# What fictional universe would you like to live in as yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977 "2006-02-24T20:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/1 "2006-02-24T20:57:19Z")
Emphasis on the _as you_. Say you pick the Marvel Universe - you don’t get superpowers. Middle-Earth, no sword-fighting skills. Star Trek, you have no clue as to how any of these gadgets work. You just appear in the area of that universe of your choice with the clothes you stand up in. Where would you like to go? ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/2 "2006-02-24T21:02:02Z")
I’d still pick Middle Earth, specifically the Shire: My life-style is pretty hobbity; I’m short; and when I was a teaching assistant the students said I was “earthy”. I’ll wear my “Frodo Lives” tshirt. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/3 "2006-02-24T21:03:48Z")
Star Trek of the 24th Century. Except for someone trying to blow it up every other year, Earth is a paradise with what looks to be a heavily socialist government so I could spend all my time doing whatever I want. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/4 "2006-02-24T21:04:18Z")
Office Space. I’d rule at Initech. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/5 "2006-02-24T21:09:13Z")
The universe of American college students, _circa_ 1978, as portrayed in _Penthouse Forum_ ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/6 "2006-02-24T21:13:58Z")
I like the GURPS fantasy world of Yrth. Boy, am I lame. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/7 "2006-02-24T21:29:12Z")
I really love Eric Flint’s 1632 universe, but I’m not so sure I’d actually want to _live_ in it. Hmm… I suppose Robert Sawyer’s _Factoring Humanity_ then, assuming that the hypercube-thingy technology becomes available to the public. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/8 "2006-02-24T21:49:16Z")
Battlestar Galactica. Those dumb-asses may have FTL drives but based on the level of technical expertise I’ve seen on the show, it’s run by a little metal valve thingie and when it goes off-line you have to bang it with a hammer. Can’t tell a Cylon from a human, gimme a damn microscope, fool. I’d run that place. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/9 "2006-02-24T21:53:26Z")
Middle-Earth–or maybe the \*Firefly \* 'verse. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/10 "2006-02-24T21:57:31Z")
**Dazed and Confused**. Because, yanno, I’m already both and I’m sure I’d fit right in. Thus spaketh the neo-hippie. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/11 "2006-02-24T22:26:10Z")
Same answer I always give to this type question; [The Culture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture). ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/12 "2006-02-24T22:48:16Z")
Yeah, The Culture. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/13 "2006-02-24T23:13:10Z")
Vermillion Sands ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/14 "2006-02-24T23:30:20Z")
James Halperin’s _Truth Machine/First Immortal_ universe. Alternatively, Vinge’s _Peace War/Marooned in Realtime_ – but not until after 2050! ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/15 "2006-02-25T00:24:24Z")
I’d probably pick Star Trek. With my kidney failure, I need one of those pills McCoy gave to that lady in Star Trek IV. Plus, I wouldn’t need to actually know how a holodeck works to be able to use one. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/16 "2006-02-25T00:30:02Z")
Archie Andrew’s little hometown, Riverdale. Pogo Possum’s version of the Okefenokee. Metroville, from _The Incredibles_ looks pretty prosperous. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/17 "2006-02-25T01:15:00Z")
Eek. Star Trek, around where \*\*Aesiron \*\*says. No way I want to be anywhere near the Middle Ages as a female. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/18 "2006-02-25T01:25:41Z")
Default answer: 24th century Star Trek Earth. With the possible disadvantage that, if my origins were found out, I might not end up in a nuthouse, but they might believe what happened to me and try to send me back home. The _1632_ universe might be interesting…till I ran out of medication. Or I got drafted and died of typhus in a siege. Or ended up going down in (altered) history as the as the guy who first tried to use hydrogen airships for tactical air support (with somewhat limited success). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/19 "2006-02-25T02:10:00Z")
At least three 20th-century humans seem to be doing fine in the 24th century (and one in the 23rd) Trek-verse, so it’s a safe, comfortable place. I dare anyone to pick the mirror-universe versions. Hotter babes but shorter lifespans. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/20 "2006-02-25T02:48:33Z")
To live? Narnia or Middle Earth, specifically the Shire To visit? I really would like to visit the 1632 universe, or the universe of S.M. Stirling’s Nantucket trilogy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977.md?page=2)