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"[Science fiction] is the one literary medium left in which we have a free hand. We can do any damn thing we please."
- Alfred Bester
 |
| Standish | ||
| A beam weapon of frightful intensity. |
Considering the fact that lasers had not yet been invented, this seems like a pretty good description of what a military-grade laser cannon might look like in 2010.
| Going up to a blank wall, he manipulated an almost invisible dial set flush with it surface, swung a heavy door aside, and lifted out the Standish - a fearsome weapon. Squat, huge, and heavy, it resembled somewhat an overgrown machine rifle, but one possessing a thick, short telescope, with several opaque condensing lenses and parabolic reflectors...
He set his peculiar weapon down, unfolded its three massive legs, crouched down behind it, and threw in a switch. Dull red beams of frightful intensity shot from the reflectors and sprks, almost of lightening proportions, leaped from the shielding screen under their impact. |
| From Triplanetary,
by E.E. 'Doc' Smith. Published by Not known in 1934 Additional resources -
|
If you are interested in exotic weapon technologies, consider taking a look at the fictional neutron disruption blaster or the real-life Active Denial Technology Directed Energy Weapon.
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