stunner n.

= stun gun n.

SF Encyclopedia


Weaponry

  • 1941 ‘S. D. Gottesman’ Fire-Power in Cosmic Science-Fiction July 12/2 C. M. Kornbluth bibliography

    Armament, every first-class operative own a hand-gun and shells. Most of them carry illegal personal electric stunners.

  • 1961 A. Norton Star Hunter 32 Andre Norton bibliography

    Chambriss carried a needler, Starns was unarmed except for a small protection stunner, his tri-dee box slung on his chest by well-worn carrying straps.

  • 1964 W. R. Burkett Jr. in Analog Science Fiction/Fact Aug. 69/2 William R. Burkett, Jr.

    The scope’s crosshairs shifted to the nearer robot’s right hand. In those steel fingers reposed a silvery, fragile-looking gun—a stunner. And each of the others were similarly armed. So if the Llralans had sent them after him, they had not been able—or had not chosen—to override their inbuilt inability to permanently harm human beings. If spotted and shot at, the worst that could come of it was stun-shock and capture.

  • 1965 F. Herbert in Analog Science Fact—Science Fiction Jan. 24/2 Frank Herbert

    In the flashing instant Hawat had time to see they were Sardaukar, hard faces set in battle frenzy, that they were unshielded and each carried a knife in one hand, a stunner in the other.

  • 1970 P. Anderson Tau Zero (1973) 70 Poul Anderson bibliography

    I’ll issue them weapons, stunner type only.

  • 1978 P. Anderson Avatar (1981) 89 Poul Anderson bibliography

    Each had a holstered sidearm: slugthrower, not stunner.

  • 1981 T. Pratchett Strata 13 page image Terry Pratchett bibliography

    When he had wiped the blood out of his eyes she was looking down at him and holding a stunner.

  • 1983 J. Varley Millennium ii. 19 John Varley

    Shortly after the twonky alarm, one of your girls lost her stunner on the plane.

  • 1993 D. A. Smith In Cube i. 14

    My cheeks still burned from the stunner. A pissmop emerged from the shadows, snuffling toward Ifraim’s body, but his urine was mingled with his blood.

  • 2007 A. M. Steele Galaxy Blues in Asimov’s Science Fiction Oct.–Nov. 197 page image Allen Steele bibliography

    I saw that the warrant officer had returned, his right hand resting upon a stunner holstered in his belt.


Research requirements

antedating 1941

Earliest cite

C. M. Kornbluth 'Fire-Power'

Research History
Edward Bornstein submitted a cite from a 1967 reprint of William Burkett's "Sleeping Planet".
Mike Christie confirmed the cite in the original 1964 magazine appearance.
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a reprint of C. M. Kornbluth's "Fire-Power"; Mike Christie verified it in the original 1941 magazine version (written under his "S. D. Gottesman" pseudonym).
Mike Christie submitted a cite from a 1962 reprint of Andre Norton's 1961 "Catseye".
Mike Christie submitted a cite from a 1990 reprint of Dan Simmons' 1989 "Hyperion".
Mike Christie submitted a cite from a 1981 reprint of Poul Anderson's 1978 "The Avatar".
Mike Christie submitted a 1965 cite from Frank Herbert's "The Prophet of Dune".
Ethan Merritt submitted a cite from a 1968 reprint of Andre Norton's "Star Hunter"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1961 first edition.
Clive Shergold submitted a 1981 cite from Terry Pratchett.

Last modified 2023-08-21 12:49:42
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.