Since i have helped build satellites, the are definitely not science-fiction, however they are definitely not where they are said to be. Direction, transmission times, cloud interference, power needed to reach "space" with a sat-phone, etc. all point to them not being where they are said to be.

I wouldn't be surprised if something as strange as "gravity" holds them up, because the earth is a giant tube, or toroid, and so, after a point the satellites just "stick" there.

But, it is really disturbing that with all of our telescopes we don't have chance images of satellites from time to time.