# Fictional supergeniuses **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213 "2018-12-16T01:47:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/41 "2018-12-17T16:01:38Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The Big Bang’s Sheldon Cooper. And he is not crazy. His mother had him tested. If he’s a supergenius, then so is Amy Farrah Fowler. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/42 "2018-12-17T17:05:43Z")
Isaac Asimov wrote a number of them, but I’d single out Levular Mandamus: [spoiler]Asimov wanted to link his ROBOTS books to his EMPIRE books; but how did folks with supereffective Three-Laws-compliant robots working in their best interests produce a future where Earth is a radioactive wasteland? So as a mandated plot device in ROBOTS AND EMPIRE, enter Mandamus: a robotics expert gunning to be Head of the prominent Robotics Institute. But how can he stand out, given all the other folks who want that post? Well, he’s run a computer simulation that’s apparently more elaborate and meticulous than anyone has ever managed, and it’s allowed him to reach a conclusion about physics and biology and chemistry that has apparently eluded all of the experts in those fields; and, with his knowledge of history, he’s come up with a plan to make the Earth a radioactive wasteland by assembling his invention at what’s maybe the one spot that doesn’t show up on maps in the future. Two robots arrive in the nick of time, easily incapacitating the raygun-toting guy with Mandamus (because, again, supereffective and Three-Laws-compliant). But given their programming, Mandamus promptly says all the right things to talk them into not stopping _him_ (because, again, as groundbreaking as he is in other fields, his specialty is ‘robotics expert’). Honestly, that’s kind of messed up.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/43 "2018-12-17T17:18:25Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Even Kent, really. That guidance system was no small potatoes. Fair enough. Dr. Hathaway did hire him, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/44 "2018-12-17T17:22:01Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Isaac Asimov wrote a number of them, but I’d single out Levular Mandamus: > > [spoiler]Asimov wanted to link his ROBOTS books to his EMPIRE books; but how did folks with supereffective Three-Laws-compliant robots working in their best interests produce a future where Earth is a radioactive wasteland? > > So as a mandated plot device in ROBOTS AND EMPIRE, enter Mandamus: a robotics expert gunning to be Head of the prominent Robotics Institute. But how can he stand out, given all the other folks who want that post? > > Well, he’s run a computer simulation that’s apparently more elaborate and meticulous than anyone has ever managed, and it’s allowed him to reach a conclusion about physics and biology and chemistry that has apparently eluded all of the experts in those fields; and, with his knowledge of history, he’s come up with a plan to make the Earth a radioactive wasteland by assembling his invention at what’s maybe the one spot that doesn’t show up on maps in the future. > > Two robots arrive in the nick of time, easily incapacitating the raygun-toting guy with Mandamus (because, again, supereffective and Three-Laws-compliant). But given their programming, Mandamus promptly says all the right things to talk them into not stopping _him_ (because, again, as groundbreaking as he is in other fields, his specialty is ‘robotics expert’). > > Honestly, that’s kind of messed up.[/spoiler] Asimov is fond of the plot line where character A has the drop on character B, but character B manages to convince A that allowing B’s plot to continue is actually in A’s benefit (“Waterclap” is another example). That “one spot that doesn’t show on maps” turned out to be overtaken by events, didn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/45 "2018-12-17T17:42:31Z")
Stewie Griffin. Professor O. G. Wotasnozzle. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/46 "2018-12-17T17:52:31Z")
A good short story that I’ve been trying to remember ([and just googled up](https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/55094/trying-to-identify-a-short-story-about-a-man-who-becomes-a-genius-due-to-a-us-go)) is _Understand_ by Ted Chiang. Also, Maddie from the enjoyable YA novel [_Mad Skills_](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9047122-mad-skills#). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/47 "2018-12-17T18:16:44Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > …Limitless… One of my favorite movies of the new century. > [@running\_coach](#): > > The original: Wile E. Coyote And so humble, too!: [http://youbentmywookie.com/wookie/gallery/0710\_wtf/wile\_businesscard.jpg](http://youbentmywookie.com/wookie/gallery/0710_wtf/wile_businesscard.jpg) > [@gdave](#): > > …Sherlock Holmes, _Sherlock_. Of all his incarnations as a deductive supergenius, I think this depiction does the best job of really getting across just how smart he really is. The first episode, “A Study in Pink”, has an absolutely brilliant duel of wits that manages to play the Westley-Vizzini duel of wits from _The Princess Bride_ as a straight, dramatic, genuinely tense scene… Agreed, although Jeremy Brett remains my favorite Holmes. > [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > No love for Buckaroo Banzai? Oh, definitely. Not every day you find a brain surgeon, rocket scientist and rock star all in one. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > A good short story that I’ve been trying to remember ([and just googled up](https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/55094/trying-to-identify-a-short-story-about-a-man-who-becomes-a-genius-due-to-a-us-go)) is _Understand_ by Ted Chiang… Yes! The best thing about that story is how far you get into it before realizing it’s a supervillain origin story. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/48 "2018-12-17T18:58:16Z")
Harold Finch, from _Person of Interest._ Credit to the writers, of course; but extra-credit to Michael Emerson for pulling it off, and making him a very human, relatable person, to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/49 "2018-12-17T19:02:05Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > A good short story that I’ve been trying to remember ([and just googled up](https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/55094/trying-to-identify-a-short-story-about-a-man-who-becomes-a-genius-due-to-a-us-go)) is _Understand_ by Ted Chiang. Also, Maddie from the enjoyable YA novel [_Mad Skills_](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9047122-mad-skills#). Oh, yeah; “Understand” was great. I think the main character’s name was “Greco” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/50 "2018-12-17T19:19:05Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Oh, yeah; “Understand” was great. I think the main character’s name was “Greco” Yep, just checked–Leon Greco. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/51 "2018-12-17T19:36:05Z")
Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) Moon Girl (Lunella Lafeyette) The Unstoppable Wasp (Nadia Pym) The original Ant Man (Henry Pym) and the current comic book Ant Man (Scott Lang) Bruce Banner Lex Luthor Dr. Tenma, creator of Astro Boy. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/52 "2018-12-17T19:41:26Z")
There is also John Travolta in _Phenomenonon_, Jack O’Neill in [one episode of _Stargate SG1_](https://stargate.fandom.com/wiki/The_Fifth_Race) (and Daniel Jackson in another, but It Was All A Dream), Reginald Barkley in one episode of \*STTNG, \*and George Costanza in one episode of \*Seinfeld. \* ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/53 "2018-12-17T19:41:37Z")
I assure you all, I am not fictional. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/54 "2018-12-17T19:47:58Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Dr. Tenma, creator of Astro Boy. How about Takeshi Kisaragi, creator of [Cutie Honey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutie_Honey)? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/55 "2018-12-17T21:37:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > How about Takeshi Kisaragi, creator of [Cutie Honey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutie_Honey)? Frankenstein, creator of the monster. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/56 "2018-12-17T22:20:00Z")
I think it might depend on the telling, but Faust. (In some stories he’s seeking to become a supergenius with great knowledge and magical powers, in others he more just has the ability to ask the Devil to do things for him that let him practice debauchery. Varies.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/57 "2018-12-17T22:47:27Z")
Spock, son of Sarek and Amanda. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/58 "2018-12-19T07:14:32Z")
Exapno Mapcase mentioned Poul Anderson’s _Brain Wave_. I would submit Captain Sir Dominic Flandry might be considered a super-genius. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/59 "2018-12-19T13:59:16Z")
Urkel ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213/60 "2018-12-19T14:37:19Z")
The Phantom of the Opera had to be a supergenius to do all he did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-supergeniuses/826213.md?page=4)