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 think we're still on that topic, still trying to figure out what computers are, how they change us, why we use them."
- Neal Stephenson
 |
| Cosmo-Craft | ||
| A spacecraft for traveling through time and space. |
| Occupying almost the entire floor
of the shed was a long, torpedolike object of silvery and' symmetric beauty. It flashed and shone even in the artificial light. “Pretty, isn’t she? I’ve named her the Ellen** said Web proudly. “She took a year and a half to build. But step inside and I’ll show you something else.” He pressed a spot on the torpedo’s side. A door swung outward, letting them into a narrow corridor. Web opened a second door and they stood inside.
 ('A Race Through Time' by Donald Wandrei) “Double-walled against friction-heat and accident,” he said, as if that explained everything. He next proceeded to point out all the internal features, and how every inch of space had its purpose. Cushioned walls, oxygen apparatus, food and water storerooms, dial-board and cosmic ray-telepathic mirror, power chambers and sleeping bunks for two — an amazing total for so small a space, and yet nothing except essentials. “Why, it’s a thing of beauty in every detail !” cried Ellen... WEB WENT ahead with his preparations and began stocking his cosmo-craft with everything he would need, and a few extras that might be of value. |
| Technovelgy from A Race Through Time,
by Donald Wandrei. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1933 Additional resources -
|
Why build such a craft?
‘T’m going out to the abysses beyond our known universe, to the great nebulae that lie at the limit of our most powerful telescopes, and the black voids, and the deeps that continue forever and ever — out to the eternal and infinite cosmos whose nature we don’t know. Light never traveled as fast as I’ll travel — a million miles a second and more, a billion miles, maybe. Think of it, Ellen, a billion miles in a second! Past the Moon and Venus and Mars and Jupiter and Saturn in one short second! Astronomical distances? They’ll mean nothing to me! Barring accidents, I can accelerate my speed to rates I hardly even dare guess at, but I’ve figured them out, and they’re frightening.”
“But I built this boat for a bigger purpose than just traveling from here to the Moon or Mars or Venus, Ellen. I built it for the biggest purpose possible — to conquer time and space together. I’m going out, far out in space, beyond the solar system, into the void, and on through the galactic universe. I’m going farther than that, Ellen, where few men have dared even to think of going.” A light burned in his eyes, the light of the adventurer, the daredevil, the dreamer who has faith because he bases his dreams on facts.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from A Race Through Time
More Ideas
and Technology by Donald Wandrei
Tech news articles related to A Race Through Time
Tech news articles related to works by Donald Wandrei
| Europa Clipper Plate Carries A Special Message |
| China Wants To Build Mega Space Ships |
| Dream Of Building Your Own Rocket? |
| Used Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Will Fly Again |
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
'The leg was to function, in a way, as a servo-mechanism operated by Larry’s brain...'
'The observation vehicle was of that peculiar variety used in conveying a large number of people across rough terrain.'
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.'
'I ... set my automatic astronomical instruments to searching for a habitable planet.'
'...haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'
