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
"I would say 75% of the economy is now being run by ex-science-fiction fans."
- Greg Bear
 |
| Gobathian | ||
| An alien medical technology that enables full body healing in the event of traumatic injury. |
In the novel, human beings "travel" mentally to distant planets, picking up bits of alien knowledge and technology to bring back.
| The doctor reached the door. He stooped with his stethoscope placed against the mummy, then stepped back from the bed. "He's dead," said Blaine. "His breathing stopped and it was a longtime --" "Yes, he's dead. He never had a chance. Even with gobathian he didn't have a chance." "Gobathian? That was what you used? That was why he was all wrapped up?" "He was broken," said the doctor. "Like a toy someone had thrown on the floor and stepped on. What you do you know about gobathian?" he asked. "I've heard of it," said Blaine. "An alien drug," the doctor said. "Used by an insect race. A warring insect race. And it's done miracles. It can patch up a smashed and broken body. It can repair bones and organs. It can grow new tissue." |
| Technovelgy from Time is the Simplest Thing,
by Clifford Simak. Published by Doubleday in 1961 Additional resources -
|
For another view on remarkable healing techniques, see atlotl/gibiril regimen from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert.
Compare to the emergency treatment tank from Agent of Vega (1949) by James Schmitz, the
regeneration tank from Contagion (1950) by Katherine MacLean, the surgical homeostatic unit from Now Wait For Last Year (1966) by Philip K. Dick, the autodoc from The Warriors (1966) by Larry Niven, the diagnostat from The Man in the Maze (1969) by Robert Silverberg, electronic body analyzer from The Andromeda Strain (1969) by Michael Crichton, the crechepod from The Godmakers (1972) by Frank Herbert and the autosurgeon from Altered Carbon (2003) by Richard Morgan.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Time is the Simplest Thing
More Ideas
and Technology by Clifford Simak
Tech news articles related to Time is the Simplest Thing
Tech news articles related to works by Clifford Simak
Gobathian-related
news articles:
- Fracture Putty For Compound Fractures - DARPA
- DARPA's Restorative Injury Repair Dream
- Stem Cells From Fat May Heal Bones
- Veti-Gel Closes Wounds, Starts Healing
- XSTAT 30 - Plugs Wounds In 15 Seconds!
- 'Living Bandage' For Knee Injuries
- Bees Royal Jelly Helps Wounds Heal Faster
- Bioreactor Helps Legless Frogs Get Their Jump Back
| Octopus Suckers Inspire Transdermal Patches |
| 'Droplet' Battery Microscale Power Pack |
| Who Needs Asimov's 'Proteus' When You Can Have Pangolins? |
| Self-Powered Piezoelectric Nanotattoos |
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> |
|
|
|
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
'Then they press one of these here thirteen buttons...'
'You're a stable, rock-bottom mining robot, except that you're equipped to handle six subsidiaries in direct coordination...'
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
'It radiates outward in a cone which, by the time it has reached our section of space, is many lightyears across.'
'Drake was the young spatial engineer he employed to terraform the little rock.'
'... with a weird simulation of life, the ten forked ends of each arm commenced a rattling pressing of the buttons.'
'Each of the four areas is enclosed by a sonic wall...'
