Corpsicle
Encyclopedia
Corpsicle is a term that has been used in science fiction
to refer to a corpse that has been cryonically
cryopreserved
. It is a portmanteau of "corpse" and "popsicle
". To advocates of cryonics
, the term is an offensive pejorative because of the mocking implication that cryonics patients are corpses and "popsicles," not sick people to be recovered.
, in which a corpsicle is referred to as "a zombie frozen in Alaska." The previous spelling, "corpse-sicle", also attributed to Pohl, appeared in the essay Immortality Through Freezing, published in the August 1966 issue of Worlds of Tomorrow
.
Larry Niven
employed the term in The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton novella The Defenseless Dead
, published in 1973. The story includes debate about the legal right of frozen persons to continued physical support after their personal funds are exhausted. In a later novel, A World Out of Time
(1976), Niven's protagonist is awakened in a society which gives no legal rights whatsoever to corpsicles. Ben Bova
uses the term in his 2001 novel The Precipice
. In this novel, many subjects have been cryonically preserved; however those who are revived have lost all their memories. In cinema, the term features in Paul W. S. Anderson's Event Horizon
(1997), albeit used to refer to frozen remains with no hope of revival.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
to refer to a corpse that has been cryonically
Cryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
cryopreserved
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation is a process where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to low sub-zero temperatures, such as 77 K or −196 °C . At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that would lead to cell death, is effectively stopped...
. It is a portmanteau of "corpse" and "popsicle
Ice pop
An ice pop, also referred to in the United States as a popsicle, and in the United Kingdom as an ice lolly, lolly ice or ice lollipop, is a frozen, water-based dessert. It is made by freezing flavored liquid around a stick. Often, the juice is colored artificially...
". To advocates of cryonics
Cryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
, the term is an offensive pejorative because of the mocking implication that cryonics patients are corpses and "popsicles," not sick people to be recovered.
Origins
Its earliest printed usage in the current form dates from 1969 in science fiction author Fred Pohl's book The Age of the PussyfootThe Age of the Pussyfoot
The Age of the Pussyfoot is a science fiction novel by Frederik Pohl, first published as a novel in 1969. It was originally published as a serial in Galaxy Science Fiction in three parts, starting in October 1966.-Inspiration:...
, in which a corpsicle is referred to as "a zombie frozen in Alaska." The previous spelling, "corpse-sicle", also attributed to Pohl, appeared in the essay Immortality Through Freezing, published in the August 1966 issue of Worlds of Tomorrow
Worlds of Tomorrow
Worlds of Tomorrow is an anthology of science fiction stories edited by August Derleth. It was first published by Pellegrini & Cudahy in 1953...
.
Larry Niven
Larry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
employed the term in The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton novella The Defenseless Dead
The Defenseless Dead
The Defenseless Dead is a novella in the Known Space universe by Larry Niven. It is the second of five Gil Hamilton detective stories. It was published in 1973 in the Roger Elwood anthology Ten Tomorrows....
, published in 1973. The story includes debate about the legal right of frozen persons to continued physical support after their personal funds are exhausted. In a later novel, A World Out of Time
A World Out of Time
A World Out of Time is a science fiction novel by Larry Niven and published in 1976. It is set outside the Known Space universe of many of Niven's stories, but is otherwise fairly representative of his 1970s hard science fiction novels...
(1976), Niven's protagonist is awakened in a society which gives no legal rights whatsoever to corpsicles. Ben Bova
Ben Bova
Benjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor. He is the recipient of six Hugo Awards for Best Professional Editor for his work at Analog Science Fiction in the 1970's.-Personal life:...
uses the term in his 2001 novel The Precipice
The Precipice
The Precipice is a science fiction novel by Hugo Award winner Ben Bova. This novel is part of the Grand Tour series of novels. It is the first book in the The Asteroid Wars series. It was first published in 2001...
. In this novel, many subjects have been cryonically preserved; however those who are revived have lost all their memories. In cinema, the term features in Paul W. S. Anderson's Event Horizon
Event Horizon (film)
Event Horizon is a 1997 science fantasy horror film. The screenplay was written by Philip Eisner and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film stars Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill...
(1997), albeit used to refer to frozen remains with no hope of revival.