ftl adv.

= faster than light adv.

SF Encyclopedia


FTL

  • 1950 F. Leiber Enchanted Forest in Astounding Science Fiction Oct. 111/2 page image Fritz Leiber bibliography

    ‘You fly fast, Elven.’…Elven agreed softly without looking around, and added, ‘FTL’—Meaning Faster Than Light.

  • 1958 D. Berry Intruder in Venture Science Fiction Magazine Mar. 81/2 Don Berry bibliography

    They tell me that I’m not actually traveling FTL, it just seems that way.

  • 1969 R. Meredith We All Died at Breakaway Station in Amazing Stories Mar. 73/2 page image Richard C. Meredith bibliography

    They'll probably stay sub-light… But would it help us to go FTL?

  • 2001 J. A. Gardner Ascending v. 48 James Alan Gardner bibliography

    Okay, toots…you’re on the air. And no matter what, keep talking till we’re ready to go FTL.

Research requirements

antedating 1950
Earliest cite

Fritz Leiber, in Astounding
Research History
Katrina Campbell submitted a cite from a reprint of Richard Meredith's "We All Died At Breakaway Station"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1969 first magazine appearance.
Douglas Winston submitted a 2001 cite from James Alan Gardner's "Ascending".

Last modified 2022-02-12 12:51:56
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.