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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

767.0. "Hard vs. Soft SF" by IOSG::LAWM (That's just the way it is!) Thu Mar 30 1989 09:45

    This has probably been discussed elsewhere (so just give me a pointer
    if you know where), but I can't recall seeing it.
    
    My question is:  what is meant by `*HARD* SF'?  I have my own ideas
    about this, but a friend of mine uses an entirely different definition! 
    
    Related to this is another question (which I think *has* been
    discussed), of what makes fantasy different from science fiction.
    
    I'd be interested to hear what some of you experts think.  Authors and
    titles would be useful, as well as a more general description of what
    makes something hard or soft.  
    
    Confused,
    
    Mat.
    *:o)
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
767.1DIR/TITLE=topicname, or SHOW KEYWORD/FULLMTWAIN::KLAESN = R*fgfpneflfifaLThu Mar 30 1989 13:546
    	For the Hard Verses Soft SF discussions, see Topics 104, 255, 507,
    and 556.
    
    	For the SF Verses Fantasy discussions, see Topics 27, 135, 194,
    213, 316, and 333.
767.2DIR/WHEREISIT?=KLAES :-)FOOZLE::BALSLife is like a hurricane here in Duckburg.Thu Mar 30 1989 14:531
    For a road-map to anywhere, see Larry. :-)
767.3Couldn't see for looking!IOSG::LAWMThat's just the way it is!Thu Mar 30 1989 14:5419
    
    Thanks Larry!  I'd done a few title/keyword searches, but hadn't
    considered searching for `SF', as I thought the whole conference should
    have that keyword... :-)  (Moral:  Never overlook the obvious!)
    
    Note 255.0 (and its replies) gives about the best `answer'.  The
    consensus appears to be that `hard' SF is simply that which does not
    contradict any known scientific laws (assuming it qualifies to be
    called SF in the first place).
    
    I'd always considered O.S. Card to be soft SF (largely because the
    science is of secondary importance to the plot), and Niven to be hard SF
    (because the science is often an integral part of the plot).  After
    reading through 104.* and 255.*, I get the feeling that some of you
    might disagree! :-)
    
    Mat.
    *:o)
767.4Try _Aboriginal_SF_SKETCH::GROSSHuman Factors and much, much more.Thu Mar 30 1989 16:1910
    About the difference between SF and Fantasy:
    
    David Brin has written two very nice articles on this in the last
    two issues of _Aboriginal_SF_ (issues 14 and 15; I don't rememeber
    the calendar dates).  He contends that there's stuff sold as fantasy
    (because it has magic in it) that is *written* like SF, and *lots*
    of SF that is written like fantasy with lasers.  Take a look.
    
    Merryl