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	Soft science fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Soft science fiction or soft SF is science fiction whose plots and themes tend to focus on human characters and their relations and feelings, while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws.
		In addition, "science" in soft science fiction often falls into the realm of things which current scientists consider impossible or at least highly unlikely (telepathy is a common example).
		Furthermore, Asimov treats his "soft sciences" in a remarkably "hard" way: his fictional science of psychohistory is a mathematical way of encapsulating the "human texture" of his sociological story.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Soft_science_fiction (753 words)

	Science fiction - Wikipedia
		Science fiction was made possible only by the rise of modern science itself, notably the revolutions in astronomy and physics.
		Science fiction proper began, however, toward the end of the 19th century with the scientific romances of Jules Verne, whose science was rather on the level of invention, as well as the science-oriented novels of social criticism by H.G. Wells.
		Science fiction writers' work have included predictions of future societies on Earth, analyses of the consequences of interstellar travel, and imaginative explorations of other forms of intelligent life and their societies in other worlds.
	nostalgia.wikipedia.org /wiki/SF (686 words)

	Hard science fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Hard science fiction, or hard SF, is a subgenre of science fiction characterized by an interest in scientific detail or accuracy.
		In hard science fiction, the main characters are usually working scientists, engineers, military personnel, or astronauts.
		Hard science fiction writers usually attempt to make their stories consistent with known science at the time of publication (which also means that to later audiences their knowledge may be obviously incomplete; some older works depict astronauts walking on Venus in street clothes).
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Hard_science_fiction (571 words)

	Science fiction: Encyclopedia topic (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction (speculative fiction: speculative fiction is an all-encompassing term which includes science fiction, alternative...
		While most science fiction is set in the future, most authors are not attempting to predict; instead, they use the future as an open framework for their themes.
		The term "science fiction" is often abbreviated as "SF" or "sci-fi" (often pronounced "skiffy" in derogation of the term); however, SF is ambigous (c.f.
	www.absoluteastronomy.com /reference/science_fiction (5076 words)

	Sociological Science Fiction Defined
		Hard science fiction includes physics, mechanics, biology and other sciences where the results are supposedly predictable whether the science is pulled from thin air or extrapolated from existing research.
		Soft science fiction focuses on the intangible sciences, such as psychology and anthropology.
		Where hard science fiction looks at how a character uses a particular gadget or discovery, soft science fiction is more likely to look at the gadget's impact on a society or how a person reacts to the discovery.
	fmwriters.com /Visionback/Issue19/themesoc.htm (1171 words)

	Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Dune at Epinions.com (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		Science fiction pieces can usually be cut up into two sorts, in terms of technology: hard and soft.
		"Soft" science fiction is in the Star Wars mold: there's no attempt to explain anything at all, and the gizmos are merely props to tell a story.
		Soft sciences are typified by disciplines such as psychology and ecology.
	www.epinions.com /content_53830717060 (1285 words)

	Soft science fiction: Encyclopedia topic (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		Soft science fiction or soft SF is science fiction (science fiction: Literary fantasy involving the imagined impact of science on society) whose plots and themes tend to focus on human feelings, while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws.
		Furthermore, Asimov treats his "soft sciences" in a remarkably "hard" way: his fictional science of psychohistory (psychohistory: psychohistory is the name of a fictional science in isaac asimovs foundation universe,...
		One classic example of a Soft SF writer is Ray Bradbury (Ray Bradbury: United States writer of science fiction (born 1920)).
	www.absoluteastronomy.com /reference/soft_science_fiction (811 words)

	The world's top science fiction 1 websites (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		Science fiction is a form of fiction which deals principally with the impact of actual or imagined science and/or technology upon society or individuals.
		Soft science fiction is the subgenre where plots and themes tend to focus on philosophy, psychology, politics and sociology while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws.
		The European brand of science fiction proper began, however, toward the end of the 19th century with the scientific romances of Jules Verne, whose science was rather on the level of invention, as well as the science-oriented novels of social criticism by H.G. Wells.
	www.websbiggest.com /wiki-article-tab.cfm/science_fiction_1 (2161 words)

	Science Fiction
		Hard science fiction is generally written according to rigorous specifications that involve extrapolating or projecting believable future developments of known scientific laws or principles.
		In most soft science fiction, the focus is not on imagining and projecting "hard" science into the future, but instead rests on the moral and social life of humanity.
		The texts for the course are: The Norton Anthology of Science Fiction edited by Ursula K. Le Guin and Brian Attebery, Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, and Neuromancer by William Gibson.
	faculty.uca.edu /~terryw/scifi.html (1022 words)

	Women and SF (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		Proto-science fiction includes many gothic narrative examples as well as those written before "The Golden Age."[8] Before science fiction was classified as a separate genre, such authors as H. Wells, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Aldous Huxley, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jules Verne were prime examples of writers creating a fiction considered speculative in nature.
		Although the universal language of science and rationality popularized in pulp SF was tailored to a rather narrow, white-male constituency, it could still be construed as a populist refusal of the elitist vehicles of "literary" speech and "metaphysical" discourse that had traditionally dominated Western literate culture.
		At last we come to cyberpunk, and though one could argue science fiction is finally in a postcyberpunk phase, it is evident that the rest of the world is still coming to terms with the cyberpunk generation.
	www.twd.net /ird/forecast/browning.html (9530 words)

	WritingScienceFiction
		The primary criterion for a novel to be Science Fiction is that it must show a world where science and technology, its applications and ramifications, are a necessary part of the structure.
		Sometimes the science is faulty, but authors make this sacrifice to make some kind of poetic or thematic statement, Still, if the science were removed, the work would fall apart, and so it still is considered part of the Science Fiction body of literature.
		Science Fiction may be a literature of ideas, but it still carries all the demands of any other type of fiction.
	www.delta.edu /drsnyder/WritingScienceFiction.html (3412 words)

	Rick Sutcliffe's Fiction Index
		In the branch of speculative fiction called science fiction, some element of science or technology is critical to the plot, and there is no magic.
		Soft science fiction is more literary, and attempts to weave the science and technology seamlessly into the tapestry.
		Futuristic fiction is a catch-all term used by some publishers for any or all of speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and apocalyptic literature.
	www.arjay.bc.ca /Fiction (920 words)

	SF Citations for OED
		Soft science fiction is basically based on sociology, anthropology, political science, theology, or mythology.
		While all their works contain the extrapolated factual material characteristic of science fiction, they really focus on the future of humanity and its possible future traits and societies.
		Soft science fiction, probably a back-formation from Hard Science Fiction, and used sometimes to refer to science fiction based in the so-called soft sciences (anthropology, sociology, etc.), and sometimes to refer to science fiction in which there is little science or little awareness of science at all.
	www.jessesword.com /sf/view/1672 (310 words)

	SpeculativeFiction.net
		In hard science fiction, science and technology are integral to the plot to the point of being the main protagonists.
		The science and technology are presented in terms of their effects on people, interpersonal relationships, and all aspects of society.
		Fantasy SF scarcely deals with science or technology, indeed is often the antithesis of both, even though it is sold on the same shelves as science fiction.
	www.arjay.bc.ca /Fiction/SF (1095 words)

	FCEA NEWSLETTER
		There are numerous categories and sub-genres of speculative fiction, but generally there is a distinction between hard science fiction which concentrates on scientific detail and soft science fiction which focuses on sociopolitical themes.
		Perhaps one of the reasons science fiction has remained so popular with both readers and authors is that it can be turned to serious purposes without ever losing the element of fun that makes any good story essentially entertaining and a pleasure rather than a duty to read.
		Unlike many typical science fiction or fantasy covers, this woman is not scantly clad or languishing, she is an active participant.
	www.flacea.org /Archives/newsletterS2005.htm (3830 words)

	PWHCE Film Review: GATTACA
		Hard science fiction films are normally set in the future and have a loose storyline that is incidental to the high-tech gadgetry and special effects that serve as the main novelty and consequent attraction of the film.
		The fictional technological advances set within such films, therefore, are relevant only to the extent that they complement the context of the story.
		A soft science fiction film's cutting edge is often determined by the extent that it causes the viewer to re-assess the future with reference to their status quo.
	www.pwhce.org /gattaca.html (1484 words)

	history sf
		The evident irony of science fiction's claim that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus, published in 1818, is the first example of a "science fiction" text (Aldiss 25) cannot be denied.
		Proto-science fiction includes many gothic narrative examples as well as those written before "The Golden Age."[3] Before science fiction was classified as a separate genre, such authors as H. Wells, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Aldous Huxley, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jules Verne were prime examples of writers creating a fiction considered speculative in nature.
		[18] brought many of her feminist sensibilities to the science fiction mainstream, and lent weight to her earlier arguments regarding the lack of women in the genre.
	www.cwrl.utexas.edu /~tonya/Tonya/sf/history.html (7197 words)

	Fiction Department - Enoch Pratt Free Library (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		Hard science fiction refers to science fiction that has an emphasis on scientific advances and discoveries that could theoretically take place in the fields of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology.
		Both science fiction and fantasy have the potential to be hilarious as well as serious.
		The most prestigious prizes for science fiction and fantasy are the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award, which may go to a work in either genre, and the World Fantasy Award, which goes to a work of fantasy.
	www.epfl.net /slrc/fiction/worldReading.html (1525 words)

	They’re Just Words » Fiction
		There is fiction and nonfiction, of course, but what I mean is ‘genre’.
		For example, there is science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, mainstream, etc etc. THEN within each of the genres are other segments.
		Soft SF means that the current information available could not produce such events.
	paulaoffutt.com /fiction (626 words)

	Hard Science Fiction
		Another, older definition might be that Hard SF is that branch of literature which is written with science or technology as the main focus of the story.
		In this definition Hard and Soft SF are complementary rather than contradictory, as there is no reason why a story written with science tech as the focus, or just simply a scientifically viable story, cannot have good character development as well.
		In this regard, "hard science", certainly does not have to be the same as "ultra hard" or "diamond hard".
	www.kheper.net /topics/scifi/hard_scifi.html (579 words)

	Types of Science Fiction - SF/Fantasy Books
		In the basic sense, science fiction deals with science, as it is now or how it may be in the future.
		Merriam Webster Dictionary Online defines science fiction as “fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.” Beyond this basic idea, the genre includes many different types of stories and themes.
		Cyberpunk is “a genre of science fiction set in a lawless subculture of an oppressive society dominated by computer technology” according to the Oxford Dictionary.
	www.bellaonline.com /articles/art35058.asp (385 words)

	Grading Science Fiction according to realism and what is actually known
		For this reason, "soft science fiction", so-called not because it is "unrealistic" but because it deald with the "soft" sciences (sociology, psychology, etc) rather than the "hard sciences" (astronomy, physics, chemistry) is just as important as "hard SF".
		"Soft SF" is also called Literary SF (SF that focuses more on literary style and character than on science or tech), or Humanistic SF (focuses on the personal or interpersonal elements of the story rather than the scientific).
		So for realism, SF has to focus on the "social sciences" just as much as on the "hard sciences", and on the humanistic and cultural element just as much as the physics and scientific side of things.
	www.kheper.net /topics/scifi/known.html (667 words)

	Currey sf
		THE L. The L.W. Currey Collection is a special science fiction archive in the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas.
		The next may be Texas A and M University in College Station, with over 20,000 fiction works and 500+ critical texts in addition to a core collection of pulp magazines and a growing number of foreign publications.
		[2] of first-edition science fiction (the original purchase of 3,050 titles was from Currey's personal collection), and with the addition of his annual gifts, his contribution of another 2,700 titles (including Roger Zelazny's fanzine collection), Currey's own interests have given the collection its focus.
	www.cwrl.utexas.edu /~tonya/Tonya/sf/currey.html (1017 words)

	[No title]
		General: Soft SF is different from hard in that characters, emotional content and artistic effect are emphasized rather than plot and deterministic science.
		Social, behavioral, natural or hard science are all acceptable as a basis; and past, present, future or alternate universe are all fine as a setting.
		No mult subm.] Submissions: submissions@fictioninferno.com http://www.fictioninferno.com/ =Fiction Inferno= is a new Internet magazine devoted to publishing speculative fiction of literary quality, including (but not strictly limited to) the genres more commonly referred to as science fiction, fantasy, horror, and experimental.
	www.sff.net /people/kitsune/newsletters/vol9/06nov01.txt (4858 words)

	The Philotic Web Forum (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
		I am personally a purist on this; I think that very "soft" science fiction crosses the line into fantasy -- Star Wars and Star Trek, for instance, may or may not be great art, but I don't think they are science fiction.
		The social science aspects of it are challenging and worth looking at on their own, outside of the scope of the story.
		Maybe science fiction must only make use of self-consistent laws, have all actions result in consequences, and technology works for everyone, not just sorcerers or whatever.
	www.philoticweb.net /openbb/read.php?TID=5687 (1314 words)

	Hard versus soft Science Fiction
		Generally, it somehow means fiction in which the science is not merely necessary, but central: one half-joking definition says that you have to have had a scientific education in order to enjoy it.
		Almost all SF books I have read contain either errors or made-up science that contradicts things that are known today; most of the exceptions are books that are so vague that there isn't any substantive scientific content.
		Hard SF is a form of alternate universe fiction, set in a world where the world-view of American engineers in the late twentieth century is a precise reflection of The Way Things Are.
	www.treitel.org /Richard/sf/hard.html (1153 words)

	Science Fiction Films
		Beginning in the 80s, science fiction began to be feverishly populated by noirish, cyberpunk films, with characters including cyber-warriors, hackers, virtual reality dreamers and druggies, and underworld low-lifers in nightmarish, un-real worlds (i.e.,
		Its importance as an early science-fiction film was that it served as a precursor and inspiration to Universal's Frankenstein (1931) film and many other plots of sci-fi films (with mad scientists, superhuman androids, Gothic elements, and the evil effects of technology).
		The most memorable blending of science fiction and horror was in Universal Studios' mad scientist-doctor/monster masterpiece from director James Whale, Frankenstein (1931), an adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel.
	www.filmsite.org /sci-fifilms.html (1897 words)

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