fictionaltechnical

Fictionaltechnical is a term used in writing and fan communities to describe content that presents invented technologies and technical processes in a way that mimics real‑world engineering. The term signals that the material is fictional and crafted to feel authentic, even when it relies on speculative science or invented principles.

Characteristics include plausible or semi‑plausible science, internal consistency, and explicit descriptions of devices, components, and operating principles. Writers may present diagrams, specifications, or glossaries, and may explore economic, environmental, and safety considerations. The aim is to create believable worldbuilding without presenting the material as factual real science.

Applications span science fiction novels and films, tabletop role‑playing games, video games, and fan wikis. In these contexts fictionaltechnical helps readers or players suspend disbelief, understand constraints, and engage with technology as a narrative element. It can also function as a metatechnique in lore-building, offering readers a sense of tinkering and experimentation within a fictional setting.

Challenges involve avoiding excessive exposition, which can lead to information dumps, and maintaining consistency with the world’s implied physics and engineering rules. Writers balance technical flavor with narrative pacing to ensure that details serve character and plot as well as world credibility.

Related concepts include hard science fiction, techno-babble, and worldbuilding. Fictionaltechnical is a descriptive approach rather than a formal discipline, used to enrich storytelling through believable, invented technology and method within a coherent fictional framework.