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
"The primary attraction [of writing sf] is the sheer pleasure of creating something from whole cloth."
- Dan Simmons
 |
| Needle Gun | ||
| A weapon that fires thin slivers of metal. |
This is as far as I know the first use of this term in science fiction. This term has been used to describe a hand-held gun that fired flechette rounds. Also, the term was used in the 19th century to denote a rifle that used a needle to fire a paper cartridge containing a round.
| “I shall kill you three with the poisoned
needle-gun, and my men will immediately
give you burial in space. You and your
officers. Captain, will watch me with such
composure as you may have at your command, and realize that I will brook no interference whatever; that I do not and shall
not hesitate to eliminate anyone who annoys
me.”
The two Martians returned from the corridor, empty handed. The Planetchief’s countenance hardened. Vic Vincennes saw him lift his needle-gun at pointblank range, and felt an intolerable weight falling upon him, crushing the very life from him. He crumbled to the floor, overcome with nausea. The room seemed to be spinning, the sickness more acute and more horrible. Then unconsciousness. |
| Technovelgy from In the Spacesphere,
by Charles Cloukey. Published by Wonder Stories in 1931 Additional resources -
|
From The Empress of Mars (1939) by Russ Rocklynne:
I rammed home the final plunger, and the bee-wing took off flapping up into the thin air and forward with such speed that in a matter of seconds Cammint was a dot of light in the darkness, and the city of Jador was sprawled in fantastic shadows below. I went blind, without lights, never knowing when some similar craft might blunder out of the encircling darkness full tilt into me. I set my course for the Royal Palace, and had my forward needle guns set for any who dared offer me hindrance.
From Slacker's Paradise, by Malcom Jameson, published by Astounding S-F in 1941:
Readers might also check out the needle pipe from Ray Cummings 1928 story Beyond the Stars for an earlier use of this concept, and a bit more detail on other uses.
Her armament was so inadequate as never to have given him a qualm. It consisted simply of a 10 mm. needle gun, fit only to detonate a stray mine.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 1 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from In the Spacesphere
More Ideas
and Technology by Charles Cloukey
Tech news articles related to In the Spacesphere
Tech news articles related to works by Charles Cloukey
| Can A Swarm Of Deadly Drones Take Out An Aircraft Carrier? |
| 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 |
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 rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
