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
"Poised between intransigent scepticism and uncritical credulity, it [science fiction] is par excellence the literature of the open mind."
- John Brunner
 |
| Multigyros | ||
| Allows known stable movement in four dimensions, thus making space travel possible. |
| FLANKED by the two guards, Donald followed Danvril along the narrow passage between the exterior isochromin glass and the multigyros set in the very bottom of the spaceship, under a dome that rose between the cargo that was stacked fore and aft.
These consisted of a dozen top-like mechanisms, set at various angles, imparting what had been the last difficulty to overcome in interplanetary navigation, stability in absolute space, viewed as a four-dimensional continuum. |
| Technovelgy from Revolt on Inferno,
by Victor Rousseau. Published by Miracle Science and Fantasy Stories in 1931 Additional resources -
|
Does the ship still have a captain?
Inasmuch as the complete course of the space-ship had been set by the experts before she left Earth, and the multigyros maintained it without the slightest variation, old Croft’s task was largely a routine one. Nevertheless, upon the bridge, he seemed to typify those old traditions of the sea, which had come down as legends through the years.
Navigation is carefully calculated:
Donald nodded. Matters had suddenly assumed a serious aspect. Jupiter’s giant bulk was as big a bugbear to space-travel as any shoals or rocks had been to sea-ships in earlier centuries.
“When do we start?” Donald asked.
“Exactly five-thousandths of a second after 23, which means in four hours’ time. But when I say there is no navigating, I mean, of course, outside Earth’s atmosphere. It’s Cohaine’s job to see we land at Chicago instead of falling into the Atlantic.”
On the bridge stood Captain Crofts, a sturdy old man whose history went back almost to the first interplanetary voyage, apart from the first fugitive rocket-journeys to the moon.
“We don’t navigate. The course and return course are both plotted from Earth. The calculations must be exact to the millionth part of a second. Otherwise we might collide with our Moon, or, worse yet, fall into Jupiter.”
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Revolt on Inferno
More Ideas
and Technology by Victor Rousseau
Tech news articles related to Revolt on Inferno
Tech news articles related to works by Victor Rousseau
| Beautiful Visualization of Dawn Spacecraft |
| Tumblin' Tumbleweed Rovers To Eplore Mars |
| Tentacled Robot Captures Space Debris |
| Reflect Orbital Sunlight On Demand |
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
'...it raised its front end off the ground and waved its antennae at them, then raised one armoured claw as if to snip them out of the sky.'
'Henry... assumed the curious absent look of a robot talking on the TBR circuits.'
'The king, an old hand in the running of tyrannies, instantly grasped the directions...'
'...a hemispherical force field enclosing his head.'
'Then he became aware of a gentle pressure pushing him away from the ship.'
'And now they wre busily transforming all their companions, and so on, and so on...'
