> On 23 Aug 2014, at 10:24, "Kelly St. Clair" <xxxxxx@efn.org> wrote:
>
> (addendum, because I just thought of a more recent example:)
>
> 90% of the actual setting of the sprawling planetary system that "Firefly" takes place in - its "Verse" - is, from what we currently know about astronomy, utter bullshit.  I'm also at least 90% sure that Joss Whedon *doesn't care*.  It's all just a backdrop for the Space Western story(s) he wanted to tell.  Science only gets brought in when it serves the plot and/or makes for a cool visual for television, like when a character has to jury-rig a way to fire a gun in a vacuum.
>
> So, decide whether your own stories are better served by having a gigantic port facility where container stacks the size of apartment blocks are assembled and ferried out to megaton freighters at the jump limit, or the backwater train-station-I-mean-airport where most of the locals, for lack of other excitement, turn out to meet the weekly mail and passenger run.

Oh absolutely.

Story first.  But in writing for publication I at least want to *try* and fit in with what's expected.  Even if I then chuck it out.  But maybe that's a mistake.  Maybe I should be going with more off the wall things and allowing for greater variations in Third Imperiums.

tc