The Blaster is a weapon device in Isaac Asimov's Robot series and Foundation series.
Description[]
A blaster is a directed-energy weapon, commonly of pistol design, used throughout human-settled space for law enforcement, personal defense, and military applications.
The term "blaster" serves as a common name for a class of personal energy weapons, which includes specific types such as disintegrators and neuronic whips. These weapons project focused energy to disable or destroy targets. Their potency and effects vary significantly by type and setting. For instance, a disintegrator can vaporize matter, while a neuronic whip inflicts unbearable pain without causing physical damage.
Standard issue for police forces like the New York Police Department, detectives such as Elijah Baley carry them holstered. A critical plot point in The Caves of Steel involves a blaster being the murder weapon, and its disappearance from the crime scene is a major complication. Their use is often regulated; entering a sensitive area like the Spacer Sector in New York requires surrendering the weapon at a security checkpoint.
The technology evolves across the eras depicted in Asimov's works. By the time of the Galactic Empire, they are common sidearms for security personnel and appear in the Foundation series, showcasing their enduring role in human civilization for millennia.