Comments on: Random thought: origin of “starship”? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:40:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jess tauber http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18343 jess tauber Tue, 08 Aug 2006 04:45:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18343 Of course the terms 'gasbag' or 'windbag' have a healthy history prior to the invention of dirigibles, but does anybody use the terms for the latter? What about 'starship' in other languages (I'm reminded of Daniel Jackson's correction of the Egyptian in 'Stargate' from something else). The Yahgan term would be apurinik- aanan. Of course the terms ‘gasbag’ or ‘windbag’ have a healthy history prior to the invention of dirigibles, but does anybody use the terms for the latter? What about ’starship’ in other languages (I’m reminded of Daniel Jackson’s correction of the Egyptian in ‘Stargate’ from something else). The Yahgan term would be apurinik- aanan.

]]> By: Troy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18330 Troy Sat, 05 Aug 2006 06:01:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18330 I was thinking why don't we call airplanes 'air ships', the answer (I believe) is that airships usually refer to lighter than air crafts durigibles. If air planes came first I wonder if they'd have that name? I was thinking why don’t we call airplanes ‘air ships’, the answer (I believe) is that airships usually refer to lighter than air crafts durigibles. If air planes came first I wonder if they’d have that name?

]]> By: Michael Hopkins http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18331 Michael Hopkins Thu, 03 Aug 2006 23:04:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18331 Now that "starship" has been done, there is another word that is very often falsely credited to <i>Star Trek</i>: warp. Obviously I mean warp in the space opera sense and not warping of wood or whatever. I know Harlan Ellison used the term "warp" prior to Trek. I once read the term in a work a few decades prior. If memory serves correctly, it was in E.E. "Doc" Smith though it has been a long time so my memory. It is easy to confirm though, that Smith used "subspace" prior to Trek. Now that “starship” has been done, there is another word that is very often falsely credited to Star Trek: warp. Obviously I mean warp in the space opera sense and not warping of wood or whatever. I know Harlan Ellison used the term “warp” prior to Trek. I once read the term in a work a few decades prior. If memory serves correctly, it was in E.E. “Doc” Smith though it has been a long time so my memory. It is easy to confirm though, that Smith used “subspace” prior to Trek.

]]> By: Rocky http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18332 Rocky Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:17:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18332 Eric Marschall, thank you. I'm going to have to Google that and do some reading. I've heard of the Vendic texts, but have never read any. Thanks again! Eric Marschall, thank you. I’m going to have to Google that and do some reading. I’ve heard of the Vendic texts, but have never read any.
Thanks again!

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18335 Paul Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:09:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18335 Sorry, just after I posted this. It was 'Skylark of Space', not 'Spacehounds of IPC', and it predates Astounding. Sorry, just after I posted this. It was ‘Skylark of Space’, not ‘Spacehounds of IPC’, and it predates Astounding.

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18334 Paul Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:07:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18334 I believe the first interstellar spaceship story was E.E. Smith's 'Spacehounds of I.P.C' As near as I can make out, it was published in parts of Astounding in 1931 (which predates the attribution). I'll check on my copy tonight to see if 'starship' was used. I believe the first interstellar spaceship story was E.E. Smith’s ‘Spacehounds of I.P.C’ As near as I can make out, it was published in parts of Astounding in 1931 (which predates the attribution). I’ll check on my copy tonight to see if ’starship’ was used.

]]> By: Eric Marschall http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/comment-page-1/#comment-18333 Eric Marschall Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:58:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/02/random-thought-origin-of-starship/#comment-18333 Starship in lit: I was able to narrow the Dec. '34 reference (thanks Hamish) to Astounding down to authors and their works <a href="http://www.noosfere.org/showcase/astounding_1934.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I'm leaning towards Campbell since he's also credited with coining "hyperspace" in his first installment of "The Mightiest Machine" in that Dec issue, but have hit a wall for now. Starship in history: Rocky, I thought of a reference that might go a little further back: In ancient Hindu Vedic texts, there are many references to the Vimanas, flying machines that had the ability to travel in the sky and to the stars (as far as concept goes, of course - I'm not suggesting there actually were flying machines in ancient India). Eric Starship in lit: I was able to narrow the Dec. ‘34 reference (thanks Hamish) to Astounding down to authors and their works here. I’m leaning towards Campbell since he’s also credited with coining “hyperspace” in his first installment of “The Mightiest Machine” in that Dec issue, but have hit a wall for now.

Starship in history: Rocky, I thought of a reference that might go a little further back: In ancient Hindu Vedic texts, there are many references to the Vimanas, flying machines that had the ability to travel in the sky and to the stars (as far as concept goes, of course – I’m not suggesting there actually were flying machines in ancient India).

Eric

]]>