07 January 2009
Quote of the Week
That TV Troper site is completely awesome.
This quote comes from their Scale of Science Fiction Hardness.
"Another useful rule of thumb: A character is shown a time machine and asks, 'How does it work?' In hard SF the answer will be: 'An interesting question. Please have a seat while I bring you up to speed on the latest ideas in quantum theory, after which I will spend a chapter detailing an elaborate, yet plausible-sounding connection between quantum states, the unified field theory, and the means by which the brain stores memory, all tied into theories from both Einstein and Hawking.'
In soft SF, the answer to, 'How does it work?' will be: 'You sit in this seat, set the date you want, and pull that lever.'"
This quote comes from their Scale of Science Fiction Hardness.
"Another useful rule of thumb: A character is shown a time machine and asks, 'How does it work?' In hard SF the answer will be: 'An interesting question. Please have a seat while I bring you up to speed on the latest ideas in quantum theory, after which I will spend a chapter detailing an elaborate, yet plausible-sounding connection between quantum states, the unified field theory, and the means by which the brain stores memory, all tied into theories from both Einstein and Hawking.'
In soft SF, the answer to, 'How does it work?' will be: 'You sit in this seat, set the date you want, and pull that lever.'"
Labels: scifi/fantasy
# posted by mamurd @ 11:49 PM 
