I think the main, uber underlying difference between fantasy and sci fi is one uses magic and the other uses technology. Magic is more emotional, technology is black and white. Left brain, Right brain. But like you say! Some stories take unfortunate emphasis on the technology, sacrificing time spent on characters and human struggle. This also happens in fantasy...man, if I have to struggle through freaking esoteric Ultra Sweeping 800 Page Fantasy, I mean, let's hurry up and get to the drama bits. Space Opera is where it's at *cough*Firefly*cough*DoctorWho*cough*
Also! An excellent example of combining fantasy and sci fi is Enchantress From the Stars, relying heavily on the notion that all magic is simply science we don't understand yet.
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I think the main, uber underlying difference between fantasy and sci fi is one uses magic and the other uses technology. Magic is more emotional, technology is black and white. Left brain, Right brain. But like you say! Some stories take unfortunate emphasis on the technology, sacrificing time spent on characters and human struggle. This also happens in fantasy...man, if I have to struggle through freaking esoteric Ultra Sweeping 800 Page Fantasy, I mean, let's hurry up and get to the drama bits. Space Opera is where it's at *cough*Firefly*cough*DoctorWho*cough*
Also! An excellent example of combining fantasy and sci fi is Enchantress From the Stars, relying heavily on the notion that all magic is simply science we don't understand yet.