That is a very thorough answer, easily the equal of anything in the Sigma Xi sample (actually, the addition of the film clip puts it over the top, imho). Thank you.
Those endless debates about what is and is not SF are pretty pointless. To me, science fiction could just as easily be classified as a form of applied philosophy, a continuation of the utopian/satiric traditions of Thomas More and Jonathan Swift. Whatever the technical or magical special effects, many many SF stories contain classic moral dilemmas.
Thank you! To me the deciding element is the presence of scientific story elements, central to the plot which in some way delve into the theoretical. These story elements can include the speculation that certain aspects of our modern understanding of science are wrong or how things might be different if certain known laws did not exist or did not work in the way they're currently understood to work.
As Arthur C Clark once said "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible". So I see no reason to shun works that do just that.
I do love stories which are rooted firmly in what is known to be scientifically possible, such as some of the more grounded episodes of Black Mirror but I see no reason they should be declared the only "true" science fiction.
To me fantasy is defined by a central focus on pre-scientific ideas, in particular some form of magic which has no scientific explanation. Fantasy worlds need not be devoid of science, but science is not a key focus. Just as an example, in the world of Harry Potter we can presume that science exists and the products of scientific research are still vital to the non-magical world, but the books never really delve into this because the focus is on the mythology-inspired concept of magic.
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Coincidentally, another quote from Clarke opens my column this month, on a similar theme.
“It seems to me that there is room—one might even say a long unfelt want—
for what might be called the ‘tall’ science-fiction story.
By this I mean stories that are intentionally unbelievable:
not, as is too often the case, unintentionally so.”
– Arthur C. Clarke, preface, Tales from the White Hart
The column should be posted tomorrow at the top of this page
http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=columns&vol=randall_hayes&article=_index
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