Am I the only one that is seeing this as a joke referencing Stalactites and Stalagmites? Like I also think that it fits as a good thought experiment, but is the joke so obvious that no one is stating it? Or is am I just reading something into it that’s not there?
I used to get them confused until a visit to Luray Cavern. The tour guide explained that one “held ‘tite’ to the ceiling while the other just ‘mite’ reach it.”
Yeah not obvious to me at all. I came to the comments to get enlightened because I did not get the joke.
I always liked the distinction (I forget who originated it) that science fiction is a story set in a world where the rules are defined by physics and fantasy is a story set in a world where the rules are defined by the author.
I don’t know if you’re brave or foolish, but either way, vaya con dios. The Star Wars fans are relentless.
Dune is more fantasy than Star Wars and many consider it one of the best sci-fi of all times.
There’s a lot of science fiction where the rules of the world are defined by the author. I think the difference is that the foundation of science fiction is on what the world is, both literally, and metaphorically, while the foundation of fantasy lies upon what the world could be, hence the name fantasy
The point is that if the rules aren’t grounded in science, it’s not science fiction. You can have the trappings of science, like space travel or whatever, but if people are moving objects and doing impossible acrobatics by using a magical force, it’s fantasy.
Though not mine, I personally think that definition works better than most. Still, if you pin me down, I’d say that there’s a spectrum, with hard SF (where everything is rigorously anchored to scientific principles) at one end, and pure fantasy (with magic and such) at the other. There are lots of things between those endpoints, with some being closer to one or the other, and some being very much in the middle.
Science fiction is based in reality and usually just extrapolates what we know is scientifically possible, just not with current technology. They can usually explain how stuff works because it’s based on real science to some degree.
Star Trek is science fiction.
Fantasy really just follows the rule of cool. If it’s cool, throw it in. It’s based on nothing but what the writer thinks is cool as shit.
Star Wars is future fantasy.
Absolutely 100% wrong.
Star Wars is ancient fantasy, it happened A LONG TIME AGO in a galaxy Far far away
science fiction is in space and fantasy has castles.
I will take no further questions.
Counter point Star Wars. Magic powers, magic swords, rescuing princesses, chosen one prophesies.
If it’s not from the fantasy region of middle earth then it’s just sparkling fiction.
