# What sci fi human state would you want to live in? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381 "2014-06-22T19:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earth001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@Earth001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earth001)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/1 "2014-06-22T19:31:18Z")
As it says on the title, what science fiction state would you wish that you lived in at the moment? For me it is a cross between: Star Trek and 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinsion. Both would be wonderful choices to hang out in. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/2 "2014-06-22T19:33:42Z")
The Culture, from what I’ve read of it. I mean, there must be bits of it that aren’t involved in war or planetary sabotage. One of the quieter bits for me. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/3 "2014-06-22T19:53:16Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The Culture, from what I’ve read of it. I mean, there must be bits of it that aren’t involved in war or planetary sabotage. One of the quieter bits for me. I second The Culture, but if not that, Peter F. Hamilton’s universe (when it is not being destroyed by bizarre aliens or supernatural weirdness) seems pretty comfortable to live in. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/4 "2014-06-22T20:21:08Z")
Mongo, (after Flash Gordon overthrew Ming). The Solar System of Heinlein’s _Space Cadet_ and _The Rolling Stones_. Larry Niven’s “Known Space”, circa the 30th Century, has its scary aspects, but on the whole seems fairly benign. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/5 "2014-06-22T22:33:38Z")
Admittedly stretching the definition of “sci fi”, I think I could be perfectly happy in [Lord Darcy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Darcy_%28character%29)’s Plantagenet Empire. While quite staid from our point of view (the technology and social structure are reminiscent of the Victorian era), it seems to be relatively peaceful and prosperous. And even if I couldn’t get into the Guild, being able to tell them how to get teleson wires across the Channel should be good for a brownie point or two. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/6 "2014-06-22T23:12:29Z")
Futurama. It would be fun on a bun. Sure, it’s a future where all the idiots are preserved but you don’t have to be a supper smartypants to save the world from some blah-dee-da overly competent bad guys. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/7 "2014-06-22T23:15:19Z")
From Tarkovsky’s “Solaris”, I would have liked having Natalya Bondarchuk (as Khari) shadowing me all the time, as a physical-matter product of my memory of the love of my life. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YARi25_5Egw/maxresdefault.jpg "Solaris (Solyaris 1972) - Man needs man.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARi25_5Egw) ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/8 "2014-06-23T00:20:30Z")
Eric Frank Russell’s Gand, from his novella “And Then There Were None,” expanded into a novel titled The Great Explosion. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/9 "2014-06-23T00:22:55Z")
I always thought it would be great to live on Trantor, the capital planet of Asimov’s \*Foundation \*trilogy. The ultimate urban experience. ETA - I mean before the collapse, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/10 "2014-06-23T00:58:24Z")
Jack Vance’s “Oikumene,” from the “Demon Princes” novels, is a lively and rollicking place, full of all the adventure anyone could want – and if you don’t want adventure, you can settle down on Earth, safe and sound, in a wealthy civilized society. Alexei Panshin’s “Nashuite Empire” from the Anthony Villiers novels is also safe, sane, and civilized – but lively enough that you can have a lot of fun. Pretty damn obscure, but Ben Bova’s “To Save the Sun” series (based ultimately on the short story “Call Him Lord” by Gordon R. Dickson) seems to be a well-run, rich, civilized, comfortable place, which also has plenty of room for adventure. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/11 "2014-06-23T01:43:29Z")
The Dosadi Experiment ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/12 "2014-06-23T03:19:37Z")
The Q Continuum. It wasn’t human though, but it sounds cool. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/13 "2014-06-23T03:55:33Z")
The Dark Eldar… oh wait… bad choice… they aren’t human. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/14 "2014-06-23T04:05:41Z")
Heinlein’s Future History, out around the time of Tertius Colony. Preferably on Tertius rather then Secundus. Not for the initial colonization, but after things settle down a bit. Extended life, a universe to play in, no interstellar wars. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/15 "2014-06-23T06:22:07Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Jack Vance’s “Oikumene,” from the “Demon Princes” novels, is a lively and rollicking place, full of all the adventure anyone could want – and if you don’t want adventure, you can settle down on Earth, safe and sound, in a wealthy civilized society… Well, Vance’s Oikumene had a wide variety of venues, some that sounded wonderful, and others not so much. His “Thamber” planet sounded like lots of fun. Sarkovy, the planet of poisons and poisoners, I think I’d have to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/16 "2014-06-23T06:56:15Z")
I’m not passing up a universe with holograms and pleasure planets like Risa. Before I commit, I’d need to know more about how the average Joe fares in such a society. There seems to be some debate that the average Joe doesn’t really live all that great of life. ---
**Author:** ![IfItComesUp6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecccb3/32.png) [@IfItComesUp6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IfItComesUp6)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/17 "2014-06-23T07:01:49Z")
The Culture hands down, no question. Sign me up and let me start glanding. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/18 "2014-06-23T07:45:13Z")
Good grief, this question has only one correct answer every single time it’s asked: Holodeck spooge. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/19 "2014-06-23T12:22:43Z")
The Culture for me, too. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381/20 "2014-06-23T14:19:23Z")
The Hegemony of Man, from Dan Simmons _Hyperion_. But before the events of the book… 😉 Hamilton’s _Commonwealth_ (mentioned above) seems pretty cool too. Taking trains to other planets? Extended lifespans? Silent Worlds\*? Where do I sign up? \*The nature of the extended lifespans in this world would take an 80yo and turn them back into 20-somethings. _Randy_ 20-somethings. Therefore, “Silent World” was a business that specialized in dealing with this social problem. Go there, screw all you want, and there is no commitment or anything. You weren’t even supposed to acknowledge that you boffed your boss when he had his R&R (restoration and rejuvenation, I think) therapy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-human-state-would-you-want-to-live-in/691381.md?page=2)