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"I realized there was a heavy-duty change coming in biology, and I could write a really compelling novel about catastrophic evolution, punctuated equilibrium."
- Greg Bear
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| Nearside (Near Side) | ||
| The side of the moon closest to the earth. |
As far as I know, this is the earliest use of this familiar term - albeit with a space.
| THERE was a shading of light on the surface below him. From, the right the sun's brilliance threw black shadows and bright beams transversely over a wilderness of volcanic waste. And beyond, where the rays could not reach, was a greater desolation of darkness, its blackness relieved only by a dim light. He realized with a start of amazement that the dim light he saw was that of their own earth far above; it was lighting their approach to this sister orb.
Their side-motion was swift as they drew nearer. Another hour and more, and they were drawing toward an expanse of utter darkness. The earthlight was fading where they passed. They were approaching, in very fact, the other side of the moon... "Must we land there?" he asked. "In the dark?" "...No," he said. "You are forgetting your astronomy. This 'other side' is subject to the same conditions as the near side. The sun shines on then alike, but alternately." |
| Technovelgy from The Moon Master,
by Charles W. Diffin. Published by Astounding Stories of Super Science in 1930 Additional resources -
|
I feel pretty confident in saying that this is the same term as "nearside", but with a space. The earliest use of this term without a space is probably Picnic on Nearside (1974) by John Varley:
Compare to farside from We Have Fed Our Sea (1958) by Poul Anderson.
Come to think of it. Tranquillity Base used to be on the Nearside, before they moved it.
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| SETI Suggests Prospecting The Solar System Without Landing |
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| The Solar Oberth Slingshot |
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'Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human being can experience. Not all are subject to it...'
'...I saw a nice black heavy-looking cloud sailing by just now, and I can get the electrical machine out in five minutes to draw it down.'
'From a distance it could resolve the cosmic rays reflected from various substances.'
'The answer to the dumb student's prayer.'
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'The dinner was excellent. It was completely vegetarian — grown in specially prepared gardens in this Moon base...'
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'It was a relief to enter one of the comfortable autos, whisper a direction down the tube, and just know that you would be taken to your destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest manner.'
'But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts. George winced...'
