SF
Empirically discerned natural laws operate invariably.
By applying natural laws, intelligent beings construct technology with which to control natural forces, e.g., using steam to move engines, radio waves to send messages, electricity to light and heat buildings, nuclear reactions to generate energy etc.
Gravity control, instantaneous communication, faster than light space travel etc must result from future technology, not from any contravention of natural laws.
Any other intelligences are extraterrestrial.
Fantasy
Some conscious beings (gods, angels, demons, magicians) control natural forces by acts of will, sometimes expressed by spells or incantations, but without needing technology. Thus, objects are moved, messages are sent, light and energy are generated etc "magically" and not technologically. Natural laws are not utilized but suspended by acts of will.
Other intelligences are supernatural.
Some Authors
Poul Anderson wrote both kinds of fiction well.
CS Lewis freaks us out when, in the opening chapter of Perelandra, he suggests that, on Mars, Ransom had met beings that were both extraterrestrial and supernatural.
Authors can create sf/fantasy mixes, e.g., Tim Power's zones where machines do not work but magic does.
Comment
We live in the world described by sf, not by fantasy.
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
IIRC, Stirling commented a year or two ago that gravity control might be possible in a not too remote future. If so, that would make space traveling much easier--due to gravity control being used to keep gravity inside spaceships at a standard 1 g. Liftoffs from Earth need no longer feel like an elephant is sitting on you!
Ad astra! Sean
More importantly, some antigravity device on the earth's surface could repel the spaceship to launch it much more cheaply than rockets.
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