Science fiction - knowing how it works, or letting it be?

Question

For all of you who like science fiction, do you prefer to have an understanding of how every little thing works and is done, or do you prefer to have it there as is, and have it be left to imagination to wonder how it all works?

My examples of this are Star Trek and Star Wars (I love them both).  Star Trek is more technical and scientific, everything has a techno babble reason as to why it works.  On the other hand, you have Star Wars which is more fantasy-ish, where things happen but it's mostly kept in the unknown.  I mean really, how does the Force really work?  No one knows (and I don't accept Midichlorians as an answer...that was just stupid)

So my question to you is, which do your prefer in the books that you read?  One extreme or the other, or do you like middle ground?

My blog: http://greaterthanknowledge.wordpress.com/

Steven J Pemberton · Accepted Answer

Yes :-)

When a writer understands the science and technology he's explaining (or can extrapolate convincingly for stuff that doesn't exist yet), and can do it in a way that seems natural and moves the plot along, then I like reading it. When the opposite is true, I don't. As Confucius said, "Better to keep mouth shut and be thought an idiot than to open it and prove it beyond all doubt."

Science fiction - knowing how it works, or letting it be?

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