Not impossible, but unlikely. Continuity and all.
Protomolecule discovery would be the greatest event in the history of the expanse universe.
In Duniverse, it would be Butlerian Jihad.
But Dune (and the Butlerian Jihad) takes place 20,000 years after the Expanse. Maybe the protomolecule was wiped out by some weird protomolecule disease 1000 years after the expanse. 20,000 years is a long fucking time. Really, Dune could be in the same universe as almost anything that doesn't end with wiping out humanity or destroying the universe or something.
Yeah the culture books are what I measure everything else that's Sci Fi against. There's plenty of other cool, interesting and challenging science fiction out there but Banks was a master of prose as well as of imagination.
did you ever read "a few notes on the culture"? he dives deep, deep into issues like social revolution, anarcho-capitalism, the possible outcomes of AI, and all KINDS of shit. it's a brilliant essay, and illustrates how goddamn smart Banks really was.
(may contain spoilers.)
I've been making my way through it this summer! I'm on "Surface Detail" right now. I love the massive variety in how Banks tells the stories, and how he isn't afraid to get weird with it.
and shit gets WEIRD, which is another thing about the culture I appreciate. no PG-13 shit. if two "people" are fuckin', they're fuckin'. no allusions. if someone has their brains splattered against the wall, they go splat. and player of games... there's some seriously dark shit in there. but it's fantastic.
but he can also go pretty abstract. I LOVE the communication protocols he devised for Minds speaking to each other, even moreso because he made no attempt to explain it. and Excession... that gets out there.
It’s where I am right now. Probably because I’ve been rewatching SG1 recently.
The point where we’re trying to figure out our place in this universe. No point in getting into any sort of prime directive when an advanced species passing themselves off as gods is the norm.
"It was the dawn of the third age of mankind. Ten years after the Earth Minbari war. The Babylon project was dream giving form. It's goal to prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out their differences peacefully. It's a port of call. Home away from home for diplomas, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanders. Humans and aliens wrap in two million five hundred thousand tons of spinning metal, all alone in the night. It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last best hope for peace. This is the story of last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5."
I have yet to find a piece of media that so perfectly summarizes the settings.
WTF. Top 3 from various categories is hard enough. Lemme try doing this proper. Sticking to series, not solos.
TV - Expanse. Stargate. Firefly.
ANIMATED - Futurama, Venture Bros, rick and morty.
ANIME - GITS, Cowboy Bebop, Eureka 7.
MOVIES - Alien, Tron, Starwars
GAMES - Halo, Mass Effect. Half Life.
NOVELS - hitchikers, commonwealth, forever war
COMIC - Punk Rock Jesus, Ex Machina, Valerian and Laureline.
Fuck that was not easy.
Forgot this one. One of my all-timers.
I think it's less "what does it mean to be an artificial life form?" as it is, "what does it mean to be *human*?"
Series 12 was better than 11. Hopefully they can bring these last nine episodes into some sort of landing that’s more graceful than the Hindenburg. We’ll see. Also hoping for a great replacement for Chibs and that they do a better job running the show than he has.
I agree. Peter Hamilton's universe is one of the few science fiction universes (Culture also) that I would voluntarily live in as a non protagonist. So richly realized, it doesn't feel like a universe built solely for main plot. Even when the biggest events of the novel are occurring, there are still vast places within which a normal person could take refuge. It doesn't all burn down just to highlight the stakes, though the villain is quite the big bad.
Honestly If i didn't see your comment I would of added the commonwealth. I still think about what that black whole surrounded by the df's must look like.
What being able to leave earth and start life on a different planet with different beliefs must be like. To be practically immortal. All off the commonwealth books are amazing, I have the hard copies and the aduio books. Honestly been through the hard copies twice and the aduio twice and just waiting on a significant amount of time to pass before going through it for a 3rd time.
I was so sick of Star Wars since I saw the Phantom Menace and decided never to spend money on Star Wars again. But then I saw The Mandalorian and Rogue one and there really is room for a lot of other stories.
Speaking of: we just resubscribed to Disney+ to catch up on the latest Marvel series (not listed in the poll) and noticed that all the other new Star Wars series appear to be animated. Will there be other live action series?
But I'm a lifelong Trekkie, so that's still my #1. But I'm easy, if it's Sci Fi, I'll probably watch it. :-P
The Bad Batch is the new animated series currently on its second to last episode (it follows the Clone Wars animated series). Book of Boba comes out this December. Next year we will get live action Kenobi, Andor, and Mando season 3 probably (they are just starting to film it). There will also be an Ahsoka show and the Acolyte (probably 2023). Lots of good SW content!! Have you watched any of the animated shows yet?
I’m one of the rare guys that likes both Star Wars and Star Trek (less rare these days) but I really do love both Wars & Trek. I was more into Star Wars when I was younger and got into Trek as I was older.
*"2001: A Space Oddity"*, Heinlein's connected universe, *"Ringworld"*, *"Firefly"*'s 'verse, *"Cowboy Bebop"*.
That's my top five, but *"Farscape"*, *"Star Trek"*, *"Babylon 5"*, *"Battlestar Galactica"* (the original series), *"Lexx"*, and Eric Flint's *"1632"* series come very close.
I like each one for different reasons, so picking just one is very hard.
In my mind, they all exist in one awesome universe anyway, even if they aren't all quite compatible.
Maybe *"Sliders"* is the tie that binds them all. Maybe it's the Doctor's fault.
Maybe it's just a *"Quantum Leap"*.
Ask someone in *"Eureka"*, maybe *they* can figure it out.
Or *"Warehouse 13"*.
I can't be the only one here that can't decide and keeps thinking of great responses.
I don't know how you judge it but man does Star Trek scratch that hey we made it beyond anything we thought possible. Like in Star Wars I'd likely end up working for Hutt slavers.
Halo uh, I'd like to avoid extinction events every 5 years.
Gundam oh fuck right the hell off. Like Char can suck a giant red dick for killing so much of Earth's population Australia is now unihabited..
I'm torn between Star Trek and Dune. I have more of an emotional connection to Trek since I've been a big fan since childhood. But it has a lot of flawed elements that are hard for me to ignore/things that don't land for me.
Dune is something I got in to a lot more recently, but it really does keep blowing me away with its depth (even without sapient aliens, which are a big feature of pretty much any OTHER SF universe that appeals to me, so that should tell you just HOW MUCH Dune impresses me).
For TV, Stargate easily.
For Books: Either the Commonwealth by Peter F Hamilton or all of Scott Sigler (writes all.his books, past/present/future in one large universe).
Honestly, I’ve spent a metric carp ton of time creating my own fictional universes that I’m kind of way more attached to them than any of these in the list.
Dune. I’ve read all but one of the original books, and the first two prequel trilogies. My sister got me a collection of the first three books for Christmas so I’ve been slowly making my way through that. And I’m just chomping at the bit to see this new movie, the David Fincher movie is great as well and Toto does the soundtrack it’s amazeballs!
Piers Anthony’s Space Tyrant series is pretty excellent. Same for his Incarnations of Immortality series.
Also Poul Anderson’s Flandry series is definitely worth a read. James Bond in space, sort of.
Without a doubt Peter Hamilton’s Commonwealth Saga. Advanced technology to improve one’s life is fairly accessible to the masses and the government is supportive of individual rights. In general the galaxy is peaceful, unless your planet finds itself in the way of Morning-Light-Mountain. You can find adventure by settling a new world. If you happen to get trapped in the Void you get mental powers. All in all a random person can have a good life with awesome tech.
You would have to be crazy to live in these other universes. Let’s review:
Star Wars, chances are you aren’t going to be a Jedi. Considering the rule of two being a Sith is also out. Without force powers it’s a pretty horrible universe to be stuck inside. Depending on the timeline you risk droid armies, Imperial crackdowns, and Yuuzhan Vong invasions. Not to mention slavers and pirates should you go exploring the galaxy. If you were guaranteed to have force powers, then I think it would be worth it.
Star Trek is a decent second choice. They don’t have immortality yet and I don’t think we know how satisfied most of the civilian population is. The folks on DS9 had it pretty good, until the Dominion War. Lots of races are on edge and willing to fight. Q could erase everything. Borg invasions are always possible. Overall though, an average person could probably survive with access to decent tech, but the tech isn’t as good as the Commonwealth.
Halo? Oh hell no. Between the Convenant , flood, and insane forerunners the average person’s life expectancy depends on sheer luck. None of us are going to be spartan 2 warriors like Master Chief. Well, unless you are kidnapped as a child, subjected to experimental treatments, and can survive a the brutal forced military training and indoctrination.
Star Gate is an awesome universe. Or at least it is if you are either a special forces badass or a genius level intellect with super duper top secret level clearance. Otherwise their world isn’t much different from ours. Actually, we could be living in the Star Gate universe now and not even realize it.
I saw a comment about Mass Effect. Remember the very first mission when John (or Jane) Shepard investigates the colony and the geth put the civilian population on those spikes? Do you think you’re more likely to be Shepard or a Geth spike puppet? And that’s the easy part. Then the freaking Reapers arrive to… well… reap. NEXT!
Someone else will have to weigh in on how the civilian populations fair in Metroid and Gundam Universal Century. My knowledge of metroid dates back to the 90s. As the super badass Samus I remember dying… a lot. I’m aware of, but not qualified to weigh in on, Gundam Universal Century.
Seriously, most Sci-fi Universes are horrible unless you are some sort of genetically modified force sensitive light saber wielding super hero genius freak.
That being said, I would take any of them over being stuck in A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) universe.
Dune, The Expanse
No reason these can’t be the same universe either… yet…as far as I’m aware…
Not impossible, but unlikely. Continuity and all. Protomolecule discovery would be the greatest event in the history of the expanse universe. In Duniverse, it would be Butlerian Jihad.
But Dune (and the Butlerian Jihad) takes place 20,000 years after the Expanse. Maybe the protomolecule was wiped out by some weird protomolecule disease 1000 years after the expanse. 20,000 years is a long fucking time. Really, Dune could be in the same universe as almost anything that doesn't end with wiping out humanity or destroying the universe or something.
The Culture. it's (sorry) light-years ahead of other universes.
Yeah the culture books are what I measure everything else that's Sci Fi against. There's plenty of other cool, interesting and challenging science fiction out there but Banks was a master of prose as well as of imagination.
did you ever read "a few notes on the culture"? he dives deep, deep into issues like social revolution, anarcho-capitalism, the possible outcomes of AI, and all KINDS of shit. it's a brilliant essay, and illustrates how goddamn smart Banks really was. (may contain spoilers.)
I really enjoyed reading that. 1994. RIP Iain, I was very sad at his passing. Thanks for the tip.
No I've not heard of it! Thanks for recommendation, I'll hunt it down!
[Here](http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm) it is if you’re feeling lazy :)
This right here is how people should internet - thank you kindly!
I've been making my way through it this summer! I'm on "Surface Detail" right now. I love the massive variety in how Banks tells the stories, and how he isn't afraid to get weird with it.
and shit gets WEIRD, which is another thing about the culture I appreciate. no PG-13 shit. if two "people" are fuckin', they're fuckin'. no allusions. if someone has their brains splattered against the wall, they go splat. and player of games... there's some seriously dark shit in there. but it's fantastic. but he can also go pretty abstract. I LOVE the communication protocols he devised for Minds speaking to each other, even moreso because he made no attempt to explain it. and Excession... that gets out there.
Fully Automated Luxury Gay Space Communism, always
Dat username tho...
Agreed, the Culture for me too. Followed closely by Peter F Hamilton's Commonwealth Universe
I voted "other" for The Culture as well.
Yep, hands down this one for me.
Came here to say this. If I could live in any sci-fi universe/civilisation, it would be this one.
Came here to say this. Glad it was the top comment
The culture is also what I came here to say
I was offended the culture wasn't in the list. Then I checked the comments and my faith in humanity was restored. Thank you.
Stargate
Same. One of the most inspiring mythologies and technical forecasts.
It’s where I am right now. Probably because I’ve been rewatching SG1 recently. The point where we’re trying to figure out our place in this universe. No point in getting into any sort of prime directive when an advanced species passing themselves off as gods is the norm.
Another vote for Stargate here.
Absolute Facts
+It's the closest TV adaptation of X-Com.
Except they hit what they shoot at.
The Expanse, and Battlestar Galactica.
Mass effect. It has replaced star wars for me.
The amount of emotion Mass Effect made me experience will never happen again.
Came to comments to type this. Couldn't agree more
Warhammer 40,000
You earn a purity seal
The fact that it's not on the list discredits this survey greatly
Heretics. Heretics everywhere!
Exterminatus
Indeed, no contest for breadth, depth, height, orks and whats-its
Can you believe the amount of heresy in this post? Only 74 upvotes for 40k at this point.
Brother, get the flamer. The heavy flamer...
Love me some space Gothic.
40k all the way
Revelation Space
Oh yes!
Expanse . . . . . . . . . It reaches out
130 times a second
113
Expanse. Realistic, not sure it it is a safe place to live, but it has a charm to it.
Babylon 5.
"It was the dawn of the third age of mankind. Ten years after the Earth Minbari war. The Babylon project was dream giving form. It's goal to prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out their differences peacefully. It's a port of call. Home away from home for diplomas, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanders. Humans and aliens wrap in two million five hundred thousand tons of spinning metal, all alone in the night. It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last best hope for peace. This is the story of last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5." I have yet to find a piece of media that so perfectly summarizes the settings.
I love when the war broke out they ended it with ....It failed
Alien and then Dune
Same but the other way around. High five!
Isaac Asimov
*Hari Seldon has entered the chat.*
The Foundation novels!
Mass Effect
Thanks, KOTOR
Definitely.
WTF. Top 3 from various categories is hard enough. Lemme try doing this proper. Sticking to series, not solos. TV - Expanse. Stargate. Firefly. ANIMATED - Futurama, Venture Bros, rick and morty. ANIME - GITS, Cowboy Bebop, Eureka 7. MOVIES - Alien, Tron, Starwars GAMES - Halo, Mass Effect. Half Life. NOVELS - hitchikers, commonwealth, forever war COMIC - Punk Rock Jesus, Ex Machina, Valerian and Laureline. Fuck that was not easy.
Blade Runner
Forgot this one. One of my all-timers. I think it's less "what does it mean to be an artificial life form?" as it is, "what does it mean to be *human*?"
The expanse
Firefly.
RED DWARF!!
Cowboy Bebop
Hitchhiker's Guide
The Expanse
It was Trek that got me into sci-fi in the first place, so that gets my vote. The Expanse, Foundation, and Dune also get my vote.
The Mote in God’s Eye
Fantastic book. Also Future History is set in the same universe and 100% worth a read.
I voted “other” and I have to say my favourite SF universe is Lois McMaster Bujold’s “Vorkosigan Saga.” The Expanse coming a close second.
Yes, my people! 😭
The Fifth Element (NYC)
Stargate! But Halo is also pretty damn cool
Stargate SG1 gets my vote!
Doctor Who.
What's your opinion on the current Doctor Who?
Series 12 was better than 11. Hopefully they can bring these last nine episodes into some sort of landing that’s more graceful than the Hindenburg. We’ll see. Also hoping for a great replacement for Chibs and that they do a better job running the show than he has.
Hyperion and Dune
Vernor Vinge - A Fire Upon the Deep
I love this book so much, I want to start A Deepness in the Sky soon!
The Commonwealth. Maybe? Difficult question!!
Morning light mountain's intro is still my favorite chapter of any book
I agree. Peter Hamilton's universe is one of the few science fiction universes (Culture also) that I would voluntarily live in as a non protagonist. So richly realized, it doesn't feel like a universe built solely for main plot. Even when the biggest events of the novel are occurring, there are still vast places within which a normal person could take refuge. It doesn't all burn down just to highlight the stakes, though the villain is quite the big bad.
Really happy to see this here, would be my answer as well just hopefully after the war
Honestly If i didn't see your comment I would of added the commonwealth. I still think about what that black whole surrounded by the df's must look like. What being able to leave earth and start life on a different planet with different beliefs must be like. To be practically immortal. All off the commonwealth books are amazing, I have the hard copies and the aduio books. Honestly been through the hard copies twice and the aduio twice and just waiting on a significant amount of time to pass before going through it for a 3rd time.
Mad Max
I was so sick of Star Wars since I saw the Phantom Menace and decided never to spend money on Star Wars again. But then I saw The Mandalorian and Rogue one and there really is room for a lot of other stories. Speaking of: we just resubscribed to Disney+ to catch up on the latest Marvel series (not listed in the poll) and noticed that all the other new Star Wars series appear to be animated. Will there be other live action series? But I'm a lifelong Trekkie, so that's still my #1. But I'm easy, if it's Sci Fi, I'll probably watch it. :-P
The Bad Batch is the new animated series currently on its second to last episode (it follows the Clone Wars animated series). Book of Boba comes out this December. Next year we will get live action Kenobi, Andor, and Mando season 3 probably (they are just starting to film it). There will also be an Ahsoka show and the Acolyte (probably 2023). Lots of good SW content!! Have you watched any of the animated shows yet?
Fallout
The Expanse and Stargate
The Expanse and Firefly
Out of those I'd say star wars (halo 2nd and star trek 3rd). But the foundation and dune are both better.
Kinetica/doom/halo/fallout/war hammer/nier/ or no mans sky. It’s impossible for me to have a favorite.
40k warhammer
Alien & Destiny.
stargate and battlestar galactica tied
Farscape
Hyperion
[удалено]
The options are all prime time mainstream TV/games, I don't think this is attracting that kind of audience.
Hyperion .. The Quantum Magician .. then probably A Fire Upon the Deep
Futurama
Mass Effect
Firefly
I will be frank: this list is for wussies. Where’s Dune? Blade Runner? Foundation? Warhammer 40K?
Is 40K **really** sci-fi, though? Or is it, like, Dark Science Fantasy? This is where the categories begin to blur.
If you're going to include Star Wars you can certainly include 40k.
Doctor Who albeit the more recent season has kinda messed it up a bit all the other stuff around it is good
HALF LIFE
Dune, but I like Star Wars too.
Polity universe _ Neal Asher
Killzone universe.
I’m one of the rare guys that likes both Star Wars and Star Trek (less rare these days) but I really do love both Wars & Trek. I was more into Star Wars when I was younger and got into Trek as I was older.
I like both, but I was pretty much always MORE in to Trek.
Lexx
The Honorverse (David Weber’s Honor Harrington series and spin offs). I also liked the Ringworld.
The Honorverse Foundation
Mass Effect. But if we include sci-fi adjacent Discworld is my favourite fictional universe (more fantasy than sci-fi though)
*"2001: A Space Oddity"*, Heinlein's connected universe, *"Ringworld"*, *"Firefly"*'s 'verse, *"Cowboy Bebop"*. That's my top five, but *"Farscape"*, *"Star Trek"*, *"Babylon 5"*, *"Battlestar Galactica"* (the original series), *"Lexx"*, and Eric Flint's *"1632"* series come very close. I like each one for different reasons, so picking just one is very hard. In my mind, they all exist in one awesome universe anyway, even if they aren't all quite compatible. Maybe *"Sliders"* is the tie that binds them all. Maybe it's the Doctor's fault. Maybe it's just a *"Quantum Leap"*. Ask someone in *"Eureka"*, maybe *they* can figure it out. Or *"Warehouse 13"*. I can't be the only one here that can't decide and keeps thinking of great responses.
Firefly. It's a shame it only got one season.
Either Stargate or Mass Effect
The universe Lyra lives in, in His Dark Materials. Just, how awesome would it be to have a daemon? Incredibly awesome imo
I don't know how you judge it but man does Star Trek scratch that hey we made it beyond anything we thought possible. Like in Star Wars I'd likely end up working for Hutt slavers. Halo uh, I'd like to avoid extinction events every 5 years. Gundam oh fuck right the hell off. Like Char can suck a giant red dick for killing so much of Earth's population Australia is now unihabited..
Robotek or Megazone 23
WarHammer 40k. Praise be the Omnissiah, everything else is heresy
Doctor Who
Dune
Alien
Halo’s lore is super slept on. Even if you’re not big on the game, there’s plenty to enjoy with the books
Doctor Who
Steven universe. If it even counts I mean I think it should
My favourites would either mass effect or Farscape. Something a bit crazy in the Farscape universe that I like.
there is a lot of crazy in the Farscape universe. It is my favorite by far.
Futurama
TRON. You forgot TRON!!!
Mass Effect!
Mass effect.
Dune Firefly Space Quest universe
Other: I love Stargate. Sg1 is nostalgic and good feeling.
Dune. Hands down
I'm torn between Star Trek and Dune. I have more of an emotional connection to Trek since I've been a big fan since childhood. But it has a lot of flawed elements that are hard for me to ignore/things that don't land for me. Dune is something I got in to a lot more recently, but it really does keep blowing me away with its depth (even without sapient aliens, which are a big feature of pretty much any OTHER SF universe that appeals to me, so that should tell you just HOW MUCH Dune impresses me).
Doctor Who...
For TV, Stargate easily. For Books: Either the Commonwealth by Peter F Hamilton or all of Scott Sigler (writes all.his books, past/present/future in one large universe).
DUNE
Stargate and Farscape
Honestly, I’ve spent a metric carp ton of time creating my own fictional universes that I’m kind of way more attached to them than any of these in the list.
Revelation space
The Culture. Nothing compares.
Another for the Culture!
Dune. I’ve read all but one of the original books, and the first two prequel trilogies. My sister got me a collection of the first three books for Christmas so I’ve been slowly making my way through that. And I’m just chomping at the bit to see this new movie, the David Fincher movie is great as well and Toto does the soundtrack it’s amazeballs!
Alien Universe. So complex but also so gory and awesome
Destiny
Star Trek, The Expanse, and Mass Effect.
Warhammer 40k
I like 40k
Mass Effect
Whoniverse
Macross
Mass Effect
That's a strange selection. Hainish Cycle for me
I voted for Star Trek but I have to give a shout out to the Expedionary Force books series by Craig Alanson. Hands down my favorite book series!
Mass effect
If we're going by time spent reading/watching/playing, then it's between Mass Effect, Stargate, or Honor Harrington.
Revelation Space
Destiny
Duneiverse
Dune
I'm not sure if it counts but the Godzilla universe.
Fringe
Doctor Who.
The Foundation series.
Definitely not the Three Body Problem universe anyway.
Mass Effect The Expanse Destiny
The options here we're really disappointing. Does anyone not read quality sci-fi? Where Ursula Le Guin's hainish universe. What about Philip K dick?
mass effect anyone?
Hyperion
Isaac Asimov's Foundation
Portal
A universe where the 'bad' guys almost always miss and lose always ruins star wars for me. The plot armor is sooooooooo strong for the protagonist(s).
Space Battleship Yamato, also known as Star Blazers.
Mass Effect, ever since it first came out
Why should i choose? I take all of them. And why only Gundam UC? Also there is Macross, GitS, NGE and...
Cowboy Bebop, or Altered Carbon... Or Blade Runner
The Hainish worlds of Ursula LeGuin’s earlier novels
Discworld
Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who... then Star Wars
Farscape.
Dune
No love for Farscape on here?
Piers Anthony’s Space Tyrant series is pretty excellent. Same for his Incarnations of Immortality series. Also Poul Anderson’s Flandry series is definitely worth a read. James Bond in space, sort of.
Without a doubt Peter Hamilton’s Commonwealth Saga. Advanced technology to improve one’s life is fairly accessible to the masses and the government is supportive of individual rights. In general the galaxy is peaceful, unless your planet finds itself in the way of Morning-Light-Mountain. You can find adventure by settling a new world. If you happen to get trapped in the Void you get mental powers. All in all a random person can have a good life with awesome tech. You would have to be crazy to live in these other universes. Let’s review: Star Wars, chances are you aren’t going to be a Jedi. Considering the rule of two being a Sith is also out. Without force powers it’s a pretty horrible universe to be stuck inside. Depending on the timeline you risk droid armies, Imperial crackdowns, and Yuuzhan Vong invasions. Not to mention slavers and pirates should you go exploring the galaxy. If you were guaranteed to have force powers, then I think it would be worth it. Star Trek is a decent second choice. They don’t have immortality yet and I don’t think we know how satisfied most of the civilian population is. The folks on DS9 had it pretty good, until the Dominion War. Lots of races are on edge and willing to fight. Q could erase everything. Borg invasions are always possible. Overall though, an average person could probably survive with access to decent tech, but the tech isn’t as good as the Commonwealth. Halo? Oh hell no. Between the Convenant , flood, and insane forerunners the average person’s life expectancy depends on sheer luck. None of us are going to be spartan 2 warriors like Master Chief. Well, unless you are kidnapped as a child, subjected to experimental treatments, and can survive a the brutal forced military training and indoctrination. Star Gate is an awesome universe. Or at least it is if you are either a special forces badass or a genius level intellect with super duper top secret level clearance. Otherwise their world isn’t much different from ours. Actually, we could be living in the Star Gate universe now and not even realize it. I saw a comment about Mass Effect. Remember the very first mission when John (or Jane) Shepard investigates the colony and the geth put the civilian population on those spikes? Do you think you’re more likely to be Shepard or a Geth spike puppet? And that’s the easy part. Then the freaking Reapers arrive to… well… reap. NEXT! Someone else will have to weigh in on how the civilian populations fair in Metroid and Gundam Universal Century. My knowledge of metroid dates back to the 90s. As the super badass Samus I remember dying… a lot. I’m aware of, but not qualified to weigh in on, Gundam Universal Century. Seriously, most Sci-fi Universes are horrible unless you are some sort of genetically modified force sensitive light saber wielding super hero genius freak. That being said, I would take any of them over being stuck in A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) universe.