http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/scifi.html

quote:

---

This is a selective list of some short stories and novels that use more or less accurate science and can be used for teaching or reinforcing astronomy or physics concepts. I include both traditional "science-fiction" and (occasionally) more serious fiction that derives meaning or plot from astronomy or physics ideas.

---

I was listening to Neal Stephenson's seminar "Sci-Fi as a literary genre" (easily found by google) where he preferred the broad term of speculative fiction - basically *anything* that's essentially sepeculative/out-of-the-ordinary. 300 the movie was spec fic to him.

There was a funny anecdote where a friend of his (bruce sterling?) defined a thriller as an "SF novel that includes the President of the United States" - I lmoa'd on that one.

But i've been struggling to define more specific categories just for myself - I tend read everything between scifi and fantasy...and I like to categorize things.

Lately I've been reading H.P lovecraft short stories - of whom i've never read before.
First, it's amazing how much science is mixed directly with the paranormal - for ex, Beyond the Wall of Sleep.
Second, it's interesting to note that Lovecraft's style is, I think, what some would classify as "telling, not showing." But he does it well.
Very instructive...