Until we were able to provide verifiable evidence of extra solar system planets, they lived only in the domain of science fiction. Logic and understanding told us that they existed, but we could not put them up on the scoreboard until we had satisfied our scientific methods. Planets are being discovered in their thousands and thousands every day and year. Are some of they host to life? Of course, but until we can provide scientific proof in a verifiable fashion, it will remain science fiction. If Mars can produce the real homerun, then it will occur in my lifetime. Exciting.
I was surprised to be told recently on a science program that most of the planets being discovered are circling dwarf suns with only a fraction the power of our sun. Thus they have to be much closer to their sun in order to have life permitting temperatures.