Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Latest By
Category:


Armor
Artificial Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work

"People are choosing to allow television and Electronic Arts to do all their imagining for them."
- Peter Watts

Food Pills  
  A substitute for ordinary nutrition.  

As far as I know, the first reference for "food pills" although there are earlier references to the idea (see below).

In Moonland the only food is pills. Every day the Official Feeders visit every house and every member of the household is put on the weighing machine. If the person is above the standard weight, he or she is left without food until reduced to the lawful standard. If the person is below the standard weight, he or she is stuffed with pills until he or she just turns the scale.

In Moonland everybody, with the exceptions I will mention, has to go to bed and get up at the same hour, to wear similar clothing, to walk the same distances, and to do precisely the same amount of work. In order that there may be mental as well as physical equality everybody has to read the same books, to hear the same music, to listen to the same speeches, and to talk precisely the same talk. There is a Conversation Gazette, and the people are not allowed to hold any conversation except that which is set forth in the official journal. The only musical instruments are barrel organs which play the same tunes.

The exceptions, those who are not bound to obey the laws for the enforcement of equality, are the President, the members of the Council, and the officials. They may be fat or thin; they do not swallow the food pills they prescribe for the people, but eat and drink what they like; and they are free to do as it pleases them with regard to reading, talking, and amusement. Yet when they speak to the people they always talk about the beauty and blessing of equality, and about the cruelty and wickedness of inequality. Perhaps the people are not aware of the neglect of the laws of equality by those who make and enforce them, for in the presence of the President, or of a member of the Council, or of an official, the people are ordered to shut their eyes and open their ears, and they do so. If now and then a citizen neglects the rule the leaders throw dust in his eyes. Sometimes indeed the people are allowed to open their eyes in the presence of leaders or officials, but on those occasions they are compelled to wear very thick rose-coloured spectacles.

Technovelgy from A Strange Trip, by John Baker Hopkins.
Published by Tinsley's Magazine in 1885
Additional resources -

Compare to the compact food pastilles from The Senator's Daughter (1879) by Edward Page Mitchell.

Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from A Strange Trip
  More Ideas and Technology by John Baker Hopkins
  Tech news articles related to A Strange Trip
  Tech news articles related to works by John Baker Hopkins

Articles related to Food
Holland Factory 3D Printing 500 Tons Of Steak Per Month
Robochef Robotic Food Prep
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
SliceIt! Why Not Teach Robots To Use Knives?

Want to Contribute an Item? It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add it here.

<Previous
Next>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Science Fiction in the News

Nuclear Plant Restarted To Power AI To Feed Us Dreams
'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'

SpaceX's Starman Tesla Roadster In Space
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'

Pivotal Blackfly Electric Aircraft Lifts And Hovers
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'

CORLEO Robotic Horse Concept Looks Ready To Ride
Imagine digging your heels in to a steam horse!

Who First Thought Of A Tin Foil Hat?
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'

Warp Drive Tech Back On The Menu
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'

Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
Why can't we get more innovative phone configurations?

Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'

Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'

JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

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

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.