groundcar n.
a car incapable of flight (in contrast with an aircar n.)
Vehicles
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1930
page image
John W. Campbell, Jr.
bibliography
Now the four habitable planets were at once settled upon. Already they had been carefully mapped, and the Supreme Council had drawn up a plan for the use of the vast planets. More area there was than they needed now, by far, so the cities were scattered widely over the globes. Mere planetary distances meant nothing to them. And all the areas between were carefully preserved as vast, natural parks. Through them wound roads for the little ground cars, so that the people might better see the beauties of the place. And some of the harmless animals would be permitted to live that the future population might know them.
The Voice of the Void in Amazing Stories Quarterly Summer 400/1 -
1937
Edward E. Smith
I will return in three hours, as well before sunset the wind makes it impossible to get even a ground car into the port.
in Astounding Stories Nov. 136/1
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1951
Isaac Asimov
They've come…in a last-model ground car, the young pups.
Foundation Trilogy–Foundation .i. 80
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1958
Planes, submarines, ground cars, air conditioning date back—in ideas laid out in detail drawings—to Leonardo da Vinci.
Third Galaxy Reader 14
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1970
Frank Herbert
‘Why didn’t you bring us by aircar?’ ‘People here on Cordiality are used to seeing me in a groundcar unless I'm on official business and require speed.’
in Worlds of If Science Fiction Jan. 16/1
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1970
Anne McCaffrey
A ground car zipped out from the direction of the massive Control and Barracks complex.
Ship who Sang (1991) iii. 54
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1982
Isaac Asimov
There were other ground-cars moving in both directions and an occasional air-car above, but Pelorat was studying the trees.
Foundation's Edge (1991) 221
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1984
Robert Silverberg
A few groundcars were parked at the airstrip.
Waiting for Earthquake in R. Silverberg Conglomeroid Cocktail Party (1984) 207
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1986
Lois McMaster Bujold
With the doctor on one side and her mother on the other, she dwelt in Vorkosigan’s kiss all during the long walk to her mother’s ground car.
Shards of Honour (1988) 223
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1990
Anne McCaffrey
Elizabeth Moon
bibliography
Trailing a ship through FTL space was, Sassinak thought, like following a groundcar through thick forest at night without using headlights.
Sassinak (1991) 149
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1990
Anne McCaffrey
Elizabeth Moon
bibliography
Lieutenant Commander Huron, I'm sure you wouldn’t listen to idle gossip…any more than I would listen to gossip about you and your passion for groundcar racing.
Sassinak 141
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1991
Lois McMaster Bujold
Not north toward their goal, but due south first, by groundcar into the next loyal District.
Barrayer 284
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2004
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Linda Evans
John Ringo
bibliography
As he watched people jumping out of groundcars to greet them, newly arrived from their orbital transport, he couldn’t help wondering how many of them would hate him by the end of his mission.
Road to Damascus ii. 19
Research requirements
antedating 1930
Earliest cite
J. W. Campbell
Research History
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from Isaac Asimov's "Evidence", which Mike Christie verified in the original 1946 magazine appearance.Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a reprint of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation and Empire"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the original 1945 magazine appearance.
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from E. E. Smith's "Gray Lensman" which Mike Christie verified in the original 1940 magazine appearance.
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a 1981 reprint of Larry Niven's "Ringworld"; Treesong verified the cite in the 1970 first edition.
Dan Tilque submitted a 1991 cite from Lois McMaster Bujold's "Barrayar".
Dan Tilque submitted a cite from a reprint of E.E. Smith's "Galactic Patrol"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1937 first magazine appearance.
Michael Dolbear submitted a cite from a 1988 reprint of Lois McMaster Bujold's "Shards of Honour".
Enoch Forrester submitted a 1958 cite from Horace Gold.
Mike Christie submitted a 1970 cite from Frank Herbert's "Whipping Star".
Katrina Campbell submitted a cite from a 1991 reprint of Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon's 1990 "Sassinak""; Michael Dolbear subsequently verified the cite in the 1990 first edition.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1930 cite from J. W. Campbell.
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2004 cite from Linda Evans and John Ringo.
Last modified 2021-02-11 22:17:51
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
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