# Pick a fictional locale to spend the next four years in **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380 "2008-10-10T21:12:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/41 "2008-10-11T15:51:18Z")
Since you specify the Burrough-Libby device, then whatever happens to you there is real: if you are killed, you won’t be coming back, and if you get body/mind work done, it stays with you when you return. In that case, I’m choosing Tertius. All the women are beautiful and the men, too (except Lazarus, I assume), as well as intelligent and engaging. Plus you can get laid in pretty much any configuration you find interesting. There might be a bit of a recursive effect when Dora and (Zeb’s plane–sorry, forgot your name) start slinging people all over the multiverse, but maybe I can avoid imploding. With 4 years to work in, I can get a cloned + fixed up body, maybe a bit of mental reconditioning, and perhaps even have my musical abilities enhanced–that would be nice. I would also like to find out if that universe contains anyone, who is not a moron, who disagrees with Heinlein’s political agenda. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![D.Fenestrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@D.Fenestrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.Fenestrator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/42 "2008-10-11T15:55:45Z")
Hmmm. Part of me wants to say Pern, too, and part of me wants Valdemar (or more probably Rethwellan). But what really appeals to me is pre-Magewar Entibor. Or maybe Khesat, because decadence can be fun… 🆒 Half the fun is deciding, innit? 😃 Oh, can I have Schmitz’ Hub universe? I want to drive a Cloud Splitter!! ---
**Author:** ![Strange\_Machine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Strange\_Machine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strange_Machine)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/43 "2008-10-11T16:07:57Z")
[Proton/Phaze](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apprentice_Adept). Naked (orgy naked) science and high fantasy. While not a safe choice, I wouldn’t mind questing for the Dark Tower. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_The\_Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Buck\_The\_Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_The_Diver)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/44 "2008-10-11T16:18:57Z")
Margaritaville. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/45 "2008-10-11T16:28:28Z")
Whatever high school Debbie left to go to Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/46 "2008-10-11T16:32:26Z")
The Federation, TNG/DS9 Era. Since this is a temporary thing and I’ll be coming back, the absolute best value is to go somewhere where they have the medical knowledge and skills to clean up my body, deal with all the minor consequences of aging, fix my eyesight and minor medical conditions, cure any diseases and so forth. That way I come back to this universe in perfect health, ready to live a lot longer than I would have before. Since it’s the Federation, I won’t need money or skills to pay for it \. And heck, if I can smuggle anything back, it would be well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/47 "2008-10-11T18:06:12Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > A bit of a nitpick, but you do realize that Reepicheep lived in a very different Narnian time period from those particular Beavers? I suppose that you could always take your chances and ask Aslan to send you across to Pevensie world for a bit where the time runs differently… but remember, he’s not a tame lion and he might think that asking was a bit impudent! 😃 Not to mention that when you ask Reep if he knows ANY beavers, he will be obliged to point out that they’re extinct. Trumpkin mentions that the White Witch stamped them out; I think Mr. & Mrs. Beaver had no other names because they were the last two talking names. You will then be horribly, horribly depressed. Even with the continua device, I doubt it’s possible to go to the world of Narnia unless Aslan wants you there, so you’ll likely get saddled with a quest as soon as you arrive, anyway. Unless you’re lucky enough to be Lucy Pevensie, whom the Great Lion is apt to bring over for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/48 "2008-10-11T18:09:55Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The Federation, TNG/DS9 Era. > > Since this is a temporary thing and I’ll be coming back, the absolute best value is to go somewhere where they have the medical knowledge and skills to clean up my body, deal with all the minor consequences of aging, fix my eyesight and minor medical conditions, cure any diseases and so forth. That way I come back to this universe in perfect health, ready to live a lot longer than I would have before. > > \*\*Since it’s the Federation, I won’t need money or skills to pay for it \*\*\. > > And heck, if I can smuggle anything back, it would be well worth it. That’s true if you arrive on Galaxy-class starship and have business there. If you DON’T have business there, you’re gonna be put off at the next starbase, and if that doesn’t happen quickly it’s because they’re busy fighting Borg or Cardassians or whatnot. If you’re on DS9, you’re going to need a job or a latinum stake. And stay out of Quark’s–well, the gambling side–till you get the lay of the land. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/49 "2008-10-11T20:18:30Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > What was the name of the planet in _The Restaurant at the End of the Universe_ where it was always late Sunday afternoon and everyone spent all their time at the cafes? > > That one. Ursa Minor Beta (with the caveat that if you’re tired of Ursa Minor Beta, you’re tired of life). I’m going to go for New Atlantis and thereabouts (The Diamond Age). If being a Neo-Victorian gets boring I’ll venture out into the world, join the Drummers for a few depraved and decadent months. I know I’ll want to settle down in an artisan community like Dovetail afterward. I’ll come home with a smart nanotech tattoo (think e-ink, but smarter) that I can turn on and off or redraw at will, and a sweet Diamond Age immune system. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/50 "2008-10-11T20:35:58Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > That’s true if you arrive on Galaxy-class starship and have business there. And here I was assuming I’d land on EARTH. But any one of a hundred worlds in the Federation would work just as well. No need to land on some random starship or starbase. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/51 "2008-10-11T21:01:03Z")
> [@wunderkammer](#): > > Ursa Minor Beta (with the caveat that if you’re tired of Ursa Minor Beta, you’re tired of life). Thank you! I am very, very good at sitting around at cafes. I can do it alllllll day. ---
**Author:** ![threnodyangelfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@threnodyangelfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threnodyangelfire)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/52 "2008-10-11T21:08:05Z")
Any one of the cities in the Imagica. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/53 "2008-10-11T21:17:24Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > And here I was assuming I’d land on EARTH. > > But any one of a hundred worlds in the Federation would work just as well. No need to land on some random starship or starbase. Plus, assuming you’re male, you’re guaranteed to be the toughest guy around and can get tons of chicks. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/54 "2008-10-12T00:29:33Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Star Trek:TNG. > > With the holodeck you don’t have to choose just one. Hey! Wait up! I want in on that too! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/55 "2008-10-12T00:31:54Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Hey! Wait up! I want in on that too! Have you lost your mind? The FREAKING HOLODECK?!?!??!!??!!?!?!?! Why don’t you just phaser off your genitals and spare yourself the waiting? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/56 "2008-10-12T00:36:26Z")
I didn’t say I wanted to spend all my time on the holodeck. But if there’s anything to this reincarnation business, I’m coming back when there’s established space travel and joining Star Fleet. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/57 "2008-10-12T00:42:01Z")
I want to be the Discworld’s second tourist. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/58 "2008-10-12T00:51:04Z")
I think I’d like to visit Eleven-Soro, or possible Hain. But definitely _not_ Werel or Yeowe. Gethen would be nice to visit, but I really cannot stand the cold. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/59 "2008-10-12T01:00:17Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Do you mean the current DC continuity, or the Silver Age one? Because while the latter was mostly bloodless (unless you lived in Gotham City), the current one has twice the rape and ten times the murder of the real world. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that’s curious, isn’t it? Hundreds or thousands of superpowered crime-fighters roaming the planet, and the crime rate isn’t any better than a mundane world? :dubious: No wonder the supers don’t like killing…it’s all just a big racket, so they can keep their jobs and funny costumes. Anyway, the Federation sounds good, as always—good medical treatment, apparently a decent standard of living, ready access to Holodecks…come to think of it, maybe I could find “work” designing Holodeck programs/novels/whatever. I think I could bring a certain early 21st century “retro” charm to the table. Kinda like how those old exploitation flicks got big by denouncing and warning against things decent people all hated, in lurid detail. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380/60 "2008-10-12T01:03:48Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Yeah, that’s curious, isn’t it? Hundreds or thousands of superpowered crime-fighters roaming the planet, and the crime rate isn’t any better than a mundane world? :dubious: Depends on the crime and the resident super. Non-idiot writers generally portray the petty crime rate in Metropolis as being fairly low. Unfortunately, Metropolis is also where aliens armadas attack first. I mean, if you’re trying to raise money for a conquest of Earth, and you don’t present your investors with a good plan for offiing Superman first, you don’t get laughed at from here to Durla. But Gotham? No freaking way Batman does anything but make the situation worse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-fictional-locale-to-spend-the-next-four-years-in/467380.md?page=4)