I was talking with a science ficiton editor the other day and we were discussing the on-going debate between hard sci-fi and fantasy in the world of literature. I love the old school writers like Dick and Campbell who had a grounding in scientific theory for their writing, but something caught my attention about the two literary camps… neither one would really be able to exist without the other and sometimes they forget that. We have a situation where children (and young adults) are drawn in to sci-fi by the fantastic elements. These same kids grow up to develop technologies based around the fantastic ideas that were presented to them in the context of adventure. Take Star Trek for example, I’m sure several readers have seen the specials about how Star Trek fantasy tech influenced a generation of technologists to push forward developing those ideas in to practical uses. This is the ultimate circle-of-life for science ficiton. Students read the books, become inspired, develop the technologies in to practical devices and inspire writers to push further with more outrageous ideas. Fantasy is the basis for all inspirations and its a tool that can be employed by sci-fi writers without shame or pity. Just because the science doesn’t quite make practical sense yet doesn’t mean it won’t eventually. Hard science ficiton people, meet the fantasy people. You have a lot to talk about, mostly good things.
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