Speculation of Sci-Fi?

To me, speculative fiction and science fiction can be very similar. Both types of fiction deal with the future. The difference is that science fiction focuses on science and technology while speculative fictions deals with future societies. I think the two books that we read in class last year, 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, can be classified as a mix of both speculative and sci-fi. Both books have societal and technological aspects in the stories. The Handmaiden’s Tale, on the other hand, mainly focuses on society. I agree with the author, Margaret Atwood, that The Handmaiden’s Tale is a speculative fiction. Personally, I do not like reading either sci-fi or speculative fiction, especially ones about distorted utopia. They are mostly about oppressive governments, strict monitor systems and secret spies. I do not believe that our society would become that way in the future. I doubt that we, as human, would choose to go the backwards direction as to burn books like in Fahrenheit 451 or oppress women all over again like in The Handmaiden’s Tale. However, there is one speculative fiction I have read that I really liked. The book is called The Giver. In the story, there was no oppressive government, but a community in which all the history is remembered by one person, the receiver. It is a very touching story, but at the same time, kind of sad.