Quote:
Originally Posted by starrigger
If you really want to start an argument, ask for a definition of hard SF.  |
Please don't - we'd have to move the thread to the Politics & Religion section
. Talk about flameworthy topics
.
One thing about hard SF though - the degree of hardness is sorta relative. When a person works in the field, it's a little difficult to take the usual buzzwords from string theory or even regular ol' quantum theory too seriously in the context of SF
. For instance, Baxter's
Manifold Space was the first SF book that I (reluctantly) had to put away half-read (too many pop-sci buzzwords for my taste).
As a result, I've found that I've gravitated farther and farther away from "hard SF" as I learned more and more physics over the years - with the result that I'm almost thoroughly trapped in Baen's catalog now
(great SF, just not what would traditionally be called "hard"). I cut my teeth on Asimov and Clarke and the early Crichton (
The Andromeda Strain is probably the "hardest" hard SF I've read to this day. ditto
Sphere). I'm trying to get back in the hard SF game - starting anew with Greg Bear, some indie authors and ... surprise surprise ... our very own Starrigger
(specifically -
The Chaos Chronicles, which I picked up recently).
I think this extends naturally to other fields (except perhaps romance because nobody knows what the hell they're doing when it comes to
that field
- so anything's believable
- ain't no romance experts around). Again, just another rambling thought - YMMV
.