; you could not see that it was really shaped like a turnip. It floated with the torch down; the hemispherical upper part was all that showed.
Time for Stars vi. 60 -
1959
Robert A. Heinlein
bibliography
Gentlemen, it’s a job for torch pilots. I must ask for volunteers.
Menace From Earth (1968) 115 -
1973
Joe Haldeman
They transferred cargo to a spidery tachyon-torch shuttle, then zipped to the moon, setting down at Grimaldi base.
in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact Nov. 146/2 -
1974
Norman Spinrad
bibliography
The first scoutship is launched by the Trek. Crewed by five volunteers, it is powered by a full-sized fusion torch though its mass is only one-tenth that of a conventional torchship.
Riding the Torch (1978) 189 -
1979
Gregory Benford
bibliography
The Belt is huge, but the high-burn torch I'd turned loose back there was orders of magnitude more luminous than an ordinary fusion jet.
Dark Sanctuary in Matter's End (1994) 155 -
1987
Orson Scott Card
bibliography
It was the chief use they had for torches, to have them look at an unborn baby just at the birthing time.
Seventh Son (1988) v. 27 -
1989
Poul Anderson
bibliography
When it was safely away, robots went outside. Flitting around the hull, they deployed the latticework of ramscoop and fire chamber. By this time, low boost under torch drive had built up a considerable speed.
Boat of Million Years (1990) 500 -
1989
Walter Jon Williams
bibliography
Ubu looked at the radar and transponder displays. No ships nearby, no one within range to be cooked by the particle torch. ‘Ten seconds to torch ignition. Mark.’
Angel Station (1991) 100 -
1997
Sarah Zettel
bibliography
The Pasadena’s flight clocks had to be in sync with each other as well as with the outside, but not just for timing torch bursts for sublight navigation. Navigation past light speed was impossible. To change direction, they would have to drop down to sublight, change the ship’s flight angle and jump again.
Fool's War ii. 44 -
1997
Sarah Zettel
bibliography
The ship read her fingerprints and sent its signal down to the engine compartment. ‘Torch lit,’ she reported, just before a low rumble that echoed all the way up the drop shaft confirmed her call.
Fool's War ii. 48 -
2000
Michael F. Flynn
bibliography
‘No, it’s easy,’ Chase said, laying his cup on the table and leaning forward. ‘I’ll take the parasols with me when I torch for the Moon and drop them off along the way.’
Lodestar ix. 173
Research requirements
antedating 1950
Earliest cite
R. Heinlein, 'Satellite Scout'
Research History
Malcolm Farmer suggested Norman Spinrad's 1974 "Riding the Torch"; Mike Christie located a cite from a 1978 reprint.Malcolm Farmer submitted a 1992 cite from Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep".
Malcolm Farmer located a cite from reprint of Robert Heinlein's "Sky Lift"; Derek Hepburn verified this in the 1953 original publication.
Malcolm Farmer submitted a 1973 cite from Joe Haldeman's "We Are Very Happy Here".
Malcolm Farmer submitted a cite from a 1996 reprint of Gregory Benford's 1979 "Dark Sanctuary".
Douglas Winston submitted a 1997 cite from Sarah Zettel's "Fool's War".
Douglas Winston submitted a cite from an undated Ace books reprint of Robert A. Heinlein's 1956 "Time for the Stars".
The Tensor submitted a 1950 cite from Robert A. Heinlein's "Farmer in the Sky"; Scott Drellishak confirmed the term was used in this story's earlier serialization (under the title "Satellite Scout") in Boy's Life.
Last modified 2021-03-29 23:59:43
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
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