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
"We follow the scientists around and look over their shoulders. They're watching their feet: provable mistakes are bad for them. We're looking as far ahead as we can, and we don't get penalized for mistakes."
- Larry Niven
 |
| Life Tubes | ||
| Escape pods for space ships. |
A unique term for this idea.
| Scarcely had the allotted time elapsed when the Swan lay in position to grapple and board the derelict. That she was deserted there was not the slightest doubt. There was not the least sign of life about her. Yet were the passengers and crew aboard her — dead? What about the tell-tale life tubes? Quickly examining the sides of the big ship, Captain Val Cameron noted the empty pockets. Then the ship was abandoned! They had taken to the tubes. But the life tubes were risky in the meteor-infested heavens at this time of the year. Although equipped like the mother ship, they were not nearly so strong and their ability to maneuver out of the onrushing meteor cluster was questionable.
 (Life Tube from 'Liners of Space' by Jim Vanny) The anxiety was telling on Cameron. And to add to his worries the meteoric shower was becoming worse and the Swan was in constant danger. The crew of the silver air vessel were striving to find a hole in the storm through which they might pursue their search. Then it came with a startling abruptness. Driscoll gave a cry and pointed to the screen. There it was — number 12 life tube — lying a thousand miles astern. In a few minutes the Swan had drawn up alongside the tube. But as the two men from the Swan boarded the little craft, their eyes met that same scene of desolation that they had. encountered upon her mother ship. A quick test showed she had oxygen — plenty of it. And yet, across the floor of the car were the bodies of Jackson and Manning. Could the vessel have been deserted for some reason? The crew might have mutinied, and left her in the life-tubes. She might have been robbed by pirates, and set adrift. But with the space lanes policed as they were, piracy and successful mutiny were rare. |
| Technovelgy from Liners of Space,
by Jim Vanny. Published by Air Wonder Stories in 1930 Additional resources -
|
Jack Williamson uses the same term in his 1933 classic Salvage in Space:
Compare to the lifeboat from Spacehounds of IPC (1931) by 'Doc' Smith, the escapecraft from The Ethical Equations (1945) by Murray Leinster, the
emergency space-boat from Revolt of the Star Men (1932) by Raymond Z. Gallun, the manshell from Sunward Flight (1943) by Leo Zagat, the escape pod from Star Wars (1976) by George Lucas, the survival bubble from Footfall (1985) by Niven & Pournelle, the life ship from The Invisible World by Ed Earl Repp, the deceleration chambers from The Storm (1943) by AE van Vogt and the emergency lifeboats from Triplanetary (1934) by 'Doc' Smith.
Could the vessel have been deserted for some reason? The crew might
have mutinied, and left her in the life-tubes. She might have been
robbed by pirates, and set adrift. But with the space lanes policed as
they were, piracy and successful mutiny were rare.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Liners of Space
More Ideas
and Technology by Jim Vanny
Tech news articles related to Liners of Space
Tech news articles related to works by Jim Vanny
| The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds |
| Will Space Stations Have Large Interior Spaces Again? |
| Reflect Orbital Offers 'Sunlight on Demand' And Light Pollution |
| Chrysalis Generation Ship to Alpha Centauri |
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
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...'
'Jason had been guiding the caravan of cars as usual...'
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...'
