Science Fiction Dictionary: Ideas, Terms and Technology
( 3878 Inventions Available)

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Device Name Book/Story Author Date
T.I.E. Fighter (Tie Fighter)
A highly maneuverable fighter spacecraft using an ion drive propulsion system.
Star Wars Lucas  1976
Tabletop Display
A display monitor built into a flat, horizontal table surface.
An Adventure in Time Flagg  1930
Tacspace
An augmented representation of space battles.
The Algebraist Banks  2004
Tagalong
A backpack with legs; a robot that will carry things for you and match your movements.
In the Bowl Varley  1976
Tag-Along Balloon
A bladder-like device that both finds and temporarily fixes leaks in moon tunnels or space station habitats.
Gentlemen, Be Seated Heinlein  1948
Talisman
Device that causes beings nearby to experience truth and peace; works only in the hands of rare adepts.
Way Station Simak  1963
Talking Bomb
A psychological warfare weapon that talks to the enemy.
Starship Troopers Heinlein  1959
Talking Head
A mechanical head (with an analog voice) used as the output terminal for a computer.
Neuromancer Gibson  1984
Talking Pamphlet
An instructional pamphlet that instructs you through ordinary speech.
Ellison Wonderland Ellison  1974
Talking Robot
An impractical robot, for display only.
Robbie Asimov  1940
Talking Speedometer
A gauge that tells you its value verbally
Biddiver Sturgeon  1941
Talking Tape
Adhesive-backed network connection, global positioning, voice synthesis and speakers.
Distraction Sterling  1998
Tand
A metal sculpture, made in contemplation, which has great meaning for the initiates.
The Dragon Masters Vance  1962
Tanglefoot Field
A force field that would not harm but merely entangle and stop anyone (or anything) caught in it.
The Star Beast Heinlein  1954
Tangler
Strong webbing in a tiny capsule, it expands to a net, capturing a suspect.
Logan's Run Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)  1967
Tanks
Device that provides mass storage of information.
A Logic Named Joe Leinster  1946
Tannin-Secretion Pills
Artificially darkens skin, for skin protection.
Crashlander Niven  1994
TANSTAAFL
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Heinlein  1966
Taper
A device that records details about a visit to a distant planet.
Time is the Simplest Thing Simak  1961
Tapeworm Tranquilizer
Robotic suppository dispenses tranquilizer.
Revolution from Rosinante Gilliland  1981
Taprisiot
A kind of symbiote, which attuned itself to the user, allowing an expansion of consciousness - telepathic communication anywhere in the galaxy in real time.
The Dosadi Experiment Herbert  1977
Taprisiot Monitor Bead
A small bead to be swallowed that allowed the thoughts of a person to be transmitted and recorded during a specified interval.
The Dosadi Experiment Herbert  1977
Tasp
A device that induces a current in the pleasure center of the brain, at a distance.
Ringworld Niven  1970
Tattletale
A device is attached to a criminal suspect, ensuring that his whereabouts are always known.
The Game Players of Titan Dick  1963
TBR (Talk Between Robots) Circuit
A special means of communications used by robots to speak with each other.
The Midas Plague Pohl  1954
Teaching Chair
No-frills teaching machine.
Rammer Niven  1991
Teaching Machine
A helmet placed on the head focuses illimitable knowledge into even the head of an earth man.
The Return of the Murians Schachner  1936
Teakettle
A standard rocket (uses hydrogen as a booster to leave the atmosphere).
Double Star Heinlein  1956
TechnoCore
A group of artificial intelligences with vast resources and the entirety of human dataspheres to access.
Hyperion Simmons  1989
Tectogenetic
Deliberate manipulation of genes to produce unique species.
Crisis in Utopia Knight  1940
Teddy
A very intelligent and highly mobile robotic teddy bear.
Super-Toys Last All Summer Long Aldiss  1969
Teddy Bear Robot
A special toy bear given to every child in the world.
I Always Do What Teddy Says Harrison  1965
Teep Rod
A device that gathers the thoughts of an individual.
Galactic Pot-Healer Dick  1969
Telaudiogram
An interplanetary communication method.
The World With A Thousand Moons Hamilton  1942
Telautograph
First fictional reference to a fax machine.
Ralph 124c 41 + Gernsback  1911
Tele-Audiovized Meeting
Teleconferencing done right.
Exiles of the Moon Schachner (w. AL Zagat)  1931
Telebook
A book made available in text on a television screen.
The Fun They Had Asimov  1951
Telechart
An interactive metal plate upon which were displayed celestial objects for interstellar navigation.
Crashing Suns Hamilton  1928
Telechronometer
A watch that synchronizes itself to a remote source.
Blowups Happen Heinlein  1940
Telectroscope
A much better telescope than yours.
Invaders From The Infinite Campbell  1932
Teledar
Three-dimensional television.
The Jester Tenn  1951
Telelubricator
Makes any surface or substance perfectly frictionless.
The Exhalted de Camp  1940
Telemedicine Apparatus
First reference to a device that allows physicians to examine or aid patients at a distance.
The Machine Stops Forster  1909
Tele-Motor-Coasters
Powered skates for personal transportation.
Ralph 124c 41 + Gernsback  1911
Teleoperated Beetle Car
A remotely-operated robotic vehicle that permitted telepresence.
Cities in Flight Blish  1957
Teleoperated Lab Robot
A robot is used to conduct experiments in an environment too extreme for humans.
Cities in Flight Blish  1957
Teleoperated Robot Surrogate
A robot that is entirely controlled remotely by a person who sees with the point of view of the robot.
The Robot and the Lady Wellman  1938
Telepadion Instructor
A device that places an entire sensory experience directly into the brain.
An Adventure on Eros Haggard  1931
Telepath Transmitter
A device for long distance communication that makes use of telepathy.
Agent of Vega Schmitz  1949
Telepathic Transmitter (Telep-transmitter)
A device using living alien tissue to transmit your thoughts.
We Can Remember It For You Wholesale Dick  1966
Telephone Funnel
A kind of two-way public loudspeaker.
The Messiah of the Cylinder Rousseau  1917
Telephonic Music Room
Places where a person could go, at any time, to share in musical performances happening at some distance away.
Looking Backward Bellamy  1888
Telephonoscope
A device that effectively transmits pictures and sound over long distances.
Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century) Robida  1882
Telephot
A device that combined the functions of telephone and television; a phone with a screen.
Ralph 124c 41 + Gernsback  1911
Telephotography
Sending pictures over a distance, displaying them on a vast screen.
The Cosmic Cloud Burgel  1931
Tele-Photophonic Attachment
A device that permits a telephone funnel to see as well as hear.
The Messiah of the Cylinder Rousseau  1917
Telepomp (Matter Transmission)
A device that transmitted matter from one place to another.
The Man Without a Body Mitchell  1877
Telepresence Bulldozer
A bulldozer on the Moon that is operated remotely by a driver on Earth.
Oath of Fealty Pournelle (w/L. Niven)  1981
Teleprinter
A device that printed out a copy of today's newspaper.
Four-Day Planet Piper  1961
Teleradio Control (Hand Flash)
A device that can call a vehicle to a driver; it drives itself in a near-autonomous fashion to the caller.
Exiles of the Moon Schachner (w. AL Zagat)  1931
Telescreen
Very early use of the idea of using technology to monitor human activity at a distance.
1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) Orwell  1948
Tele-Screen
A display screen for live events.
After Armageddon Flagg  1932
Telescribe
Creates a written record of distress signals and other reports.
A Question of Salvage Jameson  1939
Telesolidograph
Projects three-dimensional images at great distances.
Gather, Darkness! Leiber  1943
Telespectroscope
Device for searching for habitable (Earth-like) planets.
Cosmic Quest Hamilton  1936
Telestereo
A disk, upon which the projected image of the distant sender appears.
Crashing Suns Hamilton  1928
Teleview
A device for seeing at a distance.
The Phantom Teleview Olsen  1929
Television Sheet
A large, flat screen television set.
The Threat of the Robot Keller  1929
Televisiophone
A device that combines picture with sound for personal communication.
Islands of Space Campbell  1931
Televisor
A viewing screen.
The Phantom Teleview Olsen  1929
Telucid
A holographic projector.
If The Sun Died Starzl  1931
Temporal Paradox
The paradoxical idea that making changes in the past results in changes in the present.
The Toy Berry  1954
Temporary Quarters
Device used to separate a large interior space in an off-planet satellite into various living spaces.
Neuromancer Gibson  1984
Tensile Memory Polarized Matter
The same piece of material can take pre-determined shapes.
Babel-17 Delany  1966
Tentacle Machines
Enormous robots, cylindrical of body, tentacular of arms, autonomous of brain, sinister of intent.
The Metal Giants Hamilton  1926
Terminator Zone
The area between solar illumination and shade.
Exiles of the Moon Schachner (w. AL Zagat)  1931
Terrafoam Dorm Building
Maximum people in minimum space.
Manna Brain  2002
Terraforming
The process of modifying a planetary surface to resemble those of an ideal earth; affects the entire biosphere.
Collision Orbit Williamson  1942
Terrene
Pertaining to the Earth.
An Adventure in Futurity Smith  1931
Tesseract House
A house built in the shape of a four-dimensional figure.
-And He Built A Crooked House Heinlein  1940
Test Box
A remote-controlled device for capturing small objects from open space.
The Devil's Pocket Hardart  1940
Tether Space Station
A station in two parts, separated by a one hundred mile tether.
Tank Farm Dynamo Brin  1983
Tetrahedron Interference Projector
Projects a field of force around the Solar System, bending the light of stars to make them seem more distant.
The Great Illusion Garth  1938
The Book of the Machine
The only book needed for life in the vast Machine.
The Machine Stops Forster  1909
The Cosmic Express
A means of transmitting matter wirelessly.
The Cosmic Express Williamson  1930
The Dip
A device that randomly dredges up things from the past... or the future.
The Meddler Dick  1954
The Hub
A large space resort consisting of inhabitable bubbles in a metal framework.
Worlds of Origin Vance  1958
The Krang
An enormous musical instrument (or weapon).
The Tar-Aiym Krang Foster  1972
The Machine
A single vast contrivance that supplied all the needs of the world's millions of solitary inhabitants.
The Machine Stops Forster  1909
The Machine (M)
An autonomous robot able to alter its appearance and functionality at will.
The Unreconstructed M Dick  1957
The Machines
A few of these can run a planetary economy.
The Evitable Conflict Asimov  1950
The Shed
Enormous building needed to assemble giant space craft or space stations.
Space Tug Leinster  1953
The Sleep
Use of a special technique to lessen the supplies required for long space voyages.
Tani of Ekkis Reeves  1930
The Terror
An amazing vehicle capable of attaining tremendous speeds - in many different ways.
Master of the World Verne  1904
The Twonky
A robotic device from the future, constructed to look like a 1940's radio cabinet.
The Twonky Padgett  1942
The Veldt
A nursery that comes alive for the viewer.
The Illustrated Man Bradbury  1951
Theater Seat Indicators
Vacant seats are clearly shown.
Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 Heller  1930
Thermalarm Relays
Detects objects by their heat radiation, so space craft can maneuver around them.
Collision Orbit Williamson  1942
Thermalite
A transparent material that allows almost no heat to escape.
Planet of Eternal Night Campbell  1939
Thermatite
Pure energy fuel mined on asteroids.
Jurisdiction Schachner  1941
Thermide
A chemical which, added to water, boiled and sterilized it instantly.
Parasite Planet Weinbaum  1935
Thermlectrium
An alloy that turns heat directly into electricity.
Blindness Campbell  1935
Thermodyne Heat Ray
Device focuses, and projects, a heat beam.
A Brand New World Cummings  1942
Thigh Grips
Special chair feature for space ships undergoing accelerations.
The Power Planet Leinster  1931
Thionite
A deadly drug.
Galactic Patrol Smith  1937
Third Eye
An output device that uses the skin of the user.
Daemon Suarez  2009
Thorsen Memory Tube
Computer component that allows a machine to learn through experience.
The Door Into Summer Heinlein  1956
Thought Coil (Machine Intelligence)
Specially designed hardware that imparts intelligence to machines.
The Revolt of the Machines Schachner (w. AL Zagat)  1931
Thought Pattern Divination
Attempting to construct the thoughts of a person by imitating their actions.
The Houses of Iszm Vance  1954
Thought Screen
A material screen that is worn by the user, upon which are projected the mental images of the user.
The Emperor of the Stars Schachner (w. AL Zagat)  1931
Thought-receptor Vote-counting Machine
That's one way to do a plebiscite.
If The Sun Died Starzl  1931
Thought-Record Helmet
A wearable history book.
Menace From Vega Randall  1958
Thought-Screen
A device that prevents other people from taking over control of your thoughts and mind.
Gray Lensman Smith  1942
Threat Team (of sf writers)
Gathering together a group of science fiction writers to try to predict what will happen, or to understand an unknown threat.
Footfall Niven (w/J. Pournelle)  1985
Three Generation Work (Century Piece)
An artwork created by three consecutive generations of artists, in exactly one century.
The Sub-Standard Sardines Vance  1949
Three Laws of Robotics (Rules of Robotics)
The original formulation of Asimov's laws of robotics.
Runaround Asimov  1942
Thumper
A short stake with a spring-driven clapper at one end; used to call sandworms.
Dune Herbert  1965
Tickler
Clears smog and saves the residue for later use.
Eurema's Dam Lafferty  1972
Tiered Internet
The idea that some forms of Internet network traffic should be given priority over others.
The Shockwave Rider Brunner  1975
Tiersian Therapy
A therapeutic discipline in which the patient chooses a character from a book and then attempts to be that character.
Red Orc's Revenge Farmer  1991
Tight-Beam
A method of communication that uses a very narrowly-focused stream of energy.
Skylark Three Smith  1930
Tik-Talker
A method of scrambling spoken speech for encoded transmission.
The Sign of the Tiger Nourse (w/Meyer)  1958
Tik-Tok
A mechanical man.
Ozma of Oz Baum  1907
Time Capsule
A hollow block of metal, impervious to the elements, used by time travelers to send messages to the future.
Millenium Varley  1983
Time Dingbat
Nickname for a time machine; used for a kind of WPA-like program for the past.
The Computer Connection Bester  1974
Time Dredge
A device that scoops up material from the past, and returns it to the present.
Time Dredge Arthur  1942
Time Line
Time seen linearly, as a distinguishable series of events.
Liners of Time Fearn  1935
Time Line
The sequence of events leading up to, and past, this moment.
Time Wants A Skeleton Rocklynne  1941
Time Loop
A series of events repeats, the stream crosses over itself.
The Time Entity Binder  1936
Time Machine
A device allowing the rider to move freely in the temporal dimension, just as we ordinarily do in the two physical dimensions normal to gravity.
The Time Machine Wells  1895
Time Quake
Too much energy applied to a time-fault may have started this.
Breakfast at Twilight Dick  1954
Time Scoop
Retrieved objects from other points in time.
Paycheck Dick  1953
Time Stream
The total sequence of events considered as a kind of flow.
Time Stream Taine  1931
Time Tunnel
A gateway into the past.
Rule 18 Simak  1938
Timebroker
A person who traded in the commodity of other people's time.
Shuteye for the Timebroker Di Filippo  2006
Timeout
The part of a Skyrene's life that is spent in Warm Sleep travel between Earth and the destination planet.
War Dogs Bear  2014
Timepress
A device that makes time go more quickly in a limited area.
Millenium Varley  1983
Timeslip
When humans keep time on Mars, they must work with the extra forty minutes in each day.
Red Mars Robinson  1992
Time-Space Television
A device for seeing into the past.
Water-Bound World Vincent  1932
Time-Telespectroscope.
See other time-travelers.
The Exile of Time Cummings  1931
Time-Warping Construct
A device that appears to cause alternate worlds or paraworld.
Lies, Inc. Dick  1964
Tin Cabby (Flying Robotic Taxi)
An autonomously controlled flying taxi cab.
Cities in Flight Blish  1957
Tiny Atomic-Power Drive Unit
A very small power generator that is atomic powered.
The Brain Pirates Campbell  1938
Tiny Nuclear Generator
A complete nuclear-based generator of power no bigger than a walnut.
Foundation and Empire Asimov  1952
Tleilaxu Eyes (Metal Eyes)
Tleilaxu eye surgery replaces natural eyeballs damaged or destroyed.
Dune Messiah Herbert  1969
TMA-1
The Tycho Monolith.
2001: A Space Odyssey Clarke  1968
Toaster
A handheld beam weapon.
Accidental Flight Wallace  1952
Todos Santos Independency
A city enclosed in a single building.
Oath of Fealty Pournelle (w/L. Niven)  1981
Toll Door
An apartment door that operates on a cash-only basis.
Ubik Dick  1969
Toner
Dead bits of nanomachines.
The Diamond Age Stephenson  1995
Tongue Mouse
A pointing device using input from the tongue.
Quantico Bear  2007
Tongueprint Verification
A device that verifies the unique print of the tongue against a a database for identification purposes.
Fleet of Worlds Niven (w/E.M. Lerner)  2007
Toothbud Transplant
Implanted teeth that mimic the dentition of other species.
Neuromancer Gibson  1984
Toposcope
A special helmet used in a form of sleep teaching.
Cities in Flight Blish  1957
Torch
The orifice from which issued the reaction mass of an atomic powered space craft.
Farmer in the Sky Heinlein  1950
Torchship
A spaceship capable of high acceleration.
Sky Lift Heinlein  1953
Torpoon
Clever portmanteau of "torpedo" and "harpoon", an underwater whaling craft.
Seed of the Arctic Ice Winter  1932
Total Environmental and Mental Simulator
An AI that could create and discard whole branches of science in pursuing the answer to a problem.
Crown of Infinity Faucette  1968
Touch Tablet
Another name for a wireless Tablet PC.
Darwin's Children Bear  2003
Tourist Rocket
A cheap, unpleasant way to do space travel.
The Space Merchants Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)  1952
Towel
A simple scrap of cloth with surprisingly many uses.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Adams  1979
Tower of Glass
An enormous glass tower built to communicate outside the solar system.
Tower of Glass Silverberg  1970
Town In One Building
This is the basic idea behind an arcology, or other single structure that is intended to provide living space and mall.
When the Sleeper Wakes Wells  1899
Toy Testing Dummy
A child-sized device used to test suspect toys.
War Game Dick  1959
Trace Web
A small, handheld device that contacts (and even instantiates) the larger network.
Souvenir Dick  1954
Tracer-Bird
A prototype surveillance drone; a mechanical bird.
Changeling Zelazny  1980
Tracing Glasses
Locate criminals by using glasses to pick up signals from special transmitters.
Case Closed (Detective Conan) Aoyama  1994
Tracked Vehicle
A heavily armored vehicle, typical of those in use, with a remarkable agility.
The Dosadi Experiment Herbert  1977
Tracking Bracelet
A security device armed with explosives.
Shadowspeer Clayton  1990
Tractatruck
Combination tractor and truck used for hauling and exploration.
The Moon is Hell Campbell  1950
Traction City
Cities re-engineered as enormous, lumbering machines.
Mortal Engines Reeve  2003
Traction City Gut
The area of a Traction City used for taking apart and consuming captured prey cities.
Mortal Engines Reeve  2003
Tractor Beam
A force field used to pull objects.
Spacehounds of IPC Smith  1931
Tractor Boots
Space suit footgear that has atom-driven caterpillar treads.
Magician of Dream Valley Gallun  1938
Traffic Control Camera
An automated camera system that photographs license plates as cars move past on a road system.
Methuselah's Children Heinlein  1941
Traffic Lane Discharger
A device that electrically shocked vehicles whose drivers attempted to evade traffic control devices.
Sagramanda Foster  2006
Tramline
The line along which hyperspace (instantaneous travel) travel is possible.
The Mote in God's Eye Niven (w/J. Pournelle)  1974
Tranquilizing Gum
Chewing gum with a tranquilizing agent.
Ubik Dick  1969
Transcriber
A automated transcriptionist - a machine which perfectly translates human speech into words on paper.
Second Foundation Asimov  1953
Transdermal Drug Capsule
A drug capsule that delivers medication by being placed on the skin.
Vulcan's Hammer Dick  1960
Transdress
A transparent dress upon which thousands of patterns may be projected.
The California Voodoo Game Niven (w/S. Barnes)  1992
Transfer Cable
Move between two ships in space.
Dead Star Station Williamson  1933
Transfer Refuge
A portable environment chamber, able to support unique and different lifeforms.
Hotel Cosmos Gallun  1938
Transkin
A hooded protective suit worn on Venus.
Parasite Planet Weinbaum  1935
Translation Program
A computer program that translates speech from one language to another, in real time, to aid in conversation.
Deep Eddy Sterling  1993
Translatophone
A device that performs mechanical translation of one language into another.
My Translatophone Stockton  1901
Translator Discs
Wearable devices that wirelessly connected to a speech translation computer.
Ringworld Niven  1970
Transmat
A teleportation device.
Tower of Glass Silverberg  1970
Transmit Camera
A camera that both takes pictures and uploads it directly to a news station.
Four-Day Planet Piper  1961
Transmit-Paper
Paper form with a built-in capability to transmit the information written with a stylus to a remote computer network.
The Godmakers Herbert  1972
Transmitter Eyes
Closed circuit cameras that provided sight and sound to remote viewers of the Courtarena who wish to remain anonymous.
The Dosadi Experiment Herbert  1977
Transo
Teleportation of objects and personnel, used as the basis for "Trading Post" stores across the planet.
Time is the Simplest Thing Simak  1961
Trans-Oceanic Rocket
Also, a rocket-plane.
The Worlds of If Weinbaum  1935
Trans-Oceanic Rocket Ship
Rocket-propelled airplanes making short work of long trips on Earth.
Berlin to New York in One Hour Valier  1930
Transparent Aluminum
Invisible light steel.
The Space Hermit Newton  1929
Transparent Car Roof
You can see through the roof of the car.
Sinister Barrier Russell  1939
Transparent Dome Helmet
A spacesuit helmet that can be seen through.
The Man from the Atom Wertenbaker  1926
Transparent Flat Panel Display
A fifty-inch flat panel display that is (or can be) transparent.
The Shape of Things To Come Wells  1936
Transparent Overalls
Perfect for prisoners, because nothing can be concealed.
The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge Harrison  1970
Transparent Platisplasm Cage
A replacement framework for a body joint - in this case, the shoulder.
Babel-17 Delany  1966
Transparent Spherical Ship
A huge sphere of quartz housing a platform for space use.
The Emperor of the Stars Schachner (w. AL Zagat)  1931
Transparent, Frictionless Coating
An absolutely frictionless, impenetrable coating.
Way Station Simak  1963
Transport Walkers
Multilegged transport vehicles big enough to carry one person.
A Little Further Up The Fox... Ewing  1987
Trans-Space Transmission
A curious method of communication between worlds.
The Moon Moth Vance  1976
Trantor
A city that covers the entire surface of the planet.
Foundation Asimov  1951
Travel-Rug
A rug that conveyed you around your house.
Roll Out The Rolov! Anvil  1953
Treatment of Extramundane Aborigines
Laws for aliens on their own planet.
Symbiotica Russell  1943
Tree-Grown Wood
The natural product, obtained by cutting down a living tree.
Gravy Planet Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)  1952
Treeship
A single, enormous tree grown as a spacecraft.
Hyperion Simmons  1989
Tri-D
A remarkable pesticide.
The Morning of the Day They Did It White  1950
Trimagniscope
A device that produced a usable cross-sectional image of any part of an object.
Inherit the Stars Hogan  1977
Trion Library
An early visualization of the Internet.
The Magellanic Cloud Lem  1955
Trip-Box
A teleportation device.
Eye of Cat Zelazny  1982
Triple Airlock
Special device to protect against extremely corrosive atmospheres.
Uller Uprising Piper  1952
Tripod
An enormous metallic robot.
The War of the Worlds Wells  1898
Tri-Type Record
A printed card that stores information about a person, including a perfect three-dimensional representation.
The Houses of Iszm Vance  1954
Trode-Net
Mona Lisa Overdrive Gibson  1988
Trolling Tether Cable
Simple fishing technique applied to moving cargo off-planet.
Atom Drive Fontenay  1956
True-Vu Lenses (Goggles)
Lenses that are worn as goggles, allowing the user to both see and record what is being viewed.
Earth Brin  1990
Truffle Skins
Genetically unique skins are the common currency; their special genetic makeup makes forgery impossible.
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Dick  1965
Tru-Mem Systems
Organic process of recalling personal events.
We Can Remember It For You Wholesale Dick  1966
Trumpaphone
A loud, brassy instrument.
The Voyage That Lasted 600 Years Wilcox  1940
Trumps
Magical Tarot cards that permitted both communication and transportation.
Nine Princes in Amber Zelazny  1970
Truth Meter
A lie detector.
The Star Beast Heinlein  1954
Tube Rack
A hotel consisting of a set of stacked tube-like living spaces.
Solstice Kelly  1985
Tubular Field of Force
Can pull an object through space.
The Cometeers Williamson  1936
Tubular Space-Gangway
A means of traversing the short distance between two ships in space.
The Star-Roamers Hamilton  1933
Tug
A small space vehicle, used to provide a push or pull to objects floating in space without propulsion systems.
Neuromancer Gibson  1984
Tumblebug
A monocycle; a motorcycle that balances on a single wheel.
The Roads Must Roll Heinlein  1940
Tuned-Laser Decontamination
Process to destroy foreign biomolecules within the body.
Hybrids (Neanderthal Parallax) Sawyer  2003
Tune-Maker
Automated music production.
The World Jones Made Dick  1956
Turnover
The point in a torchship's trajectory when it must flip over and point its fiery tail toward its destination to decelerate.
Off the Beam Smith  1944
TW-55 Spy
Conscious control of facial characteristics.
Babel-17 Delany  1966
Twing
Used in the hold of spaceships to keep articles all together, and to prevent them from floating around in free fall, or falling during periods of acceleration.
Protector Niven  1973
Twist-Box
A device that scrambles your sensory input, providing you with a different kind of experience.
Wetware Rucker  1988
Twonky
A futuristic artifact left by time travelers in the past which, if discovered, could cause a paradox.
Millenium Varley  1983
Two-Wheeled Car
A small passenger vehicle with two centerline wheels.
The Roads Must Roll Heinlein  1940
Two-Wheeled Ground Car
A gyro-stabilized vehicle like an enclosed motorcycle.
First Lensman Smith  1950

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Science Fiction
in the News

Cheap Drunk Driver Detection From UofM
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/4/2024)

Can A Human Land A SpaceX Rocket On Its Tail?
re: Stanley G. Weinbaum
(3/2/2024)

Robot Snakes No Longer Stopped By Stairs
re: Lee Chaytor
(2/28/2024)

Has Turkey Been Stealing Rain From Iran?
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/26/2024)

We Need To Build Anti-Drone Systems For Civilian Spaces
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/24/2024)

SensorWake Scent-Based Alarm Clock
re: Frank Herbert
(2/22/2024)

AI Worms That Spread
re: John Brunner
(2/20/2024)

Challenges Of Two-Armed Robots
re: Various
(2/18/2024)

FlexRAM Liquid Metal RAM And One Particular SF Movie Robot
re: Philip K Dick
(2/16/2024)

Ulm Sleep Pods For The Homeless
re: Larry Niven
(2/14/2024)

Prophetic Offers Lucid Dreaming Halo With Morpheus-1 AI
re: Peter Watts
(2/12/2024)

More Like A Tumblebug Than A Motorcycle
re: Robert Heinlein
(2/10/2024)

Tesla Camera-Only Vision Predicted In 1930's SF
re: Miles J. Breuer
(2/8/2024)

First Ever Proof Of Water On Asteroids
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
(2/6/2024)

Aptera Solar EV More Stylish Than Heinlein Steel Tortoise
re: Robert Heinlein
(2/4/2024)

Gigantic Space Sunshade Would Fight Global Warming
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(2/2/2024)

Untethered Spacewalk's 50th Anniversary
re: Dom Passante
(1/30/2024)

ESA Designs Huge Inflatable Moonbase
re: Philip K. Dick
(1/28/2024)

AlphaGarden Robot Cares For Gardens Better Than Humans
re: Frank Herbert
(1/26/2024)

Let's Make Slaver Sunflowers! Engineering Plants To Reflect Light
re: Larry Niven
(1/24/2024)

TeslaBot Uber Driver (2024) And The Automatic Motorist (1911)
re: Philip K. Dick
(1/22/2024)

DiffuseBot Uses Generative AI To Invent New Soft Robots
re: Maurice Hugi
(1/20/2024)

Philips Smart Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt
re: Frank Herbert
(1/18/2024)

BMind Smart Mirror from Baracoda
re: Manga Clamp
(1/16/2024)

 

 

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