#37 Setting

[Natalie]

Is there a sci fi setting you prefer? Such as a space ship? Distant planet? Futuristic earth?

[Oleksandr]

I like well-thought-out settings, but no specific preference as to details

[Allan]

To some degree, the setting is dependent on what we refer to as "world-building". Seems to me that there are two basic types:

1) a setting within a specific universe, where the universe surrounds every aspect, and its description is a huge part of the story (in some cases, too much). Examples: the Mars trilogy, the Old Man's War series, Hothouse

2) a "bottle" story (from "ship-in-a-bottle"), where the story takes place in a smaller, defined space, and the universe doesn't play into it much.
Example: The Voyage of the Space Beagle; Project Hail Mary; The Daughter of Doctor Moreau; Six Wakes

The first category dominates, but there are plenty of the second. And finally, addressing the question, I don't really have any preference, although bottle stories can be more thrilling. And, as we've discussed, sometimes the author can get carried away with describing the universe & neglect to fill out the characters or the story.

[Natalie]

Thanks for those definitions, Allan. It's a helpful way to view the world building!

[Oleksandr]

Allan wrote: "To some degree, the setting is dependent on what we refer to as "world-building". Seems to me that there are two basic types:."

What about Orphans in the Sky, where the ship for them is the universe?

[Allan]

Oleksandr wrote: "What about Orphans in the Sky, where the ship for them is the universe..."

A classic "bottle" story! Virtually everything takes place inside the ship.

[Oleksandr]

Allan wrote: "A classic "bottle" story! Virtually everything takes place inside the ship."

When it was first published, the first part was called Universe :) and for them it was really the whole universe; thus, I disagree that it was a bottle. 'bottle' IMHO if characters are aware of the universe beyond

[Stephen]

I like all kinds of sf settings, but these days I think I am particularly interested in convincingly alien planets. I really enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s Shroud.

[Allan]

Oleksandr wrote: "Allan wrote: "for them it was really the whole universe; thus, I disagree that it was a bottle. 'bottle' IMHO if characters are aware of the universe beyond..."

Well, there is a spectrum of course. But to me it doesn't matter if they're aware of the universe around them if it's not really integral to the story. I took the term from Star Trek: The Next Generation, after reading how they would classify scripts, i.e. going down to a planet or fighting a space battle vs. events entirely enclosed within the ship.

[Papaphilly]

This is a great question. I only ask for a good story and well built characters. The setting must work for the story, but it is not an absolute on way or the other to any given setting for me.