Tuesday, 05 January 2010

  • What Sci-Fi Universe Would You Live In?

    Science fiction has seen a big resurgence in recent years. With movie series like Star Wars and the Matrix, and TV shows like Battlestar Galactica, we've been shown so many different versions of futuristic society that it's almost staggering. They're all so unique, but despite all that's foreign about them, they each retain something familiar that draws us in.

    I've always been a dreamer. By the time I was able to talk and comprehend the concept of movies and television, I was hooked on the stories of people like Luke Skywalker. The idea of being thrust into an alien world — discovering all its intricacies and wonders — was so exciting to me. Now, as I vainly attempt to slow life down, I still think about what it would be like to live in a sci-fi universe. The hardest question is, which one?

    -Star Wars: I dare you to tell me it wouldn't be cool to fly the Millennium Falcon, weaving between Star Destroyers, dodging asteroids and cruising out of the wreckage of a burning Death Star. I suppose we can't all be as lucky as Han Solo or as cool as Lando Calrissian, but I'd sure like to try. Forget being a whiny, moralistic Jedi Knight, they're completely overrated. To me, the most interesting aspect of the galaxy far, far away has always been seeing how ordinary people eke out an existence and manage to survive in a war-torn civilization spanning thousands of light-years. Oh, and the blue milk Luke is pouring himself up there.

    -The Matrix: Before I go on, let's agree to forget the second two movies were ever made. They wasted valuable world-building time while they waxed intellectual about keymakers and architects and what-have-you. That said, there's something very intriguing about being one of only a few liberated minds in an encapsulated, enslaved society. The people of Zion were in the unique position of being on the outside looking in, able to break and bend the rules of a perceived reality at will. In truth, it might not exactly be fun to live inside or outside the Matrix, but fighting the good fight always seems like a good thing to do.
    -Battlestar Galactica: When I talk BSG, I refer to Ron Moore's recently completed re-imagined series. The show begins with the near-complete destruction of human civilization by the Cylons, a society of robots created by man (and all the human models, especially the women, are drop-dead gorgeous). As time moves on, the remnants of humanity search for a new home while evading and disrupting their robotic pursuers. So it wouldn't be a fun life, but certainly one of intense emotion and hopeful discovery. Maybe if you're lucky you'll get to have some anonymous Cylon sex before you bite the dust.

    Perhaps I've got the hero's spirit shoved way too far up my ass, or played too many video games, but living in a futuristic, if somewhat dystopian society would be a unique opportunity to get some perspective on our own world. We're already approaching an Orwellian, Big-Brother-esque society, and we'll never reach the near-utopian everyone-wears-a-jumpsuit promise of Star Trek, so why not try out as many dystopias as possible to see which one fits?

    What sci-fi universe would you live in?

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