posthuman n.

a (hypothetical) descendant of humans who is sufficiently different from present-day humans in form or capabilities to be regarded as a new species or otherwise fundamentally different from present-day humans; (also) a human who has been genetically or bionically augmented; cf. earlier posthuman adj.

SF Encyclopedia


  • 1954 D. F. Galouye Secret of the Immortals in Imagination Apr. 65/2 page image Daniel F. Galouye bibliography

    Vella was normal! The realization was a horror in Berek’s mind. He and Alarn, besides Osad, were the only two post-humans. She had not completed the natural metamorphosis and could still die!

  • 1985 B. Sterling Schismatrix 26 Bruce Sterling bibliography

    I've met many borderline posthumans in my day, but never one of you.

  • 1986 D. Moffitt Second Genesis 321 Donald Moffitt bibliography

    He smiled at Mim and squeezed the hand clasping his. Methuselah pressed against his leg. Humans and posthumans drew closer together to share an ancient tribal comfort.

  • 1991 L. Olsen Shadow of Spirit in William Gibson’s Matrix Trilogy in Extrapolation Fall 279 Lance Olsen

    The posthuman becomes, to use the title from Anthony Burgess’s 1963 protocyberpunk novel, a clockwork orange.

  • 2002 C. Stross Tourist in Asimov’s Science Fiction Feb. 18 page image Charles Stross bibliography

    Manfred is a core team member; losing him at this point could be more than embarrassing. Besides, he’s a friend—as such things go for posthumans.

  • 2002 D. Danvers Watch xviii. 293 Dennis Danvers bibliography

    But he’s no android. Anchee is a post-human.

  • 2003 A. M. Steele The Madwoman of Shuttlefield in Asimov’s Science Fiction May 70 page image Allen Steele bibliography

    A Savant: a posthuman who had once been flesh and blood until he'd relinquished his humanity to have his mind downloaded into cyborg form, becoming an immortal intellect.

  • 2006 N. Asher Polity Agent xv. 363 Neal Asher bibliography

    The reality, he felt sure, was that the AIs were the genuine post-humans.

Research requirements

antedating 1954
Earliest cite

D. F. Galouye, in Imagination
Research History
Rick Hauptmann submitted a 2002 cite from Charles Stross' "Tourist".
Malcolm Farmer submitted a cite from a 1986 reprint of Bruce Sterling's "Schismatrix"; Douglas Winston verified the cite in the 1985 first edition.
Jeff Prucher submitted a 1991 cite from Lance Olson's "The Shadow of Spirit in William Gibson's Matrix Trilogy" in Extrapolation.
Katrina Campbell submitted a 2002 cite from an article by Adam Nathan in the Sunday Times.
Ralf Brown located and Fred Galvin verified a 1986 cite from Donald Moffitt's "Second Genesis".
Jeff Prucher submitted a 2003 cite from Allen Steele's "The Madwoman of Shuttlefield".
Jesse Sheidlower submitted a 1954 cite from Daniel F. Galouye's "Secret of the Immortals", in Imagination.

Last modified 2020-12-21 13:22:48
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.