I don’t remember the name/author of this old 91950’s) sci-fi story; I think it concerned a space traveler who finds himself projected into the future. anyway, he lands on a planet inhabited by humans, and is well treated. his guide is eplaining all the marvelous innovations; when pressed to explain the source of the energy, the guide replies: “I don’t know, it is adelictnander”. i gather "adelictnander was some form of advanced atomic energy.
I know its not much to go on, but any sci-fi mavens know?
I don’t know the story, but if it’s from the 91950’s, it certainly is a futuristic one.
The basic plot (guy from the past visits the future, gets tour) is characteriastic of older stuff, like 1930s. But I could see it being used tongue-in-cheek at a more sophisticated later date. So the style’s not necessarily any help.
That said, I don’t recall any stories whee the future energy source is “adelictnander” (which doesn’t seem to be anything if you spell it backwards). Reminds me of Gahan Wilson’s answer when someone asked him what the Future Power Source would be.
Gahan Wilson’s answer?
slavery
The “adelictnander” sounds like the author might have been Van Vogt.
Do you have any recollection of where you saw this? Was it in a magazine or an anthology? It doesn’t ring a bell.
If it was from the '30s, then adelictnander might be atomic energy. If it was really from the '50s, it might be the lead-in to a surprise ending of punch line of some sort.
Sounds a bit Frederic Brownish to me, somehow.