planetquake n.
seismic activity on the surface of a planet, especially one other than Earth
Science
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1887
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But why should Jupiter and Saturn exercise such a particular influence on the earth when they attain these longitudes? M. Delauney answers that when in those longitudes the planets encounter meteor swarms, and just as earthquakes are rather numerous in November, when the earth passes through a meteor stream, so they reach a maximum when either of the planets undergoes the same experience. By strict parity of reasoning, it is planet-quakes that ought to ensue upon these conditions, not earthquakes; but to a bold theorist like M. Delauney that is a trifle.
Earthquake Warnings in Murray’s Magazine June 817 -
1934 S.O.S. from Saturn in Scoops 12 May 414/3
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A. M. Low
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Blowed if that ain’t the limit. What are you fellows getting at? A trip to a great world like Saturn to settle a couple of planet-quakes? What do you think Saturn is—a ship in distress?
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1941
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Milton A. Rothman
The hyperspatial transition—and what it means! This planetquake between two planets that exist simultaneously across hyperspace—portions of each planet changing position!
Convention of 1960 in Milty’s Mag June 5 -
1954
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Kendell Foster Crossen
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If there had been any doubt that J. Barnaby Cruikshank was up to something, his appearance would have removed it. Normally, any interference with the slumber of the president of Greater Solarian would have resulted in an explosion of temper like a major planet-quake. Instead, however, he was staring out of the screen with the benign expression of an indulgent uncle.
Agile Algolian in Thrilling Wonder Stories Winter ii. 69/2 -
1965
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Fred Saberhagen
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You are an accident, like a planet-quake, like a pellet of dust hitting a ship near light-speed.
Masque of Red Shift in If Nov. iii. 41/2 -
1970
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Miriam Allen deFord
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Nobody knew why he was laughing, but nobody could stop. It was a catharsis, a volcanic eruption, a planetquake, a tidal wave, all rolled into one. It swallowed tension and fear and prejudice and hatred.
Fun-Nee in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Mar. 91/2 -
1977
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Anne Elizabeth Zeek
An impact missile, exploding on contact with the planet’s surface just outside the force-field, had hit a geophysical fault In the underlying sub-strata and had set off a minor planetquake.
Cytherean Cycle in Time Warp (#1) iv. 100 -
1988
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Agnes drank tea and I ate cookies while Grandmother began to talk. What effect would seven moons have on a small planet? What intelligence would develop in a species without foe? Could anv creature adjust to perpetual planetquake? I remember the absorption in her voice as she put the planet together from her not inconsiderable knowledge of science and her much greater, I suspect, knowledge of science fiction.
Men v. 56 -
1995
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Rebecca Maines
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St. George of Kputkp, born George Morville in Bradbury, Mars, July 12, 2812 [...] offered himself for martyrdom in the manner of St. Elisabeth Altgeld, whose canonization he championed, as aid to the starving population after a series of planetquakes jeopardized the peaceful civilization of Kputkp.
Canterbury Path in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Aug. 26 -
2000
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Nancy Kress
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The three of them scuttled backward. Bazargan tried not to think what might happen if the wave caused a planetquake and the cave collapsed.
Probability Moon xxix. 312 -
2017
Karina Cooper
Jason M. Hough
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This, Sloane reluctantly agreed, probably merited a chat. Maybe even an honest-to-God meeting. Supplies were a problem that loomed like an overdue planetquake, just distant enough that everyone knew it was coming, yet no one wanted to do anything about it.
Nexus Uprising xvii. 248
Research requirements
antedating 1887
Earliest cite
John A. Westwood Oliver, ‘Earthquake Warnings’
Research History
Suggested, and most cites submitted, by Bee Ostrowsky.
Last modified 2022-09-30 16:57:06
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.