Writing Excuses 9.2: Hard Science Fiction with Eric James Stone

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Writing Excuses 9.2: Hard Science Fiction with Eric James Stone

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2014/01/12/writing-excuses-9-2-hard-science-fiction-with-eric-james-stone/

Key Points: What is hard science fiction? Wikipedia talks about science fiction with an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy. Howard suggested that a portion of the reveal, the plot, is based on science that the reader has brought with them. Asimov and Analog say if you remove the science, the story breaks. Why do people read it? Because of the extrapolation from current scientific knowledge, the feeling of reality, to explore possible futures, for thought experiments. Also to learn. Do you have to be a scientist to write hard science fiction? No, but you probably need to read science fact articles and do your research. Have we reached the limits of what we can discover? Stan Schmidt suggested that when projecting technologies, about one third are linear growth, better, faster, smaller. About one third are new combinations of stuff. And about one third are things that we didn't even see coming.
( How does the moon stay in the sky? )

[Brandon] Eric, would you be willing to give us a writing prompt?
[Eric] Yes. Think of a way to combine two technologies that currently are not combined and write a story that involves the combination of those two technologies.
[Brandon] Awesome. That's a very good writing prompt.
[Howard] iPhone and Android.
[Laughter]
[Brandon] Adit and Dan Wells. This has been Writing...
[K-ch!]
[Brandon] Excuses.
[K-ch! ca... cha... cha]
[Brandon] You're out of excuses. Really. Now go write.
[chechhhh!]