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From: ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: Science-based fiction
Date: 28 Jun 2025 13:53:50 GMT
Organization: Stefan Ram
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Expires: 1 Jun 2026 11:59:58 GMT
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ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) wrote or quoted:
>There's nothing you'd call classic sci-fi here - no aliens, no wild

  Mundane science fiction, or "MSF", is a type of sci-fi that
  really leans into realism. You usually see these stories set
  on Earth or somewhere in the Solar System, and they steer clear
  of stuff like aliens, warp drives, or anything that feels like
  magic. The whole idea is to stick with things that could actually
  happen, based on where science and tech are headed. A lot of the
  time, these stories dig into how new technology or environmental
  shifts might play out for regular people or society as a whole.

  Some things that make MSF stand out:

  - The setting is usually the near future or a version of
    today that feels pretty believable.

  - It skips over things like time travel, aliens, or
    faster-than-light spaceships.

  - The science and tech are grounded in reality - nothing too
    out there.
    
  - The focus is on how people and communities deal with new
    but possible changes.

  - You'll often see themes like climate change, running out
    of resources, or just the day-to-day effects of new inventions.

  For example, you might get a story about how a new treatment
  for brain injuries changes the way people think and act,
  all set in a future that feels close to home.

  Social science fiction, or "social SF", is about using sci-fi
  settings to dig into social, cultural, or political questions.
  Instead of getting caught up in wild tech or space battles,
  these stories are more interested in what science and tech
  do to people, relationships, and society.

  What sets social SF apart:

  - It's all about how science and tech shake up society,
    culture, or personal lives.

  - The stories usually dive into ideas from fields like
    sociology, psychology, politics, or ethics.

  - There might be some speculative tech, but the main thing
    is how people react and change.

  - It's often more about the human side than the technical
    details.

  So, if you had a story where a new drug for brain injuries
  doesn't just fix memory but also changes who someone is, and
  that messes with families or teams, that's classic social SF.