# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/41 "2004-04-12T17:10:34Z")
Not that this’ll surprise anyone, but it’d be fun to be the Incarnation of Time, from Piers Anthony’s _Incarnations of Immortality_. Oh, wait… Never mind :). ---
**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 13, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/42 "2004-04-13T03:10:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not that this’ll surprise anyone, but it’d be fun to be the Incarnation of Time, from Piers Anthony’s _Incarnations of Immortality_. Oh, wait… Never mind :). I always thought your username had a story behind it. I didn’t know it was literal. To continue my _Ender’s Game_ theme, I want to be the Hegemon. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/43 "2004-04-13T03:40:23Z")
Not lit, but in SW-I’d be a Jedi in the prequel era, and an intel agent in Wraith Squadron post ROTJ. (But since that’s from the NOVELS, I guess it counts as lit!) An Elf in Middle Earth. Why not? Elves are beautiful, immortal, wise, they get to live in beautiful Art Nouveau-styled estates AND they have pointed ears. What’s not to love? A Tayledras in Mercedes Lackey’s _Valdemar_ series. I’d want to live in an _ekele_ and have a bondbird. ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/44 "2004-04-13T06:04:00Z")
Tolkien elf (for reasons listed above). Death (the office… I’d watch for guns, oh yes.) Drinker of Souls (I love the name as well as the abilities) Anne Rice vampire (back in the heyday not modern times) Bene Gesserit Q (female version obviously) Aes Sedai (with handsome warder) Lolth (for those days when you just gotta be evil) ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/45 "2004-04-13T07:39:19Z")
An Agent from the Matrix. Q The Old Testament God (the cool one who smote people- the New Testament God is too wimpy) ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/46 "2004-04-13T12:04:38Z")
A Middle-Earth Elf. - for many reasons alread mentioned here. A witch from Lyra’s world in the _His Dark Materials_ series - get to be very old and wise, but still young-looking and beautiful - get to have a daimon - get to fly on cloud pine branches - get to have a cool name, like Serafina Pekkala A Herald of Valdemar (this is for the 11-year old in me) -your own talking horse!! (well, horse-like creature) ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/47 "2004-04-13T12:05:51Z")
Oh man! I forgot one of the best ones! A Jedi Knight ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/48 "2004-04-13T12:32:10Z")
> [@Gadfly](#): > > Researcher for the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Oh man, where do I sign up? Otherwise the Patrician, from the Discworld books. The twelve year old in me is jumping up and down shouting ‘Daine! Daine! You want to be Daine from Tamora Pierce’s _Immortals_ series.’ And y’know, I really do. She can talk to animals, it top notch with a bow, plus she has a baby dragon! Doesn’t get cooler than that. ---
**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 13, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/49 "2004-04-13T12:48:04Z")
> [@Orual](#): > > Oh man! I forgot one of the best ones! > > A Jedi Knight Dude, this is **not** the UK Census! 😉😃 ---
**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 13, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/50 "2004-04-13T13:00:37Z")
I wish I could sing and generally be impervious to all influences like Tom Bombadil. (or his [secret identity](http://flyingmoose.org/tolksarc/theories/bombadil.htm)). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/51 "2004-04-13T14:26:42Z")
> [@Obsidian Flutterby](#): > > Hmmm… I wouldn’t mind being a Dragonrider, but that would be a LOT of work. Dude…that’s for girls. (if you are a girl then disregard). I’m going to go with: -MI-6 '00 agent -Hitchhikers Guide Researcher -CIA Agent (like Clark from Tom Clancy’s books) -A caucasian Ninja -Psychotic Wall Street investment banker or lawyer ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/52 "2004-04-13T15:06:22Z")
I want to be Delivev Ormoru. Or a princess of Damar- maybe one of Harimad’s kids. Or a Westwind guard or a member of the Black Brotherhood. I think I’d probably really want to be a hobbit. They don’t get involved in kinslaying or anything involving Morgoth, and they eat all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/53 "2004-04-13T18:12:10Z")
I think that I would like to be a Spacer from Asimov’s robot series. You get to live for a long time, you don’t have to worry about material needs, and you can devote your life to researching whatever you want. Short of that, I wouldn’t mind being a wizard on the Discworld. I love big meals. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/54 "2004-04-13T19:30:47Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Dude…that’s for girls. (if you are a girl then disregard). (a) **Obsidian Flutterby** is, in fact, of the female persuasion (b) I believe that you’ve just uttered the precise insult that caused F’lar to go all Yoda on Fax at the beginning of Dragonflight. So watch yourself. Another contribution: I’m not sure how well I’d do, but I strongly suspect that Conrad from **The Cross-Time Engineer** enjoys the hell out of his life. (I’ve been trying to think of somewhere in the world of **A Song Of Ice and Fire** that I’d actually want to live, and so far I’ve come up short…) ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/55 "2004-04-13T19:41:50Z")
Well, _Hitchhiker’s Guide_ researcher would be a close second, but ever since I discovered the _Harry Potter_ books I have SO had my eye on the History of Magic professorship. It sounds like a fascinating subject, living at Hogwarts would be dead cool, and best of all, I wouldn’t have to do _anything_ to make a better impression on the students than Professor Binns. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/56 "2004-04-16T20:59:32Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Dude…that’s for girls. (if you are a girl then disregard). As Max pointed out, I am a girl. And what is that supposed to mean really? Pern novels are ‘girly’? I really don’t get that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/57 "2004-04-18T18:23:10Z")
Besides, it’s only riding gold dragons that’s girly. All of the others are very predominantly ridden by men. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/58 "2004-04-18T21:06:37Z")
I think that Forensic Sorcerer would suit me. Failing that, I’d head for Wolff and apply for a job as a Hunter. ---
**Author:** ![Elethiomel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Elethiomel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elethiomel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/59 "2004-04-18T21:35:30Z")
I’d be a Culture Mind. Not in a GSV, as those are generally triumvirates. A GCU. Or possibly one of the original hundred (and one) in the Red Mars books. Or a Sleepless! But in a less prejudiced world. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338/60 "2004-04-19T00:35:04Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > Mentat > Dune There are Mentats in _Dune_? I thought that they came out of Anne McCaffrey’s Freedom’s Landing series, though that doesn’t seem to be at quite the same caliber as **FilmGeek** ’s other choices. Gads, I love the Freedom series, but I love it in the same way I love McDonald’s cheeseburgers. It’s not particularly good or inspired, but sometimes I don’t want to have to think when I read, just like sometimes I don’t want to cook when I eat. Anyway, it’d be awesome to be one of the settlers on Botany. Or a student at Hogwarts. Or the Lady of Avalon from _The Mists of Avalon_. But who I’d really like to be would be Polgara from The Belgariad. Several hundred years old but looks thirty, first female student of Aldur, awesome cook, noble and beautiful – yeah, that’d be cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-any-occupation-or-race-from-literature/239338.md?page=2)