Jordlaster

Jordlaster is a term used in science fiction and speculative worldbuilding to describe a class of devices or phenomena capable of interacting with planetary crust to rapidly alter subsurface conditions. The concept is typically used to facilitate resource extraction, terrain modification, or terraforming operations. The name is a constructed neologism with no standardized etymology.

In-universe mechanisms, jordlaster devices are often described as producing intense energy pulses or resonant field effects that induce controlled fracturing, dynamic compaction, or phase changes in rock and soil. Some variants emphasize thermal transients, while others rely on geoforce fields that temporarily reduce rock strength or alter mechanical properties. The exact workings are usually deliberately vague, serving as a plot device to enable rapid subsurface work without detailing real-world physics.

Applications in fiction commonly include rapid mining of ore bodies, creation of stabilized tunnels, or conversion of regolith into more usable soil for habitat or agriculture. They are typically depicted as requiring substantial power, cooling, and safety protocols to prevent unintended seismic damage or ecological disruption. Operational limits often include geology-dependent efficiency, limited operational range, and regulatory oversight by planetary authorities, corporations, or coalitions within a given fictional setting.

Variants and ethical considerations can appear across works: handheld tools for fieldwork versus large fixed installations for base construction; debates about safety, environmental impact, and the potential for misuse as a weapon or terrain weaponization. Some stories treat jordlaster technology as a legacy or transitional system supplanted by more precise excavation methods, while others foreground it as a continuing, controversial capability.

See also: geotechnical engineering, terraforming, rock blasting, energy-based excavation devices.