i.e do you prefer:

  • technically grounded and plausible science elements (e.g The Martian)

or

  • stuff so fantastical that it doesn’t even warrant trying to explain it (Dr Who, some Marvel/DC stuff, Star Wars)

Another way to look at this would be Sci-Fi versus Science Fantasy, perhaps.

  • Old-School Sci-Fi like HG Wells centers around a core scientific idea and the consequences arising from that,

whereas

  • Science Fantasy (more prevalent nowadays) only looks to science - or the impression of some science - to serve the fantasy devices it uses.

So which is better?

  • Trump Rapes Kids@lemmy.world
    0·
    4 days ago

    Science fiction should be based on science. Most of the things you list are fantasy, not science fiction.

    If you want some great science fiction check out Neal Stephenson. Anathem and Seveneves are both fantastic.