For optimistic, science-positive SF, I cannot recommend Lois Bujold too highly - her science-of-choice is biology, and I've been told by People Who Know that it's very good. I love her fantasy books too, which certainly are not unicorns and rainbows, but tend toward optimistic. The Sharing Knife books are wonderful, and Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls are two of my all-time favorite books.
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