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

"Science fiction is what scientists would do if they could - if they had enough grant money, enough time, and enough brains to do the wonderful things they would like to do."
- Greg Bear

Crystal Cylinder Ship  
  A transparent space ship in the shape of a cylinder.  

Winifred gasped, and the professor gave a grunt of astonishment. Grant and I could only stare. Could that be a dirigible balloon, that vast thing looming there before us? Something scuttled across the rocks behind me with a metallic scratching. I whirled about and stared. Nothing could be seen in the darkness. Abruptly a brilliant glow burst from the massive thing before us as lights inside it were snapped on, revealing a long, vast, glittering cylinder of transparent crystal.

It lay horizontally in the air, like a vast zeppelin with one end touching our hilltop beside the building. An entrance port in the bow stood open...


(The cylindrical crystal ship)

Everything outside was plainly visible to us through the transparent walls, even the laboratory building forward, and the night sky back of it with its paling stars. Only the inner portion of the cylinder, which extended its full length, was opaque, veiled by smoky-hued crystal.

Technovelgy from The Three Suns of Ev, by Edwin K. Sloat.
Published by Amazing Stories in 1933
Additional resources -

Here's a taste of life inside a transparent ship:

Crimson light that streamed back from the bow of the space ship claimed my attention. I stared and gasped in admiration. Lying far ahead of us in the void was a brilliant, crimson sun that shot its fiery streamers far into space. It was stupendous, overpowering. In what portion of the heavens could there be such a star?

Compare to the transparent spherical ship from The Emperor of the Stars (1931) by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat).

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

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from The Three Suns of Ev
  More Ideas and Technology by Edwin K. Sloat
  Tech news articles related to The Three Suns of Ev
  Tech news articles related to works by Edwin K. Sloat

Crystal Cylinder Ship-related news articles:
  - Triple Star System Tears Apart Its Planetary Disk

Articles related to Space Tech
Will Space Stations Have Large Interior Spaces Again?
Reflect Orbital Offers 'Sunlight on Demand' And Light Pollution
Chrysalis Generation Ship to Alpha Centauri
The First Space Warship For Space Force

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

Jetson ONE Air Races Begin, Can Air Polo Be Far Behind?
'If you're one of those rarities who haven't attended a rocket-polo "carnage", let me tell you it's a colorful affair.'

Will Space Stations Have Large Interior Spaces Again?
'They filed clumsily into the battleroom, like children in a swimming pool for the first time, clinging to the handholds along the side.'

Mornine Sales Robot
'Robot-salesmen were everywhere, gesturing...'

Bipedal Robot Floats Gently While Walking
'a walking balloon proceeded with long strides of its aluminum legs...'

Elegant Bivouac Shelter Produces Water And Electricity
'There was nowhere on the planet where science and technology could not provide one with a comfortable home...'

X-Control Janus-1 A Suitcase Aircraft
'You will notice that it... fits the suitcase nicely.'

'AI Assistants' Are Actually Less Reliable For News
'Most men updated their PIP on New Year's Day...'

YES!! Remote Teleoperated Robots predicted by Technovelgy!
'...a misshapen, many-tentacled thing about twice the size of a man.'

Will Robots Ever Fold Landry?
Where have you gone, Mrs. Robinson?

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.