"In hard-core science fiction in which characters are responding to a change in environment, caused by nature or the universe or technology, what readers want to see is how people cope, and so the character are present to cope, or fail to cope"

This quote by James Gunn talks to the significance of character development in hard-core sci-fi. In this category, readers are wanting to see how characters react to changes in their environment, whether those modifications are brought on by nature, deep space, or technology. It is through the characters that readers can check out the ramifications of these changes and how they impact the world. By showing how characters cope, or fail to cope, with these modifications, readers can get insight into the consequences of these changes and how they might impact their own lives. Through the characters, readers can acquire a much better understanding of the world and the implications of the modifications that happen in it.