Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Triplanetary is the first in E. E. "Doc" Smith's series of six Lensman books; this novel provides necessary background information for the grand space-opera that follows. The patient reader will learn how the good-guy Arisians and the bad-guy Eddorians battled it out over eons. These novels set the standard for many other writers, including Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy. Select an invention:

3D Tank Display
A transparent cube showing a three-dimensional display.

Ablative Heat (Reentry) Shield - very early reference
A single-use shield or covering designed to accept the heat of reentry and burn off.

Acceleration-tank - very early reference
A water-filled tank used to ease the strains of acceleration.

Artificial Planet - before the Death Star
A very large constructed object in space.

Bergenholm Drive
A device that renders a spaceship free of inertia.

Cone of Battle - the ultimate weapon
An offensive formation of space ships providing the ultimate in firepower.

Deep-Space - my dwelling place
Typically refers to the vast empty regions of interstellar space.

Emergency Lifeboat - very early space rescue vehicle
A small craft used as a bail-out vehicle from a large space station or spacecraft.

Ether-Wall - an invisibility field.
An invisibility field.

Flying Wing - Northrup's all-metal dream
A V-shaped plane capable of flight to the edge of the atmosphere.

Inertialess Drive
Faster-than-light travel achieved!

Ingestible Communication Capsule - only in emergencies
A tiny transmitter that can be swallowed, which makes possible voice communication.

Invisibility Shield
A means of concealing a physical object to the naked eye.

Lewiston
Standard blaster pistol with terrifying power.

Moving a Planet - early use of idea
Early use of the concept of moving a planet to a new sun.

Platinum Alloy Disc - first CD or DVD?
A silvery disc used for data record storage.

Protective Shield - personal force field
An energy shield for one person.

Radio-Dirigible Torpedo
A drone missile that is controlled remotely by an operator.

Spy Ray Goggles - see through walls
A form of radiation that can penetrate walls to allow the user to 'see' what is happening on the other side.

Standish - a mean beam of energy
A beam weapon of frightful intensity.

Ultrawave - FTL communication
A means of faster-than-light (FTL) communication.

 

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