Science fiction is one of the “What if…?” genres that characterize speculative fiction. The answer to that question is going to vary widely by subgenre. While a genre like fantasy is distinguished by magic, the thing that might identify science fiction is technology. Always a little (or a LOT) ahead of the timeline in question, so you can have steampunk where mad scientists invent fantastical—TECHNOLOGICAL—devices. Magic can mean anything, and sometimes the hand-waving can get far enough out there. Arthur C. Clarke posited three laws for writing about science fiction. The laws are: When a distinguished but elderly scientist states…
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