Jim Henderson wrote:
> Sure it does; instead of genetically cloning dinosaur DNA, make it a 
> mastadon instead.  Or a sabre-toothed tiger.

Let me rephrase that. Jurassic park wouldn't be the same story without 
the *cloning*.

>> Could you tell the Terminator story without the science? Yeah, almost
>> kinda. All you need is someone who is really, really hard to kill. 
> 
> IOW, let's say, Predator or Rambo.

Yeah, pretty much, now that you mention it. :-)

>> I certainly prefer "hard" science, myself.
> 
> Same here; though it depends on my mood, too.  Sometimes I just want to 
> watch stuff blow up.

Oh, hard science in novels. Movies, sure, whatever floats.

> I would classify it as Science Fiction for that reason, hardcore or not.

Right, exactly.

>>> I actually haven't read Ringworld.  Need to do that one of these days.
>> I quite enjoyed it. The ones after were much less interesting, IMO.
> 
> I've heard that about the later ones.

It also helps if you read it around the time you read some of the 
others. Otherwise, you miss a bunch of stuff the aliens do. In other 
words, there's several novels full of aliens and Louis Wu, of which 
Ringworld gives you a slice. If you don't remember the other slices, the 
slice that Ringworld gives is going to be less interesting.

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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