PerfectDark’s thread about the most powerful Star Trek race got me wondering. In the Sci-Fi Genre, what series, or book has the most powerful races. To make it easier, I will categorize them.
Best Warlike race: The first thing that comes to my mind is of course the Desert warriors in the Dune Series, and the only other race I can think of is those Furry Cat like creatures in the Ringworld series. (klingons eat your heart out)
Best Godlike race: Like the “Q”, but only better. I cannot really think of anything in any of the books I have read right off, just individules. No apparent technology involved.
Most technologically advanced race: Hard core Sci-Fi, worm holes, Quantum flux defibulators, etc, lots of high-tech sounding toys. Whos are the best?
Those are the only three I can think of right now, Feel free to add some more classifications. Try to keep Fantasy out of it, as some of the Gods and such involved are pretty hard to beat.
Best Warlike Race: Wookiees. It’s said that pitting one unarmed wookiee against eight armed soldiers is an unfair fight… for the soldiers. Hell, the only way they could kill Chewbacca off was by dropping a fucking moon on him.
Best godlike race: You know, I think this one was too narrow for competition. There aren’t very many godlike entities in sci-fi that aren’t more than a simple plot gimmick (i.e.- they’re rarely used as real characters). Therefore, I propose the following category…
Best supernaturally-powered race: The Jedi. Not only do they get to wear cool capes, speak with cool accents, have cool names, and use some of the coolest hand-held weapons in the known universe… but if you strike them down, they’ll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
Most technologically advanced race: I’m not sure, but I dispute the Borg selection, primarily because, despite all their coolness and such, they keep getting thwarted by the simplest and most banal of technological devices (hey, let’s mask our life signs! Certainly the Borg can’t use their friggin’ EYES!).
They are in the usual pop-sci-fi/fantasy sense of the word.
On the other hand, the Jedi are a religious order. Might as well call the Federation a race. (I’m rather iffy on calling the Borg a single race, too, actually, but at least they have a semi-consistant physical form.)
They’re still born with biologically-distinctive traits. Using my infinite wisdom, sex appeal, and authority, I hereby decree that they qualify to be involved in this discussion.
Best warlike race: The Yxtrang (Liaden Universe) or the Valtegans (Sholan Alliance). There was another, one of the races of David Brin’s Uplift novels, that I wanted to list, but I can’t remember and I can’t find any of the novels. sighs
The Jedi are born with the potential to be a Jedi. For example, Anakin was born with tons of those thingies (excuse my ignorance) in him, which gave him the potential of being a great Jedi. And not just any joe-blow can be trained to be a Jedi. Therefore, the Jedi can be classified as a race.
"Warlike: Kzinti (the catpeople from the op)
Techy: The Puppeteers.
Supernatural/Godlike: Banshee, from the Roswell Conspiracies."
We’re talking about sci-fi, not horror. Get it right plz.
Um…since when are Ringworld/Known Space (Kzinti/Puppeteers) or The Roswell Conspiracies (Warning, needs Flash 5) horror? Or anything even remotely resembling it? (Answer in both cases, they’re not, although the odd story could be mistaken for it.)
