: Re: The unknown and unexplained in science fiction Science fiction has been defined as a genre where the "incredible" elements are "recognizable as not-true, but also as not-unlike-true, not-flatly-

@Speyer920

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--How can the author maintain a pretense of "scientific plausibility"

Plausability, greek word αληθοφάνεια composed from the words truth and looks. So we want out tech to look real.

As long the tech is placed and exists in a sci-fi world IS real for this world without need to describe how it works. The tech starts looking unreal when violates certain rules that cab be borrowed from today's tech:

High-tech is not common. Common tech is common, but can be used in 'uncommon' way by exception. Many have a mobile, but very few have a fully self-moved vehicle(yet). Where your tech stands defines how many have access. If X is high tech(for your story era), it can't be accessible to the masses. If X is common however this does not necessarily blocks unorthodox spacial usage. Since i am the 'hero' i modify my mobile, break tracking means and use it to hack a network and take control of flying drones :) This does not imply that all others can do that.

Secret tech: Nobody can say for sure what tech exists beyond high tech. The question here is not that tech itself but the consequences. A perfect program that reads and analyzes news and uses certain algorithms to successfully buy and sell stocks will most likely shut down markets globally within few days if used extensively. An unknown alien artifact of undoubtedly unique abilities and properties will most likely start a new world war, without even analysis of the abilities of the object.

Compatible proportional tech and tech usage: Different levels of tech and different techs must all make sense together. If i want to move, i use one of the following: Foot, bicycle, car, train, airplane. I will not use the airplane to go 1 km nor i go to the other side of the planet on foot. If i add a car-size, no-cost, eco-friendly, auto-pilot flying ship to the collection, this actually raises serious questions for the future of all the above means except foot and perhaps bicycle.

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