Comments on: Novel Ideas

Novel Ideas

interrobang — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 17:34:17 -0800

Technovelgy lists inventions from science fiction novels, including the Tasp, the Delpi Pool, Retinal Projection and the Invisible Teenager.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 17:35:37 -0800

Sorry, make that *Delphi Pool*.

By: milovoo

milovoo — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 20:29:46 -0800

I'll have to submit "thikes" - strap-on claws, like wolverine but non-internal. They didn't have that one. It's good to have a word for those. From Jorune or possible something before that. Towel - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy This one seems to be stretching a bit.

By: milovoo

milovoo — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 20:33:39 -0800

oh, and Phaser? (that's it, I'm making a list!)

By: Grod

Grod — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 20:51:42 -0800

[this is good]

By: badzen

badzen — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 22:07:06 -0800

Ah that Delphi Pool link brings back memories of Shockwave Rider -- great book. Similar concept to the DemoPol from Herbert's Dosadi Experiment alot of their attributions seem pretty random though -- Niven gets a ton of credit for things that existed in science fiction before him and hey, a nod to Blish' Surface Tension, one of the greatest short stories of the 50s but no Lazy Gun. That's a depressing oversight. Best name ever.

By: thatwhichfalls

thatwhichfalls — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 22:47:42 -0800

Drafting Dan, the original CAD. Back before Heinlein went strange and solipsistic (although the book contained hints of what was to come). Spindizzy, lovely word and idea. badzen - shame they missed Lazy Gun. Also "drug glands". Great post interrobang, thank you.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 22:53:22 -0800

The Ansible, probably the most important and least plausible science fiction idea that people still take seriously, from LeGuin to Ender's Game to Star Trek. If someone hadn't named it, it still would have been used.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 23:00:55 -0800

(I also hate that this site's Brunner references are exclusively from "The Shockwave Rider" and no mentions of "Stand on Zanzibar", which invented the internet: "Scanalyzer". Hopefully, the site will grow with time.)