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"I can remember when the first pulsars were discovered. I was able to go and sit down and listen to graduate students talking about what their theories, to explain what pulsars really were."
- Vernor Vinge
 |
| Laser Rifle | ||
| A laser weapon shaped (and fired) like a traditional rifle. |
As far as I know, this is the first reference to the term "laser rifle." Obviously, there were many precursors in the form of pistols (like Raymond Gallun's 1937 proton pistol) or rifles that fired an energy beam.
| The Iranian reached back into the locker and got a pair of laserifles. |
| Technovelgy from Door to Anywhere,
by Poul Anderson. Published by Galaxy Magazine in 1966 Additional resources -
|
You might be interested in several other early "energy weapons" - the Electric rifle from Tom Swift and the leyden ball from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Take a look at a modern-day laser rifle (as well as a nice picture of a sixties "phaser rifle" in the article Military sets PHASR on stun.
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Door to Anywhere
More Ideas
and Technology by Poul Anderson
Tech news articles related to Door to Anywhere
Tech news articles related to works by Poul Anderson
Laser Rifle-related
news articles:
- ZKZM-500 LASER Assault Rifle
| Has Turkey Been Stealing Rain From Iran? |
| We Need To Build Anti-Drone Systems For Civilian Spaces |
| Bullet Steers Itself! The Advanced Low-Cost Munitions Ordnance ALaMO |
| Russians Think US Is Weaponizing Asteroids |
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'... making the point that their likenesses, every move they made, were being transmitted.'
'But the stars are only atoms in larger space, and in that larger space the star-atoms could combine to form living matter, thinking matter, couldn't they?'
'...to build up a video picture would require, say, ten million decisions every second. Mike, you're so fast I can't even think about it. But you aren't that fast.'
'The area affected was five hundred kilometres across, and perfectly circular.'
'Hasan always pitched a Gauzy - a one-molecule-layer tent, opaque, feather-light, and very tough.'
'And he had been sent with troops, supplies and bombs to command Russia's most trusted post, the Moonbase.'
'What is your population', I asked. 'About eighty millions.'
'THE autobus turned silently down the wide street of Hydropole. Robot-guided, insulated from noise and cold...'
