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" I think that computers today allow us one last opportunity to provide something like a level playingfield in America."
- William Gibson
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| FTL | ||
| Abbreviation for "faster than light". |
As far as I know, this is the first use of the abbreviation FTL.
| “You fly fast, Elven.”
“Faster than any of your hunters,” Elven agreed softly without looking around, and added, “FTL” —meaning Faster Than Light. “You fly far, Elven. Tens of light years,” the wounded voice continued. “Scores,” Elven corrected. “Yet I speak to you, Elven.” “But you don’t know where I am. I came on a blind reach through deep sub-space. And your FTL radio can take no fix. You are shouting at infinity, Fedris.” sisted, “you must finally go to ground, and then we will search you out.” |
| From The Enchanted Forest,
by Fritz Leiber. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1950 Additional resources -
|
Compare to faster than light from Islands of Space (1931) by John W. Campbell, which is (as far as I know) the earliest use of the phrase "faster than light".
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'THE red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court...'
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
'Do you know what window washing used to cost by the hour?'
'Once the target is confirmed, it uses an IR laser to send a coded signal back to the parent, clearing it to attack.'
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'
'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'
'From the tower's huge octagonal base radiate wide silvery strips...'
'It was about five feet long... a black bullet head and red camera eyes.'
'The Law Society has strict rules on the use of pseudo-intelligent software...'
