Phlebotinum Du Jour: Difference between revisions

Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[Unbuilt Trope|earlier isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|"Soft" sci-fi]] can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever—or lazy—writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[Reconstructed Trope|put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.

* Early Phlebotinum:

** [[Clock Punk|Mechanical gears]] and optics ([[E. T. A. Hoffmann|ETA Hoffmann]], [[L. Frank Baum]]).