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I have to admit to being a bit of a fan of novellas in Science Fiction...
The way I see it, a short story is a story I read in a single sitting (Say reading time of less than 90 minutes for me (your reading time may vary)). Novellas Probably are read in two or three reasonable reading sessions (again at about 90 minutes each). Anything longer than that I see as a novel.
Ultimately, the most important distinction though is focus. In a short story, you can look at one thing; character, action or plot. In a novella you have enough time to touch on both plot and character, but sub-plots essentially will not exist. Novels can open up a lot more.
As for Novellettes? I don't see much unique about them. The shorter ones work like short stories, the longer ones like novellas.
In any case, in Science Fiction, some of the best works I have read were novellas.
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Bill
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