This come from Science Fiction by Adam Roberts (Routledge, 2000). Science fiction is fiction about changed realities where the change is explained through some mechanism. Thus: Frankenstein can be science fiction because the causes are explained (to a point). Cormac McCarthy's The Road is not because the change in the world is never explained. Kafka's Metamorphosis is not science fiction because the transformation is never explain (or indeed shown).
To be snarky, explaining things or putting them in a logical sense in the story is science fiction, ignoring this is not. To be overly-sensitive: SF readers are too stupid to take things for granted without cause.
Frankly, I think of science fiction in two ways: 1) The impact science has on people, and 2) People living with new or different science. I suppose the first is more obviously  science fiction, and the second could be more "literary."
jaylakesaid something in the panel here at MHCC a few weeks ago about science fiction readers wanting to be transported to other worlds. The more I think about that, the more it makes sense. We're not looking for an emotional journey to share, but a full-immersion experience. To be counter-snarky, I could say people who read "literary" science fiction (stuff we recognize but isn't marketed that way) don't have the imagination to wade through the world building to find the emotional experience they long for.
This makes me think about writing, but I'll try to postpone those musings.
This may seem completely useless to talk about. After all, science fiction is prophetical, and the worlds we've envisioned as the most likely are becoming reality. And I'm left once again with the notion that this is a pointless musing. Story doesn't matter as much as good craft and art, the story telling skills are important.

Tags: sci fi

I think it will be first time in years that I tune into ABC for anything other than coverage of a parade or fireworks. I have been saying for a long time now that science fiction needs the equivalent of Masterpiece Theatre to portray it properly on the screen. The stuff they put on the suck-fi channel isn't really science fiction, it's bad movie making.
But I'm looking forward to this series, even though A Clean Escape isn't my favorite story (I heard the Seeing Ear Theatre version). Sam Waterson in the lead role. This ought to be good. I'll watch to see how they pull it off.
I hope everyone who likes science fiction watches (and this is the important bit: Find some way to let ABC know if you liked it). Please.
They've buried it: 10pm on Saturday night. They want this series to fail. There are six episodes in production, only four on the schedule, and I expect only one or two to be broadcast because of "low viewership."
Please watch. Check out the official site. Check out ABC's site. For more proof of how they are burying this program, they don't even list it on their shows links.

Tags: sci fi, tv