comset n.
a (usu. small, personal) communication device; cf. commlink n.
Communications
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1950 Barrier of Dread in Future July–Aug. 77/1
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Judith Merril
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He made his instructions specific, assigned units and unit directors, answered startled questions for several hours, and, finally, flicked off the last open line on his com set, his mind finally free of the tiny doubt that had plagued it.
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1952 Special Delivery in Imagination Jan. x. 10/1
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Kris Neville
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In the left front pocket was the comset. He fumbled it out and standing naked in the gloomy dawn, whispered: ‘Parr. There is an Oholo in my hotel.’ After a pause the comset issued the tinny question: ‘Is he aware of you?’ The voice filtering through the small diaphram [sic] was without personality. [Ibid. 58/1] An hour from now—give me one hour—you’re to contact the Fleet on my comset and tell them the Oholos are going to destroy their Advanceship right before their eyes.
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1958 Seller’s Market in Astounding Science Fiction Dec. 102/2
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Christopher Anvil
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Corder reached down to a shelf under the dash, and took out a small hand comset.
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1973 A Bridle For Pegasus in Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact July 25/1
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Anne McCaffrey
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Glaring, Gillings icily banged at his desk comset and demanded to be put through to ID. [Ibid. 29/1] Though the comset was not color, Daffyd was certain that Gillings’ face changed shade.
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1988 2061 Odyssey Three xlviii. 220
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Arthur C. Clarke
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He punched a code sequence on his comset, waited for the ‘Ready’ light to flash, and said: ‘Ganymede Central One Oh Nine—this is van. Do you receive?’
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1992 A Fire Upon the Deep xiv. 95
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Vernor Vinge
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The commsets from the boat, they really aren’t good enough to call for help?
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2006 The Empty Chair (Star Trek) vii. 112
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Diane Duane
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How like him to think of me, Arrhae thought, and touched the control that would connect her to the old man’s private commset.
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2016 Prometheus & the Dragon viii. 62
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Eric Michael Craig
He always wore a comset and would talk to Mia.
Research requirements
antedating 1950
Earliest cite
Judith Merril, in Future
Research History
Clive Shergold submitted a number of cites.
Last modified 2026-06-03 13:08:34
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