Science fiction is a genre frequently associated with space and technology. While it is true that a large number of science fiction works include such factors, they are not its most defining characteristics. In my opinion, for something to be a part of science fiction, it must first feature a world or society which differs from ours in some key way. This difference can involve anything from genetic mutations (perhaps some that create "super powers" in otherwise normal humans, like on the TV show Alphas or in any number of Marvel and DC Comics) to parallel timelines that result in dystopian societies to the inevitable technological advances (in this case, the stereotype does exist for a reason). It really does not matter (except, obviously, to the plot of the work) what the specific difference is, so long as it results in a believable alternative to our world. Even though it is highly unlikely that robots will take over the world or that scientists will create a drug that increases human IQ, it is still possible. This is, to me, the main difference between science fiction and fantasy. In fantasy works, it is easy to accept hobbits, trolls, and assorted forms of magic spells and wizards because they exist in a universe distinctly separate from our own. In science fiction, we are faced with our own world, slightly twisted by a different turn of events. Science fiction's strange creatures, whether in the form of aliens or robots, exist because of a discovery that could still take place in the real world. Science fiction's "magic" has a logical, scientific cause that is easily explained; for example, the superhuman abilities seen on Fringe are the result of drug trials by a scientist, not because of some supernatural element.
My absolute favorite example of science fiction is the one I just mentioned, the TV show Fringe. John Scalzi's book Redshirts and S.M. Stirling's series of Change novels, starting with Dies the Fire, are also quite good.
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