Fictional universes are a part of the science fiction stories that have become a part of our literary and media fabric. They are more or less adapted or influenced by the present-day society of the writer’s area of residence or are based on the writer’s concept of what the world could be in the future or an alternate universe.
Galactic empires in science fiction are used as an allegory for the real issues of governance and dictatorship that we encounter on Earth. Writers have mentioned colonialism and imperialism in their works when mentioning a galactic empire. For instance, in Star Wars, the Galactic Empire controls the resources in a world where humans are living in colonies categorized by class.
Galactic empires also exhibit dynamics of class and power. This is backed by a rigid social structure. The concept of rebellion and resistance is also seen in such galactic empires. Overall, galactic empires in science fiction can serve as a reflection of our world’s social and political systems, highlighting how power, oppression, resistance, and progress shape society.
Among these universes are empires or more commonly referred to as galactic empires. These are concepts of figurative thoughts used to present an idea or to discourse about a social dimension. The concept of a galactic empire stems from our world’s governments based on dictatorship. These galactic empires also reflect a similar rigidity and lack of democracy. One of the most popular galactic empires in science fiction is Star Wars, created by George Lucas. This Empire is an oppressive regime exercising its authority with a bureaucratic setup maintaining control over the planet and the galaxy. Another example is the Padishah Emperors from Frank Herbert’s Dune (1985). They are the rulers of the Old Empire that govern the universe. Another popular galactic empire was conceived by Issac Asimov for his Foundation series. The gigantic galaxy has 25 million planets in its domain. It is said that Asimov got the idea of creating the Foundation based on how the Roman Empire was built. Hyperspace technology facilitated humans to travel to far-flung areas of space to establish this empire. Another example of a galactic empire comes in the form of the United Federation of Planets from Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek. The Federation comprises hundreds of planets that are home to diverging cultures.
Scifiers explores science fiction narratives that enliven our imagination and compel us to think about the “what-ifs” of creative world-building. It is on a mission to discuss ideas about sci-fi in its various forms that keep the genre in a state of continuous expansion.
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