I feel like it was probably the fans that pushed the designs in the more realistic direction. You’ve got hyper-vigilant fans looking over every fucking frame in a show/movie, taking measurements, making calculations, writing to the network/studio, asking obscure questions at conventions, and not to mention many may be somewhat well-educated, it’s just gradually pushed modern designs in that direction. When I see all the little details in a show like The Expanse, it feels real and I appreciate the attention to detail.

When something seemingly awkward happens on-screen, like a spaceship doesn’t stop on a time, or their boots are magnetic because antigravity isn’t a thing, or whatever, and then you have to think about it for a moment, like, “Oh, that’s because of XYZ, now that makes sense!” I like those little moments.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 8 points 1 year ago

I like sci-fi (and write it a bit) and nowadays authors are too concerned with avoiding criticism from audience and sounding realistic.

If there is a definitive genre for provoking thought and testing the limits of imagination it is sci-fi.

Who cares if something is not realistic and sounds completely impossible? I like the classical "there was once the certainty that it was impossible to reach the moon". It was never about being a problem but a challenge and we solved it.

The concept of the space elevator was developed by a physicist inspired by something in a sci-fi novel.

What tends to be overlooked as well is that sci-fi vies to warn about possible consequences of ill considered decisions and technological developments which are usually the first to be coveted by whoever enjoys the work.

Sci-fi should never feel the need to apologize.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago

There was a tv "documentary" about sci fi sciencd in real life which I really enjoyed at times.

I don't know how much is real but it was really neat: https://imdb.com/title/tt1358355/