otherspace n.

any of various types of space, as hyperspace or subspace, subject to different physical laws than our own; cf. realspace n.

Dimensions

  • [1935 J. W. Campbell, Jr. Mightiest Machine in Astounding Stories Jan. 131/2 page image John W. Campbell, Jr. bibliography

    We are in another space. I know why were are in this particular other space, too. This space is in a sort of strained condition already.]

  • 1937 A. L. Zagat Cavern of the Shining Pool in Thrilling Wonder Stories Oct. 78/2 page image Arthur Leo Zagat bibliography

    ‘There it is, straight ahead. Look.’ And so it was, shimmering discreetly, a vague intangible veil across the black curtain of this other-space.

  • 1938 H. Walton Below—Absolute! in Astounding Science-Fiction June 26/2 page image Harry Walton bibliography

    [I]f we’re near the limits of our space, what space is beyond? [...] It can best be designated as other-space. No comparison is possible on a physical basis, since matter, the measuring rod of the space which it bends around itself, is always peculiar to that space and not transferable to an alien continuum. Were you to enter our space, you and your ship would be annihilated.

  • 1949 ‘M. Leinster’ Black Galaxy in Startling Stories Mar. vii. 36/2 page image Murray Leinster bibliography

    Restlessly he set the tractor-beams—those not in use for anchorage—to fan out in all directions through this other-space. Practically nothing was known as yet about the dark universe. Light traveled faster there and inertia was less. Incredible speeds were possible. So much was known, and nothing else. The other-space could be a mere incalculable emptiness, without the most minute particle of substance anywhere in it. [Ibid. viii. 41/2] The force-field generators were intended only to drop the Stellaris into other-space but I designed them so they could be changed. And I just changed them. I had them spread out to make a spherical field a half-mile across—well beyond our hull. So when they went on, they dropped the pyramid-ship and everything else within a quarter-mile into other-space with us.

  • 1953 ‘L. Padgett’ Well of the Worlds 90 page image Henry Kuttner bibliography

    It must be simply an absolutely adaptable form of matter, capable of instant adaptation to whatever type of matter exists in whatever otherspace Khom’ad drifts through.

  • 1958 D. Berry Intruder in Venture Science Fiction Mar. 75/2 page image Don Berry bibliography

    Nobody really knows what goes on in Otherspace, if anything. We just know we can plug a ship into it for a microsecond and come out fourteen hundred light years away from where we started.

  • 1964 K. Bulmer The Contraption in Science Fantasy June–July 37 page image Kenneth Bulmer bibliography

    Everything went on in this otherspace at a steady, sedate speed relative to other objects—that they were hurdling the parsecs in moments in true space meant nothing.

  • 1991 G. Zebrowski Stranger Suns in Amazing Stories Mar. 119 page image George Zebrowski bibliography

    Juan tensed, expecting the shift into otherspace.

  • 1999 M. Armstrong Recalled to Home in Asimov’s Science Fiction Apr. 62 page image Michael Armstrong bibliography

    Why would they spend those kind of resources on an Otherspace message? They’re cheap bastards.

  • 2002 D. Duane Wizard Alone 63 page image Diane Duane bibliography

    Kit grinned, picked up the manual, stuck it into the ‘pocket’ of otherspace that he kept things in for his wizardly work, and went after him.

  • 2009 D. Wallace Star Wars: The Essential Atlas 121/2 page image

    Hyperspace is an alternate dimension (similar to subspace and otherspace) accessible only through hyperdrive technology.


Research requirements

antedating 1937

Last modified 2023-01-25 20:31:24
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.