On the nature of Science Fiction and Fantasy

On the nature of Science Fiction and Fantasy

A man has opened a dark portal to the world of demons. The demons are attacking the world of men, killing crops, stealing water and hiding the sun. The demons enslave humans, corrupting some to turn them into undead half-men, unable to disobey their master. That master is none other than this first man, who sits, still human, at the throne atop the demons' mighty tower, conversing with the demons themselves through the dark portal.

Along comes a brave knight. This knight rises up with the help of a guild of warriors who oppose the demons, battling his way across the land to bring down thier strongholds. Along his path he aquires a magical staff, which allows him to lift and toss any weight. Using the staff along with his sword and his own wit, he scales the tower and brings it down along with its king, stopping him from opening the dark portal and sending himself inside.

And thus did Gordon Freeman stop Dr. Breen and topple the Combine Citadel. The story I just told you was the storyline of Half-Life 2.

Reading the works of Isaac Asimov and comparing them to things like Star Wars has got me thinking. What is truly science fiction, and what is fantasy in a future setting?

I think the difference is the technology. In Asimov's stories the technology is always so deeply rooted in the story that it's impossible to tell the story without it; on the other hand, one could present Star Wars in an ancient fantasy setting and no one would think much of it.

Basically what I'm getting at is, be careful to find technological progress as a theme before classifying something as sci-fi. Some things are better labeled as something a little closer to fantasy in space.