Science and Science Fiction: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

One of the scariest statements I ever heard came from a young relative of mine: "All the science I know I learned from your books!" To which I replied, gasping a little, "But you know I make it up, right?" But not entirely--which raises a critical question. While much has been written about how to use science to create, plot, or enhance one's fiction, not as much has been written about how speculative fiction impacts our understanding of science. Consider the following: Haijun Yao, editor of China's major SF magazine, Science Fiction World, told me last year that the Chinese government, which banned SF during the Cultural Revolution, is now very enthusiastic about its publication.