I adore hard sf but have never read it for the what-next factor; it's always, I think, been more about the interactions with tech than the tech itself, for me. I've certainly never read it for predictions. I cannot imagine doing so and don't understand the people who do! It should be about commenting on the present, and present possibilities... if you want *my money, anyway :)
I like the "what if" factor or the "what would would happen if" or "how would it work if".
What do you like about the interactions with tech? I find it fascinating since I really do like hard science in my fiction, and I am interested in how I think you are a harder SF reader than me, like I let the engineering team down.
I think I have an advantage in *not* having the engineering background, tbh. I know enough science that stuff doesn't completely throw me- and I (usually!) know when things are totally made up and can figure out whether I approve of that or not - but I'm not hampered by getting cross when things aren't exactly right, which I know happens for some sciencey friends (and happens to me with historical fiction).
I do enjoy the what-if factor, because of the way it comments on society as it is now. I think that's where I like the interactions with technology, actually: what if people lived in an enormous spaceship? what if AIs were a reality of life? what if artificial uteruses became the norm? - stories that deal with that sort of tech and how society works as a consequence are cool.
very sad for you, from my perspective! However, if you're still getting your sf hit, it's all good - as long as we don't get into a slanging match about who reads 'better' stuff... :D
I have liked space opera, I think I just have read a lot that was the same. Which is probably my fault in what I have chosen. And maybe not continuing to read through more of it.
I guess, as with a lot of these sorts of things, I feel like I'm coming to it late so I'm still running to catch up. Additionally, I've mostly only read newer space opera, so perhaps I'm benefiting from not having read the older, potentially annoying stuff?
Also, I have a really bad memory, so it takes me longer to get annoyed by repetition than it does for other people .
And to be fair, I am mostly referring to short stories - and that could be part of my problem, in that you know, space operas should be looooong and novel length and in that vein I love love love Iain M Banks.
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What do you like about the interactions with tech? I find it fascinating since I really do like hard science in my fiction, and I am interested in how I think you are a harder SF reader than me, like I let the engineering team down.
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I do enjoy the what-if factor, because of the way it comments on society as it is now. I think that's where I like the interactions with technology, actually: what if people lived in an enormous spaceship? what if AIs were a reality of life? what if artificial uteruses became the norm? - stories that deal with that sort of tech and how society works as a consequence are cool.
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I have liked space opera, I think I just have read a lot that was the same. Which is probably my fault in what I have chosen. And maybe not continuing to read through more of it.
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I guess, as with a lot of these sorts of things, I feel like I'm coming to it late so I'm still running to catch up. Additionally, I've mostly only read newer space opera, so perhaps I'm benefiting from not having read the older, potentially annoying stuff?
Also, I have a really bad memory, so it takes me longer to get annoyed by repetition than it does for other people .
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Even if you give up everything else you do, including work and sleep, you can't read everything. I regret that :)
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