Hmmmm, then by your definition as stated in your first post, Mr. C, I'm not sure what you would consider sci fi, aside from your one example.
There are plenty of examples, especially since I am willing to swallow some varieties of FTL (which are remotely plausible in our universe). For instance: many of Arthur C. Clarke's books, the first two Alien movies, Blade Runner, Neuromancer, the Diamond Age, etc.
I would not consider a story about stealing atom bomb secrets a sci fi novel, unless time travel was involved, because the core story isn't based on science. I wish I knew a way to better explain myself there.
The core of the story is the stealing of the science of the bomb -- you can't remove the science from the story without changing it completely.
I guess at this point we'll just have to agree to disagree, LOL.
But disagreeing is fun!
Sci fi is kinda like porn. We know it when we see it, and everyone has their own definition!
Preferably high definition: Wrinkles, moles and cellulite turn me on.
