If you could visit any fictional place...

[NCbear]

The Star Kingdom of Manticore (from the Honor Harrington series created by David Weber). Wonderful space opera, with a social conscience.

Imagine:

(1) a hereditary monarchy ruled by a Black woman
(2) the central heroine, Honor Harrington, a mix of White and Asian
(3) a multi-party political system whose members are less concerned with race or gender than with beliefs, ethics, and equality of opportunity
(4) a society that doesn't automatically link race (or skin color) with socioeconomic class (or class assumptions)
(5) a serious discussion of the ethics of warfare and the implications of foreign policy, particularly in dealing with star systems that have state-sponsored religions
(6) a clear articulation of the legal rights of cloned and genetically altered individuals
(7) a clear legal right to (heterosexual) polyamory

Weber's truly interesting stories raise multiple thought-provoking issues. I've read and re-read all the novels in the series at least 10 times each--and learned something new about myself each time.

NCbear

 

[naughty]

NCBear,

Those sound fascinating. I think I need to look for those in the bookstore or on Amazon.

The Star Kingdom of Manticore (from the Honor Harrington series created by David Weber). Wonderful space opera, with a social conscience.

Imagine:

(1) a hereditary monarchy ruled by a Black woman
(2) the central heroine, Honor Harrington, a mix of White and Asian
(3) a multi-party political system whose members are less concerned with race or gender than with beliefs, ethics, and equality of opportunity
(4) a society that doesn't automatically link race (or skin color) with socioeconomic class (or class assumptions)
(5) a serious discussion of the ethics of warfare and the implications of foreign policy, particularly in dealing with star systems that have state-sponsored religions
(6) a clear articulation of the legal rights of cloned and genetically altered individuals
(7) a clear legal right to (heterosexual) polyamory

Weber's truly interesting stories raise multiple thought-provoking issues. I've read and re-read all the novels in the series at least 10 times each--and learned something new about myself each time.

NCbear

 

[naughty]

Rob just Rob,

Those all sound like places right up my alley. Watery paradise. Are you by any chance a water sign? I attribute my interest to being a double water sign...Do you think Tom Bombabdill was a prototype for the "Green man"

OK, I was kind of cranky when I posted this.

So...
Rivendell/Tom Bombadil's house
Xanadu (Coleridge's)
Waterdeep (revealing my inner geek)
Atlantis (the Graham Hancock version :wink: )

 

[32349]

Gormenghast castle from Mervyn Peake's novels

 

[rob_just_rob]

Rob just Rob,

Those all sound like places right up my alley. Watery paradise. Are you by any chance a water sign? I attribute my interest to being a double water sign...Do you think Tom Bombabdill was a prototype for the "Green man"

I think Taurus is an Earth sign? But I definitely am partial to the water.

As for Tom Bom, I'm not sure if the Green Man concept predates Tolkein. But I do like this explanation for Tom, Goldberry, and their house: http://tolkien.cro.net/else/bbeier.html

 

[medic007]

I totally cast my vote for the Myst / Riven / Exile world of D'ni...I mean, come on - books that lead to worlds they describe? Its like wishing for more wishes :biggrin1:
And the books / games were awesome too, so, by extension, so must the world be.

 

[B_NineInchCock_160IQ]

I might have to agree with the Enterprise, TNG version. Of course, as soon as I got there I would just lock myself in the holodeck and live there the rest of my life.

 

[B_NineInchCock_160IQ]

The Star Kingdom of Manticore (from the Honor Harrington series created by David Weber). Wonderful space opera, with a social conscience.

Imagine:

(1) a hereditary monarchy ruled by a Black woman
(2) the central heroine, Honor Harrington, a mix of White and Asian
(3) a multi-party political system whose members are less concerned with race or gender than with beliefs, ethics, and equality of opportunity
(4) a society that doesn't automatically link race (or skin color) with socioeconomic class (or class assumptions)
(5) a serious discussion of the ethics of warfare and the implications of foreign policy, particularly in dealing with star systems that have state-sponsored religions
(6) a clear articulation of the legal rights of cloned and genetically altered individuals
(7) a clear legal right to (heterosexual) polyamory

Weber's truly interesting stories raise multiple thought-provoking issues. I've read and re-read all the novels in the series at least 10 times each--and learned something new about myself each time.

NCbear

If this culture is so little concerned with race then why is it so clear what race the monarch and central character are? a) why would they even bring it up? b) there must still be pretty widespread dialogue against miscegenation if there's a character clearly identifiable as half asian half white, and another whose 100% black... though that this takes place in some imaginary kingdom makes it seem incredibly odd that there are even similar racial distinctions.

I dunno... they might be wonderful books... but...

 

[madame_zora]

The Magic Theatre from Hesse's Steppenwolf.

 

[NCbear]

If this culture is so little concerned with race then why is it so clear what race the monarch and central character are? a) why would they even bring it up? b) there must still be pretty widespread dialogue against miscegenation if there's a character clearly identifiable as half asian half white, and another whose 100% black... though that this takes place in some imaginary kingdom makes it seem incredibly odd that there are even similar racial distinctions.

I dunno... they might be wonderful books... but...

Interesting question. You actually have to figure out race from hints, not full descriptions.

It's (thank GOD) very different from most sci-fi or fantasy novels where the "default" race is a lovingly described, almost excruciatingly lovingly described, Northern or Western European bunch of "people" or humanoids (e.g., Xanth, Middle Earth, etc., and other worlds in which nonWhite people are "not from here").

NCbear

 

[SurferGirlCA]

I chose Wonderland, but only if I could go in full-on Uma in "Kill Bill" mode like this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee's_Alice

That Queen of Hearts beeyotch is goin down.

 

[DaveyR]

The Island in Lost - Matthew Fox is so hot.

 

[sunsetapisto]

Xanadu (Coleridge's)

I thought xanadu was a real place back in the days of the khanate of the golden horde.

 

[sunsetapisto]

I would go to the worlds from Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle.

 

[Heather LouAnna]

Eden?

That's fictional, right? :tongue: I hear they got tasty apple trees.

Narnia? lol

 

[SurferGirlCA]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rob_just_rob
Xanadu (Coleridge's)

I thought xanadu was a real place back in the days of the khanate of the golden horde.

Rob prolly meant Coleridge's, as opposed to Xanadu (Olivia Newton-John's) :wink:

 

[Mulebear]

The world of Neuromancer. I would be sooooo wired and jacked in.

 

[rob_just_rob]

I thought xanadu was a real place back in the days of the khanate of the golden horde.

Wonderland is a real place, too - it's near Maple :tongue:

 

[scanjock8]

Fantasy Island

 

[mikechicagoman7]

Atlantis