I’d like to take this opportunity to point out how much I hate the “reformed alcoholic has one drink and 5 minutes later they’re necking vodka from the bottle and partying with hookers” trope as well. Like relapses can take weeks or months to fully kick in

There needs to be a new category between the two where the author goes to some lengths to make things feel scientifically plausible, but still doesn’t let themselves be limited by what’s actually possible. Eg Peter Watts, Alastair Reynolds.

I guess we could call it “chewy sci-fi”