Vack
/VAK/ noun/verb/interjection
≈ “Fuck (existential dread)”
The primary expletive among Striders (asteroid belt dwellers). Short for 'vacuum' — the ever-present lethal threat of space.
“What the vack just happened?”— Strider characters
Etymology
Short for 'vacuum,' which is an existential threat to space dwellers. In a society with fewer sexual taboos, sex-based profanity lost its power, and the thing people actually fear (explosive decompression) replaced it.
Usage History
Used in Only Superhuman (2012). Notable for its thoughtful approach to how profanity evolves based on cultural fears.
Taboo Trajectory
A fascinating example of how taboo words might shift based on what a culture actually fears. Sexual terms became mundane; mortal danger became profane.
Semantic Drift Timeline
Consistent within the novel. Represents a deliberate evolution in what cultures consider taboo.
Regional Notes
Asteroid Belt / Strider culture.