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I didn't find the perfect phrasing for what I meant:

> Significant technical detail that resists attempts at mental dismantling

The last part makes it interesting to me again! For example, I love "ice nine" and "dragon's egg" (more "hard" sci-fi), and I adore the sci-fi/fantasy story SCP-1425.

I also have a passion for PKD (to steer away from technology a little).

What I mean is boring descriptions of fictional technological details, not the effects of technology.

And, in general (unrelated second point), I do not like "McGuffins" and "action".

> a purposely ambiguous ending and a type of unreliable narrator

I love that! Have I mentioned Philip K Dick yet? Regardless, he's pretty much on the other end of the scale of what I meant: techno-centric vs more "philosophical" sci-fi.

I don't care about detailed descriptions of space-station machinery or interstellar travel–unless of course, it's written in a way that helps me imagine being in that world, and how it would feel like.






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