Sail 25 (Gateway to Strangeness) by Jack Vance:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

“Henry Belt seemed a man of a different species. His face was broad, flat, roped with cartilage and muscle, with skin the color and texture of bacon rind. Coarse white grizzle covered his scalp, his eyes were crafty slits, his nose a misshapen lump. His shoulders were massive, his legs short and gnarled.”

“He leaned back in his chair, surveyed the silent group. “You’ve heard stories about me. Why haven’t they kicked me out of the service? Incorrigible, arrogant, dangerous Henry Belt. Drunken Henry Belt.”

“The voyages average about two years long: how can a man stand it? There’s only one who could: Henry Belt. I’ve got more space-time than any man alive, and now I’ll tell you a secret: this is my last time out. I’m starting to wake up at night to strange visions.”


('Gateway to Strangeness (Sail 25)' by Jack Vance)

Select an invention:

Solar Sail (Light Sail) - propulsion for spacecraft
A form of propulsion for spacecraft; a sheet of lightweight material reflects light from the sun or other light source.

 

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds
re: Harl VIncent
(1/23/2026)

Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements
re: James Cameron
(1/3/2026)

Boring Company Drills Asimov's Single Vehicle Tunnels
re: Isaac Asimov
(1/1/2026)

Humanoid Robots Tickle The Ivories
re: Herbert Goldstone
(12/29/2025)

A Remarkable Coincidence
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(12/27/2025)

Cortex 1 - Today A Warehouse, Tomorrow A Calculator Planet
re: Clifford Simak
(12/25/2025)

Perching Ambush Drones
re: Philip K. Dick
(12/23/2025)

Leader-Follower Autonomous Vehicle Technology
re: Gordon R. Dickson
(12/21/2025)

Golf Ball Test Robot Wears Them Out
re: Frederik Pohl
(12/19/2025)

Boring Company Vegas Loop Like Asimov Said
re: Isaac Asimov
(12/17/2025)

Rigid Metallic Clothing From Science Fiction To You
re: Edmond Hamilton
(12/15/2025)

Is The Seattle Ultrasonics C-200 A Heinlein Vibroblade?
re: Robert Heinlein
(12/13/2025)

Roborock Saros Z70 Is A Robot Vacuum With An Arm
re: Robert Heinlein
(12/11/2025)

A Beautiful Visualization Of Compact Food
re: Edward Page Mitchell
(12/9/2025)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.