# Which Fictional Universe Do You Want To Live In? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390 "2005-03-20T04:11:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/21 "2005-03-20T20:07:52Z")
G. Garfield Crimmins’ [Republic of Dreams](http://tinyurl.com/6mjz6). Pros: It’s perpetually 1935. Tropical French colonial atmosphere. Sidewalk cafés. Passenger dirigible service. Half-naked women everywhere. Surrealism. Cons: Everyone’s a surrealist. Everyone’s also French. I would be under some social pressure not to wear pants in public. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/22 "2005-03-20T20:08:30Z")
I’d like to live in the world of the X-men movies. Where there are millions of mutants with unique powers. I’d be one of them. I’d also like to visit Asimov’s earth. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/23 "2005-03-20T20:10:30Z")
The Future History of Heinlein, not the Crazy Years (which we’re already working our way through), but the 4000+ AD Time Corps/Tertius period. Why? Because no matter what the pros and cons of the other fictional universes are, you can always go visit them for the pros, and get away if you have problems with the cons. Was that cheating? I’m sorry! 😛 Otherwise, I think I’d like the Wormhole Nexus universe of the Bujold Vorkosigan series. Pros: advanced medical technology, interesting stuff everywhere, a wide variety of cultures to choose from. Cons: Cetaganda. Possibility of interstellar warfare. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/24 "2005-03-20T20:10:44Z")
I want to live on Tertius, in the Heinleinverse. **pros** fabulous medical center hot ambinguously sexual women hang out with Lazarus Long join the Circle and go dimension hopping **cons** dimension hopping = crazy dangerous … uh… I don’t look good naked? Dang, I can’t think of many cons. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/25 "2005-03-20T20:11:57Z")
Ok, that may be the funnies Simulpost I’ve had ever. Hehehe… “Gay Deceiver… DOPE!” ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/26 "2005-03-20T20:17:46Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > Ok, that may be the funnies Simulpost I’ve had ever. > > Hehehe… > > “Gay Deceiver… DOPE!” EXECUTE! ROFL!!! (About that orange cat hanging out in your front yard, Tristan… ;)) ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/27 "2005-03-20T20:52:17Z")
I wouldn’t mind Tertius at all. I also wouldn’t mind being a Dorsai, or a scholar on the Final Encyclopedia. Actually any of the Splinter Cultures except the Friendly worlds would be pretty cool. Just don’t put me on Coby! ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/28 "2005-03-20T21:02:38Z")
Either the world of Doctor Who, or The world of Beetlejuice. Both are just like real life, but in the “Whoniverse”, the conspiracy theory are real, and if somehorrible tragidy happens to me, 5hier is a 33% chance I might not also get killed, but instead end up traveling with the Doctor, while the real world, ( not the underworld) of Beetlejuice is continually in the 1980s, and contains spell books which have simple rhyming incantations that really work. At second thought, I would rather live in the [Lum’s world, a.k.a. Urusei Yatsura’s Lum.](http://www.furinkan.com/tomobiki/uy/index.htm) Sure, horrible and bizzare things might happen, but for the most part they can be blamed on that no good slaker Ataru! Get back here, you lazy bum! I’ll get you for ruining my food stand with that\*\* damned\*\* alien juggernaut! ---
**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:** [March 20, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/29 "2005-03-20T21:23:06Z")
Xanth. For all that it’s poorly written, it’d be a great place to live. Pies grow on trees, everybody (even the common schmoes) has at least some degree of magical ability, naked and willing nymphs are all over the place, adventure around every corner, and if you manage to become a Major Character (for which the only requirement seems to be desiring said condition, regardless of whether there’s actually anything interesting about you), you get an impenetrable character shield. Narnia would also be good, particularly during the Reign of the Four, when the biggest problem seems to be some minor sabre-rattling on the part of Kesh. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/30 "2005-03-20T22:16:09Z")
Ernest Callenbach’s _Ecotopia:_ Pros: free love w/o STDs clean air, clean water, clean living unrestrained, let-it-all-hang-out self-expression is normal, even in public for some reason the above rarely leads to fistfights peaceful foreign policy exciting internal mock-wars with spears; kills rare, injuries treatable, and you don’t have to be a professional athlete to join in the fun materially sustainable society in the long-term (in the author’s vision, anyway) free love w/o STDs Cons: what, no NASCAR? I need a license to own plastic? limited creature comforts everything’s too labor-intensive after two weeks on home-grown organic food you know you’re gonna be craving Taco Bell maybe the author’s assumptions about sustainability are wrong ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/31 "2005-03-20T22:23:20Z")
Neal Stephenson’s _The Diamond Age:_ Pros: nanotechnology can provide for everybody’s basic needs cheaply technological marvels we can barely dream of skyscrapers made of solid diamond interactive books can help every child realize full intellectual potential and make it fun technology-assisted justice system it’s very, very hard for lawbreakers to beat Cons: Didn’t we used to have something called “society”? What’s with all these “tribes”? unprecedented abundance of material wealth still seems, somehow, to have left a lot of people in the shit and why is there this horrible war in China? you’re **sure** the “grey goo” thing is impossible? technology-assisted justice system it’s very, very hard for lawbreakers to beat ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/32 "2005-03-20T22:26:08Z")
Myst Worlds. Pros– Beautiful, quiet, diverse and apparently customizable and rebuildable. Also, most worlds seem deserted so I could have the world all to myself. Cons– That seems a little lonely. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/33 "2005-03-20T23:13:11Z")
Rick Cook’s Wizard’s Bane universe Pro’s Magic Works Software Programmers can do magic Beutiful Red-headed witches Con’s All kinds of nasty monsters No hot water or indoor plumbing. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/34 "2005-03-20T23:35:14Z")
Fu… I mean damn! I forgot about Discworld. I’d like to live in Ankh Morpork for a bit. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/35 "2005-03-21T01:02:51Z")
The fictional Okeefenokee Swamp, from Walt Kelly’s _Pogo_ comic strip. Plent o lunch, fishin, lazing in boats, good company, & Albert Alligator & Howland Owl to stir up something interesting every now & then. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/36 "2005-03-21T04:34:15Z")
The Cthulhu Mythos Universe Pros: if you look hard enough, you can find a copy of the **real** _Necronomicon_ magic that really works ultracool stuff: fascinating mythology, non-Euclidean geometry, dark poetic visions, buried/sunken cities, prehistoric sentient races if you’re the right kind of person, you can adventure in “Dreamland” without chemical assistance no need to fret over conspiracy theories – if you’re in-the-know, you know it’s really like that, only worse we can really know for sure what humanity’s place in the universe is: termites, infesting the Old Ones’ house if you know too much, you can always fall back on your last (in some cases, first) line of defense: going insane Cons: you can only use the magic to summon the Old Ones or banish them everybody who matters is a neurotic, scholarly, upper-crust New England WASP every non-Anglo-Saxon is probably a product of cross-species interbreeding nobody ever seems to get laid everything is scary if you look closely enough practically anything connected with the Old Ones smells even worse than it looks in the end, we’re all lunch, if we’re lucky ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/37 "2005-03-21T04:43:55Z")
I would like to live in the fictional universe inside George W Bush’s mind: [ul] [li]Infinite amounts of money can be spent regardless of how much you have or can be expected to bring in[/li][li]All the nations of the world are keenly interested in doing what you want them to do rather than what’s in their interest[/li][li]You have the power of Gideon to conquer anyone anywhere with an undermanned force[/li][li]God is on your side[/li][li]The past doesn’t matter[/li][li]Mistakes are never made[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/38 "2005-03-21T04:45:09Z")
But failing that, count me in for The Hundred Acre Wood any day! 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/39 "2005-03-21T13:34:50Z")
DCU - Where I’d be nearly guaranteed to have a radiation accident that’d activate my metagene. Dragonball Z Universe - Where, with mild weekly exercise, I can build up to weightlifting in one-hundred times gravity and firing energy blasts. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390/40 "2005-03-21T15:44:11Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Dragonball Z Universe - Where, with mild weekly exercise, I can build up to weightlifting in one-hundred times gravity and firing energy blasts. Mild and weekly aren’t adjectives I would use to describe their regimens, else Chi Chi and Mr. Satan would be flying. I think I’d like to live in the Bazaar on Deva from Robert Asprin’s Myth world. Anything you want in the universe, if it can be found, can be found there. Con is that whenever dealing with a Deveel, if you think you got a good deal, first check your change, then check your fingers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fictional-universe-do-you-want-to-live-in/295390.md?page=3)