# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/21 "2006-02-25T03:57:04Z")
_The Fifth Sacred Thing_ by Starhawk. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/22 "2006-02-25T04:01:16Z")
Tertius in **Heinlein’s** _Time Enough For Love_. Rejuvenation technology, interstellar travel, the chance to meet Tamara… 😃 ---
**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:** [February 25, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/23 "2006-02-25T04:25:53Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > Middle-Earth–or maybe the \*Firefly \* 'verse. Actually I’m pretty sure ME and Firefly are set in the same universe. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/24 "2006-02-25T04:41:22Z")
> [@Fabulous Creature](#): > > Actually I’m pretty sure ME and Firefly are set in the same universe. Ummm…_cite?_ ---
**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, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/25 "2006-02-25T04:51:58Z")
I want to change mine to the DC universe. Sure I wouldn’t have any super powers, but I could make a fortune selling Super Hero secret identities to the tabloids. Then I could hire a top scientist to give me super powers. And, I’d be the only left with a seret ID because I sold out all the others. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/26 "2006-02-25T05:13:34Z")
Some of my choices, in order : The Culture. The 5th Imperium. Multicentury lifespans, massive cybernetic augmentation, instant interstellar teleporters, solar system wide energy shields, warships bigger than the Moon - lots of cool stuff. Plus, they’re in the middle of upgrading and reorganizing human society, so I’d just step in line with everyone else for bioenhancement and remedial education, instead of just being unemployable. By preference, I’d arrive _after_ the Siege of Earth, however. ST : NG era Federation. Sort of the poor man’s Culture. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/27 "2006-02-25T05:15:47Z")
I’m already in one, because I live in Cleveland OH and that’s where the new hellmouth opened up in the _Buffy-verse_ . :eek: ---
**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:** [February 25, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/28 "2006-02-25T05:19:35Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Ummm…_cite?_ Well, Firefly is practically the only space-opera verse you can imagine as being the future of the real world (they actually respect physics in their space battles! Amazing!), and, as we all know, Middle-Earth was the Europe of pre-Abrahamic times…so they’re both our world. :wally ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/29 "2006-02-25T05:33:54Z")
Either the _Buffy-Verse_ or _Firefly_ verse. The Buffy one I can easily be another Xander (or, more likey, Andrew, what with the giant nerdiness and all. Though I might add that there would be no question as to my sexuality.) the _Buffy-Verse_ has the nice feature of being set in the now, so no learning curve with technology, and if i get tired of vamps and demons, just move into a rural area with no hellmouth nearby and I’ll be ok it seems. The _Firefly_ verse has a lot of high tech stuf I’d no nothing about, but with Kaylee as a teacher, I’d be MORE than eager to learn all about it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/30 "2006-02-25T05:45:00Z")
Star Trek or Known Space. SF settings where most of our current problems have been overcome but there’s still enough things going on to keep things interesting. Varley’s Eight Worlds would be livable. There’s an underlying theme of quiet despair but things are comfortable for the moment. I wouldn’t want to live in the DC or Marvel universe. There’s always some supervillain or galactic evil being or alien starfleet trying to destroy all life or do something bad. Sure the superheroes have always won in the past, but their luck’s only got to fail once and then you’re stuck in a Brian Michael Bendis or Mark Millar universe. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/31 "2006-02-25T05:45:05Z")
Larry Niven’s ‘Golden Age’. Jolly peaceful, so I could enjoy myself being nerdy. ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/32 "2006-02-25T06:30:21Z")
Firefly’s 'verse, as they say, would be cool, or Bujold’s Vorkosigan’s world. But probably from Beta or Earth, not Barrayar. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/33 "2006-02-25T06:38:04Z")
Much as I love _Firefly_ and _Serenity_, I think I’d probably rather not actually _live_ in a dystopian society where a corrupt and authoritarian government rules the central planets, and people on the outer planets are dominated to the point of peonage by ruthless robber barons, and occasionally eaten alive by cannibalistic zombie-like savages. I’ll go with **silenus** and pick Tertius (or some similarly pleasant world from Heinleins’ Future Universe series after both interstellar travel and life-extension technology for non-Howard Family members have been perfected), or “Star Trek”. Beta Colony or some other high tech, wealthy, politically and socially open planet in Bujold’s universe would also be good. Grim, heroic, death-defying conflict is fun to read about and/or watch; but not so much to actually live through. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/34 "2006-02-25T07:13:08Z")
> [@well he's back](#): > > 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. Lets meet at the Prancing Pony. I’ll be looking for work as a carpenter / mechanic / smith. You’ll have to live in Bree also. Us big folks aren’t allowed to live in the Shire. Alternate is I would live in the Star Trek Universe on Earth and look into Adult re-training as I doubt my skills would be marketable. Jim (check my location) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/35 "2006-02-25T07:34:37Z")
> [@Fabulous Creature](#): > > Well, Firefly is practically the only space-opera verse you can imagine as being the future of the real world (they actually respect physics in their space battles! Amazing!), and, as we all know, Middle-Earth was the Europe of pre-Abrahamic times…so they’re both our world. > > :wally Oh, okay! Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/36 "2006-02-25T07:41:19Z")
> [@Spudo](#): > > Yeah, The Culture. I’m thirding or fourthing that vote. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/37 "2006-02-25T08:00:15Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > I’m thirding or fourthing that vote. Fifthing it. (Alternately, the Discworld might be fun to live in. Or I could work in the restaurant at the end of the universe…) ---
**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, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/38 "2006-02-25T13:25:44Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > I want to change mine to the DC universe. > > Sure I wouldn’t have any super powers, but I could make a fortune selling Super Hero secret identities to the tabloids. > > Then I could hire a top scientist to give me super powers. > > And, I’d be the only left with a seret ID because I sold out all the others. Change your Username to **Syndrome** , then. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [February 25, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/39 "2006-02-25T13:56:36Z")
She looks at her 43 year collection of Legion of Super-Hero comics… Star Trek’s Voyager would be my second choice. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977/40 "2006-02-25T14:00:45Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > 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? Rick Cook had a series of books where a software geek was transported to a world of magic - and created a magic compiler. As a software geek, that is the way to go if I have to go to another universe. Note that I haven’t broken the rules, in this universe magic works for software geeks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-universe-would-you-like-to-live-in-as-yourself/345977.md?page=3)