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"In 1970 I found little difficulty staying 30 years ahead of the man in the street, and now I find it difficult to stay 18 months ahead of the man on the street."
- Vernor Vinge
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| Luminescent Vial | ||
| A glass tube full of luminescent algae; used to provide some measure of light underground. |
The sacerdotes of Aerlith live apart from the Utter men of the surface. Joaz Banbeck journeys deep into their caves to learn their secrets.
| On hands and knees he peered into the tunnel, and since it was dark, held forward a glass vial of luminescent algae. In the faint light the tunnel seemed empty... After perhaps a undred yards the tunnel broke out into a natural cavern.. Luminescent vials fixed to the walls at irregular intervals provided a measure of light, enough to delineate the direction of the cavern... Joaz came upon sacerdotes, the first asleep on a reed rug; the second sitting cross-legged, gazing fixedly at a contrivance of twisted metal rods. |
| Technovelgy from The Dragon Masters,
by Jack Vance. Published by Galaxy in 1962 Additional resources -
|
For another fine example of tasteful underground lighting, see the glowglobe from Frank Herbert's Dune.
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'...small electric motors at the principal joints worked the prosthetic framework by means of steel cables...'
'Living protoplasm incorporated into the Ampek F-a2 recording system...'
'Twoflower's Luggage, which was currently ambling along on its little legs...'
'He came to as the ship went into free flight, arching in a high parabola over the plains...'
'The peculiar quality of this light, which gave it its great preeminence over all other penetrating rays...'
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...'
‘Where to, sport?’ the starter at cab relay asked.
