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"The point sticks in your head: physics rules. Virtue does not triumph unless the physics allows it."
- Larry Niven
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| Laser Rifle | ||
| A laser weapon shaped (and fired) like a traditional rifle. |
As far as I know, this is the first reference to the term "laser rifle." Obviously, there were many precursors in the form of pistols (like Raymond Gallun's 1937 proton pistol) or rifles that fired an energy beam.
| The Iranian reached back into the locker and got a pair of laserifles. |
| From Door to Anywhere,
by Poul Anderson. Published by Galaxy Magazine in 1966 Additional resources -
|
You might be interested in several other early "energy weapons" - the Electric rifle from Tom Swift and the leyden ball from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Take a look at a modern-day laser rifle (as well as a nice picture of a sixties "phaser rifle" in the article Military sets PHASR on stun.
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Little robots cooperating can do big tasks. Eventually.
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