# What is your favourite fictional weapon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947 "2008-09-17T03:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/1 "2008-09-17T03:35:54Z")
Title explains all - can be fantasy, sci-fi, or some gun-type thing that could exist, but doesn’t. Mine are: **The Alchemist** - [The Neutronium Alchemist - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Neutronium_Alchemist) Best doomsday weapon ever - basically generates ultrastrong gravity. On strong setting, can create a black hole. Drop it into a star - bye-bye star! On the weak setting, it rips neutrons from atoms, gradually causing a build-up of neutronium on the outer surface. It dropped into something dense (like a gas giant or star) the build-up because significant, and exponential. The result - something not quite a black hole that makes the star go nova - bye-bye solar system! **Coherence gun** - [Miracle of Science - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_Science) Kick ass concept. Kick ass name. Not a _decoherence_ gun, those things are lame. The coherence gun collapses the wavefunction of electrons in atoms, (making them coherent,) which sends the electrons crashing into the nucleus. Woot! This, too, would generate neutronium. Meh, some people like leather. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/2 "2008-09-17T03:44:29Z")
**Reason** from the book _Snow Crash_ by Neal Stephenson. Basically a nuclear powered machine gun with “Ultima ratio regum” inscribed on it. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/3 "2008-09-17T03:44:35Z")
I want [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mjolnir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mjolnir) and the abilty to wield same. OR a Battlestar. I’m not picky. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/4 "2008-09-17T03:49:14Z")
The light saber of course. I think of it as being not as clumsy or random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized time. On a “Physics of Star Trek” documentary (can’t remember the name but I believe it was on A&E), it was theorized that the light saber would have to be plasma. That’s why I was never able to get one no matter how many magnifying lenses I used over the flashlight. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/5 "2008-09-17T04:05:33Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The light saber of course. I think of it as being not as clumsy or random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized time. > > On a “Physics of Star Trek” documentary (can’t remember the name Clearly. The light saber is a Star Wars weapon. You’re like that Hadron guy… ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/6 "2008-09-17T04:07:32Z")
The [Glock 7](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glock_7#.22Plastic_pistol.22_myths). ---
**Author:** ![laughingboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@laughingboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laughingboy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/7 "2008-09-17T04:22:21Z")
I’ve always been partial to Ice 9. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/8 "2008-09-17T04:23:16Z")
Mechanical webshooters. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/9 "2008-09-17T04:35:06Z")
My choice? The BFG9000 from the DOOM games. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/10 "2008-09-17T04:48:03Z")
Soul Edge. I’ve always been fond of mind-controlling weapons, and Soul Edge is both awesome looking, and has the added bonus of changing into whatever kind of weapon the wielder is used to using. Soul Calibur also has that last bit of awesomeness, and it looks nice, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/11 "2008-09-17T05:00:28Z")
The Soft Weapon, from one of the stories in Larry Niven’s _Known Space_. It’s basically a very deadly Swiss army knife: On various settings, it’s a high-power computer, or a jetpack, or a variable sword, or a long-range cutting laser, or a flamethrower, or a disintegrator, or a ranged total conversion beam. Also from the same series, there’s the Wunderland Treatymaker. It’s a modified disintegrator that, if both beams are used at once, will cause a current to flow. It’s also the reason an entire planet got re-named “Canyon”. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/12 "2008-09-17T05:05:11Z")
I want Deckard’s blaster from Blade Runner ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/13 "2008-09-17T05:07:26Z")
I’m fond of the PPG (Phased Plasma Gun) from Babylon 5. It’s a cute little thing, looks about like a holdout pistol, makes a distinctive mechanical whine sound when armed (like a camera flash, but manlier), and fires plasma bolts that can burn through doors and sections of walls if necessary. Also, the plasma bolt does a cool light distortion affect due to the heat. The Marauder power armor from _Starship Troopers_. From what I understand, this was so cool, it spawned an entire genre of Japanese animation. I have yet to watch the new Starship Troopers movie to see if the Marauders there are nearly as cool (probably not, since flamethrowers, grenade launchers, nuclear bazooka, jet pack, and the Tweeter would probably altogether be a little over the top, even for that movie 🆒) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/14 "2008-09-17T05:15:23Z")
[Sting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(Middle-earth)#Sting). ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/15 "2008-09-17T05:17:54Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > **Reason** from the book _Snow Crash_ by Neal Stephenson. Basically a nuclear powered machine gun with “Ultima ratio regum” inscribed on it. Reason wins on the name alone. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll listen to Reason.” As an honorable mention, the Heron Mark Sword from Wheel of Time. This one is actually not my favorite because of how it was depicted in the books, but because of how [the licensed replica](http://www.museumreplicas.com/museumreplicas/detail.aspx?ID=623) actually looks. It’s a beautiful sword. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/16 "2008-09-17T05:29:42Z")
Dr. Device is pretty cool. A self reinforcing disintegrator is about as good as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/17 "2008-09-17T05:36:07Z")
[The Ultimate Nullifier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Nullifier) is _my_ favorite weapon. Any weapon that can make Galactus piss his pants is tops in my book. ---
**Author:** ![A\_shameful\_cracka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@A\_shameful\_cracka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_shameful_cracka)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/18 "2008-09-17T05:54:15Z")
“The Lazy Gun” from _Against A Dark Background_ by Iain M. Banks. Here’s an excerpt from the description from Wikipedia. > [@](#): > > A Lazy Gun is roughly half a metre long, 30 cm wide and 20 cm tall. On the front are two short cylinders that end in black lenses. A sight extends from the main body, as do two hand grips. A metallic strap allows the Lazy Gun to be fired from the waist. On one hand grip is a zoom control and on the other grip is a trigger mechanism. The Lazy gun is massy but light, and weighs three times as much when turned upside down. The Lazy Gun is the only weapon known to display a sense of humour. > > To fire the Lazy Gun, it is pointed at the target, zoomed in, and then the trigger is pulled. What happens next is unpredictable. When fired at humans, many different things may occur. An anchor may appear above the person, giant electrodes may appear on either side of the target and electrocute them or an animal may tear their throat out. Larger targets such as tanks or ships may suffer tidal waves, implosion, explosion, sudden lava flows or just disappear. When fired at cities and other such targets, thermonuclear explosions are the norm, although in one instance a comet crashed into the city. Number two is the unicycle from the same book. Honorable mention goes to the Soft Weapon from the short story of the same name by Larry Niven. ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/19 "2008-09-17T06:01:18Z")
Green Lantern ring is very useful, but I have a long term liking for Katana’s (of Batman and the Outsiders fame) sword, which absorbs the souls of its victims and makes them available for supernatural advice. ---
**Author:** ![Pollux\_Oil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/858c86/32.png) [@Pollux\_Oil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pollux_Oil)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947/20 "2008-09-17T06:20:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The light saber of course. This. > [@BaneSidhe](#): > > My choice? The BFG9000 from the DOOM games. Or this. > [@Bosstone](#): > > As an honorable mention, the Heron Mark Sword from Wheel of Time. This one is actually not my favorite because of how it was depicted in the books, but because of how [the licensed replica](http://www.museumreplicas.com/museumreplicas/detail.aspx?ID=623) actually looks. It’s a beautiful sword. I’ve always wanted to own a sword. When I get enough money and my own place, I’m going to own THAT sword. Pure awesome. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-fictional-weapon/463947.md?page=2)