light-speed n. 2
a unit of measure of speed equal to the speed of light; cf. light n. 1
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1929
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Edmond Hamilton
bibliography
Our velocity had slackened steadily as we approached that star, and we were moving at a bare one light-speed when we finally swept down toward its outermost, far-swinging planet
Star-Stealers in Weird Tales Feb. 151/1 -
1932
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John W. Campbell, Jr.
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The skilful hands at the controls were turning adjustments now, and that disc of flame seemed to leap toward him with a hundred light-speeds, growing to a disc as large as a dime in an instant, while the myriad points of the stars seemed to scatter like frightened chickens, fleeing from the growing sun, out of the screen.
Invaders from the Infinite in Amazing Stories Quarterly Spring 148/1
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1932
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John W. Campbell, Jr.
bibliography
Again a tiny ship entered Thett’s far-flung atmosphere, and slowed to less than a light speed, and sent its signal call ahead.
Invaders from the Infinite in Amazing Stories Quarterly Spring 222/1
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1947
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If it goes 3/4 light speed in the same direction the planet is going, the ship is tearing along at 1 1/4 light speeds in relation to planet B.
Letter in Thrilling Wonder Stories Apr. 107/1
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1956
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Murray Leinster
bibliography
Colonized worlds are like isolated islands in an unimaginably vast ocean, and the ships that ply between them at thirty light-speeds seem merely to creep.
Critical Difference in Astounding Science Fiction July 13/2
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1966
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Larry Niven
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I might well put the…hull to its toughest test yet: smashing it into a neutron star at half lightspeed.
Neutron Star in Worlds of If Oct. 20/1
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1990
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Michael Bishop
Stith has given us hyperspace where lightspeed is a tad over 22 miles per hour, and levels of reality where characters literally see themselves coming and going.
in Thrust (#35) Winter 23/3
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1992
Vernor Vinge
bibliography
At three-tenths lightspeed, Pham spent decades in coldsleep getting from star to star.
Fire upon Deep vii. 44
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2004
Peter F. Hamilton
bibliography
Once the ship accelerates to its flight velocity of decimal seven two lightspeed, its range is limited only by the amount of fuel it carries to power the force field generators, and indeed the lifetime of the generators themselves.
Pandora’s Star vii. 183
Research requirements
antedating 1929
Earliest cite
Edmond Hamilton, "The Star-Stealers", in Weird Tales
Research History
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a ca. 1965 reprint of "The Star Stealers", by Edmond Hamilton; Jesse Sheidlower verified it in its first publication (Weird Tales, February, 1929).Fred Galvin submitted a 1947 cite from a letter written by Wallace Weber to Thrilling Wonder Stories.
Malcolm Farmer submitted a 1956 cite from "Critical Difference" by Murray Leinster (pseudonym of Will F. Jenkins)
Fred Galvin submitted a 1932 cite from John W. Campbell Jr.'s "Invaders From the Infinite"
Ralf Brown submitted a 1993 cite from Mike Resnick's "Prophet"
This appears to be a relatively uncommon usage: we would like to see further cites of any date
Last modified 2023-10-30 15:36:21
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
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