# If you could be any occupation or race from literature... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338 "2004-04-10T17:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/21 "2004-04-10T23:19:26Z")
If you’ll let me get away with comic books as “literature”… Green Lantern If not, then many of the previous options sound good. > [@FilmGeek](#): > > Kourier > Cosa Nostra Pizza Company Delivery Driver > Hacker > _Snow Crash_ > > Fedaykin Death Commando > Bene Gesserit > Mentat > _Dune_ > > Puppeteer > Protector > _Known Space series, most likely Ringworld_ > > Gunslinger > You got me on this one ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/22 "2004-04-10T23:28:33Z")
I’ve got it…an Asimovian roboticist. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/23 "2004-04-10T23:47:41Z")
The Great Will of the Macrocosm, from _Excel Saga_ (well, if you count a comic book/animated series whose main premise consists of pop-culture parody and severe wrongness as “literature” :D) Because being able to reset the Univerese is such a kickass power. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/24 "2004-04-10T23:56:36Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I’ve got it…an Asimovian roboticist. 'Nuff said. No, I think a late-model Asimovian robot would be more interesting. R. Daneel would be a good choice. Or maybe a Go-Captain, or even better a native of Norstrilia, from [Cordwainer Smith](http://www.cordwainer-smith.com/)’s works. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/25 "2004-04-11T03:18:35Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > _Gunslinger > You got me on this one_ I believe that’s King’s Dark Tower series. Can you ID mine? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/26 "2004-04-11T03:55:49Z")
A Red robed Wizard (Krynn, before they mucked it up with this 5th age garbage) One of the group from Vampire$ (the one that spawned that interesting movie…) Interplanetary Settler, on Tellus Tertius. Any one of a number of characters from the stroke books I read as a kid… hehehhe… And, from a television show… Being a Q would be the ultimate. Hehehe… ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/27 "2004-04-11T05:18:48Z")
Two characters come to mind: Mycroft Holmes (Sherlock Holmes’ brother)- His ability to store and retrieve facts memorized by just reading. Professor van Dusen (_The Problem of Dressing Room A_ - Jacques Futrelle)- Known as “The Thinking Machine”. 'Nough said. Both abilities would warrant an occupation that is away from the dullness of everyday life, but quiet all the same. Something like the Diogenes Club would suit just fine. They would have to have an internet connection though 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HumptysHamhole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f0a364/32.png) [@HumptysHamhole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumptysHamhole)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/28 "2004-04-11T05:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Researcher for the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. > [@](#): > > I’d be God from the Bible. Damn you Gadfly and Diogenes – you beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/29 "2004-04-11T06:36:30Z")
> [@dotchan](#): > > The Great Will of the Macrocosm,\ Oooh, can I be the Pedro to your Will-chan? Failing that, I’d take Nabeshin. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/30 "2004-04-11T07:46:50Z")
A few choice answers: -A top-ranked wizard in the lands surrounding the **River of the Dancing Gods** , from the books of that name - **Mavra Chang** , travelling around with **Obi** (from the **Well of Souls** series) But the bestest answer: -An Angel of Samaria. (From Sharon Shinn’s **Archangel** and its sequels) -You’re incredibly strong and immune to all disease -You can FLY -You have an extremely useful and rewarding job in which you actually spend your time making people lives’ better -You’re rich -Mortals are constantly vying to sleep with you -You get to spend lots of time singing ---
**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:** [April 11, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/31 "2004-04-11T12:27:16Z")
Navigator on one of the spacecraft in one of Heinlein’s science fiction novels. Resident in Pogo Possum’s comic strip version of the Okeefenokee Swamp (sp?) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/32 "2004-04-11T15:12:07Z")
I think it would be so cool to be a Battle School Brat from Ender’s Game! I would also like to be a member of the Murry Family from the “A Wrinkle in Time” series. A HAL type computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/33 "2004-04-11T16:11:30Z")
> [@Kat](#): > > Can you ID mine? 😉 I can try… > [@Kat](#): > > A Liaden Scout! > So many choices… I’ll take _Carpe Diem_, as the first of the Liaden books I read. Fabulous series. > > Alternate choices: > A Witch of Lancre > Again, many choice. I take _Wyrd Sisters_. > A Bard of Senniel > Dunno. > One of the Old Blood Folk of the Six Duchies > Not sure… \*Blood Jewels \* series? > A Deryni > Another series! I’ll take _The Bishop’s Heir_, my favorite of the series. > A Tymbrimi > And another. I’ll take _The Uplift War_, as it has the most Tymbrimi stuff in it. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/34 "2004-04-11T16:19:27Z")
Nah, the Old Blood from the Six Duchies is Hobb’s Farseer series … and I guess I wouldn’t mind that. I’d definitely like to be an Aes Sedai – but one of the cool ones, not the pain-in-the-ass, wanna-rip-off-their-arm-and-smack-them-with-it caliber. And a Jedi, of course. Or possibly one of the sidhe from Laurell K. Hamilton’s books. Or maybe Supergirl. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/35 "2004-04-11T16:32:42Z")
A mutant, but only if I get a really awesome power so I can join the X-Men, wear spandex, fight evil, and angst. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/36 "2004-04-11T17:17:49Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > But the bestest answer: > > -An Angel of Samaria. (From Sharon Shinn’s **Archangel** and its sequels) > -You’re incredibly strong and immune to all disease > -You can FLY > -You have an extremely useful and rewarding job in which you actually spend your time making people lives’ better > -You’re rich > -Mortals are constantly vying to sleep with you > -You get to spend lots of time singing HOW could I have forgotten that? Sheesh how silly of me. I think that would just edge out Dragonrider for me. But only just. > [@Draelin](#): > > Or possibly one of the sidhe from Laurell K. Hamilton’s books. Appealing… but I dunno. All the politics. If your unseelie you have Andais to deal with, and though we have seen little of the light court I almost think that would be _worse_. Instead of being what they are, they are backstabbing and wrap up their inner darkness with beauty and light. And if you’re not of the courts, well… that would be pretty lonely. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/37 "2004-04-11T18:25:50Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > Oooh, can I be the Pedro to your Will-chan? > > Failing that, I’d take Nabeshin. Nabeshin! Woo! Yeah, that’d be up there on my list. Afro-power. Hm. Kryptonian? That’s always a good one… especially pre-Crisis Kryptonian. Oh yeah. A Green Lantern would be cool, too. Let’s see. Prince of Amber’s already been said, but I’ll second it. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/38 "2004-04-12T01:12:38Z")
A Familiar. From Several Dara Joy’s Futuristic Romance Novels. Failing that, I wouldn’t mind being Indiana Jones. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/39 "2004-04-12T15:01:57Z")
Oh wait, I just thought of something!! 6’2", 40DD’s, long dark hair … _ohmigod!!_ 'm **WONDER WOMAN** [/CENTER] Whoo-hoo!!! ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/40 "2004-04-12T15:16:30Z")
Yeepers, you folks like panic? Constant mortal danger??? I wouldn’t be Indiana Jones for all the tea in China! I’m thinking maybe I’d like to be a Pei’an–one of the twenty-six Names that live. Bonus points to anyone who can name that story/world! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338.md?page=3)