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
"What has allowed so many Psychopathic Personalities to rise so high in corporations and government, is that they are so decisive. Unlike normal people, they are never filled with doubts, for the simple reason that they cannot care what happens next."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
 |
| Space Marine | ||
| A space-based military force, or members of such a force. |
This is the first instance of the phrase AFAIK.
| Lieutenant Sullivan unlimbered a battered guitar, twisted the keys experimentally, plucked out a few chords of doubtful harmony and crooned:
Oh, Captain Jinks, the space marine Brink picked up a magazine of ancient vintage and started reading an absurdly impossible story about a Martian’s adventures on Zoxaquokivizibum, an imaginary planet of the star Sirius. After a page or two, he threw the book down in disgust. “Why,” he asked himself, “Why don’t these writers of science fiction try to keep within the boundaries of plausibility.” Having sung for the seventeenth time the mournful but sprightly saga of the bibulous Captain Jinks, Sullivan put away the guitar and remarked, “By the way. Captain Frank, I’ve heard that song I don’t know how many times and I’ve often been called a Space Marine myself, and yet I’ve never been able to make the slightest iota of sense out of that ridiculous nomenclature. I always thought that the word ‘marine’ meant something pertaining to the sea. Why call us marines when we never go near any oceans?" “Merely a figure of speech, my boy,” Brink elucidated. “Didn’t you ever hear about the United States Marines?” |
| Technovelgy from Captain Brink of the Space Marines,
by Bob Olsen. Published by Amazing Stories in 1932 Additional resources -
|
Robert Heinlein uses this term in his 1939 story Misfit:
E.E. 'Doc' Smith's Lensman [1937] introduces the idea of the Galactic Marines, probably the first space marines.
Compare to astronaut from The Death's Head Meteor (1930) by Neil R. Jones,
space pirate from Evans of the Earth-Guard (1930) by Edmond Hamilton,
astrogator from The Conquest of Space (1931) by David Lasser, space men from Revolt of the Star Men (1932) by Raymond Z. Gallun,
spacedog from A Question of Salvage (1939) by Malcolm Jameson,
rocketeer from Sunward Flight (1943) by Leo Zagat and space cadet from Sunward Flight (1943) by Leo Zagat.
"Attention to muster!" The parade ground voice of a First Sergeant of Space Marines cut through the fog and drizzle of a nasty New Jersey morning. "As your names are called, answer 'Here', step forward with your baggage, and embark.
"Atkins!"
"Here!"
"Austin!"
"Hyar!"
"Ayres!"
"Here!"
One by one they fell out of ranks, shouldered the hundred and thirty pounds of personal possessions allowed them, and trudged up the gangway. They were young -- none more than twenty-two -- in some cases luggage outweighed the owner.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Captain Brink of the Space Marines
More Ideas
and Technology by Bob Olsen
Tech news articles related to Captain Brink of the Space Marines
Tech news articles related to works by Bob Olsen
Space Marine-related
news articles:
- Space Marines Idea Takes Off
| 'Warrior Suit' Combat Exoskeleton Project Still Alive |
| Sea Drones Attack Russian Fleet |
| Slaughterbot AI KIller Quadcopter Drones |
| Russia Working On Military Exoskeletons |
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 leg was to function, in a way, as a servo-mechanism operated by Larry’s brain...'
'The observation vehicle was of that peculiar variety used in conveying a large number of people across rough terrain.'
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.'
'I ... set my automatic astronomical instruments to searching for a habitable planet.'
'...haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'
