I did a short video today on the difference between science fiction v.s science fantasy.
The explanation is simple : Aliens.
Once Aliens, biological entities from a point of origin other than Earth, then it becomes fantasy.
The biggest reason for this is that the scientific community has not been able to irrevocably prove the existence of said Aliens.
Science Fiction means, no Aliens.
Just humans and or known existing creatures.
Science Fiction falls into two very distinct realms.
Speculative and Hard
Hard Science Fiction takes already developed technologies and gives them a logical generational boost and is set in a future less than a generation away.
Such as "Blade Runner or Black Mirror" : even though some of the technologies in both of these "universes" has proven to be relatively in effective or did not develop as far as imagined they still see short term logical uses of the technologies represented there in.
Speculative Science Fiction looks further into the future and makes educated guesses. Usually several generations removed from our current time. For Example, "The Expanse" would be a closer to current time where as "Altered Carbon" and "Battlestar Galactia" would also fall into the realms of speculative Science Fiction if set further and further into the future, respectively.
This little rant aside one of my favorite things to do is to take fantasy writings, Science or otherwise and try to apply logic to them and get them closer to Science Fiction.
One of the more interesting thought puzzles has been the Star Wars Universe, it falls into the realms of Science Fantasy, or High Fantasy depending on how you view "The Force".
One of the biggest flaws that many people attribute to the Star Wars Universe and it's misuse of Science is the Kessel run. "The Falcon finished it in 12 Parsecs" is the quote. Many scientists say "Well a parsec is a measurement of distance not time" And to which I say "No shit, but the statement still stands."
And here's how.
Let's take into account that to travel through something like "Hyper Space" or faster than light travel an object has to navigate the gravity wells of Stars, Planets, and Black Holes. Not to mention all of the other flotsam and jetsam making it's way all higgldy piggldy out there in the Universe. In order to do this all of the calculations for speed, trajectory, distance have to made ahead of time.
The star wars universe has different rating factors for their "Hyper Space" Drive. Dictating how many times the speed of light the ship can be propelled at.
"Well then it's all about the speed or power of the drive then"
"No." This is where I take a big sigh and try to get my thoughts in order. "The speed of the drive simply dictates how many times faster a ship can go, you still have to take into account maneuverability and, most importantly, trajectory calculations. A mistake in which gets you to your destination safely or puts you spaghettified into the middle of a black hole."
So, Han boasting he made the Kessel run in 12 parsecs means he was able to skirt closer to many of the gravity wells on the route and cut through many areas that other ships pilots or computers were unable to. Because Han is/was a brilliant mathematician he was able to shave massive amounts of distance off of the route, there for, decreasing the over all amount of time so that even if the Falcon had a slower engine they could still get there faster.
I'd argue that Chewie was the better Pilot.
Or maybe it was the other way around.
You never know with those two.
Moving forward and into "The Force"
In the original three films the explanation of the force was largely left to mysticism and magic as it's explanation. In the prequal trilogy it was attributed to "midichelorians" and in the newer films it was largely left as a vague smile.
My argument (entirely fictional and only vaguely bordering on speculative) would be quantum entanglement, the splitting and sharing of electrons between two individuals. These "Midichelorians" being concentrations of the things.
The idea occurred to me because of the film and television series "Highlander" in which virtual immortals travel earth chopping off each others heads to absorb their memories and muscle training, shown by a surge of a lightning passing between the two combatants when one is slain.
Taking this concept into the Universe it would be argued that "The Force" is simply a stabilized web electrical brain impulses that allow a "Force User" with enough of these split electrons to send their consciences out along this web. And, with time and training, create copies of themselves to live within this web.
That, unlike the Highlanders, where the ideas is to close the web, the idea behind "The Force" in the Star Wars universe would be to to expand this web.
During the early history of the Star Wars Universe there was no real "Dark" or "Light" side of the force. There simply was "The Force" and Jedi were individuals that learn to sense and tap into this. Their temples, arguably, acting like beacons and radio transmitters to increase range and potency.
When the Sith Rose they took the highlander approach, thinking that, by consolidating this power they would be able to rule over it, not realizing that by closing the web it reduced it's effectiveness and simply created bubble within the force that eventually popped.
"The Force is neither good or evil, but a tool for a Jedi" I think was said by Obi Wan
During the Republic Era the Jedi had popped the bubble of "Dark Force Users" and sent that energy back out into the larger web, but then, with Coruscant acting as another Bubble of "Light Side of the Force" The Sith, having learned from their original mistake spread themselves purposefully thin to hide themselves from the Jedi Order. And the purpose of the Clone Troopers was to dilute Palapatines powers enough to disguise himself while at the same time allowing him more direct connections within the force.
If this were the case, then Kenobi's willing transference of himself into the Force would not have been to strengthen Luke, but to weaken Palapatines hold over the cone troopers and Vader himself.
You see, if my theory were proven true then "Vaders Fist", or the 501st legion, aside from offering a physical tactical advantage would have been acting as a link through "The Force" on Vader. And as the loyalty of the troopers moved from Palaptine because of mental and social conditioning through the cloning process moved to Vader and Vader was faced once again by his old mentor and children he thought dead the loyalty wavered and there for the strength was balanced between Vader and Palapatine allowing for the final shift of power that ended Palaptines life.
If this reasoning proved sound it would explain why Kenobi would not have had alot of direct contact with Luke and why so many of the survived Jedi after order 66 would have remained so distant and acting as guardians rather than teachers to the younger force users they were charged to hide and guide.
Because they did not want to make the same mistake a third time, by concentrating force users and creating beacons for power hunger individuals.
Moving into the Sequels with Kylo and Rey this would explain why Snoke would not want to use Clone Troopers again. Not because it was an ineffective tactic, but because by creating an army of, essentially, force sensitive clones Palaptine had created the key to the disruption of his own power.
Which raises the question of How many Jedi truly survived order 66? I mean not all Jedi recognized the councils authority and not all Jedi were entirely "Light or Dark" in their uses of the Force.
How many other young trainees were hidden by the dispersal of the Jedi Order.
Yes, the clone army and reach of the Empire was vast, but The Universe and places to hide therein are more vast than any singular "Force" could be.
These things keep me up at night, and these are the stories I want to tell.
