Quote:
Originally Posted by meeera
I'm not going to argue that "the science/engineering/SFnal setting is essential to the plot" is the definition of "real SF", but I could maybe make an argument that it's the definition of "hard SF".
|
Generally, "hard" science fiction means the author has attempted to work out the "rules" of the science developments and explain them with as little hand-waving and technobabble as possible.
So, "discovered a new element that enables faster than light travel" == "soft" (or maybe even fantasy), while "discovered a new element that is more stable than other transuranic elements and allows this previously impossible chemical process" == "hard".