The Sword and Laser discussion
Living in a Fantasy world.
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Least: Most medieval fantasies. The women in most of those are relegated to baby making or don't have many rights. I don't want to be my husband's property, basically. Or married off to someone and having no say in it.

Sci fi: Basically the same answer as Dara above. :D
Worst: Westeros... I am a honourable and naive person... So I'd be dead pretty quickly. Love to read about the place but living there would be horrible.

Fantasy: I wouldn't like the idea of living in any sort of medieveal society that do not have at least an equivalent of antibiotics(some kind of magic potion or something that will prevent me from dying of common flu or a slight cut) and some kind of indoor plumbing.
I'm reading Harry Potter at the moment and that world seems incredibly magical and wondrous although I don't think at my age they would let me into the school :(



Or the dune world. Yes, im classic like that.
I world i Dont like to step in: the real one XD
Just kidding, i guess the ridick chronicles world.

On the fantasy side of things: there are just too many to count, from Blake Charlton's world of the Spellwright trilogy to jim butchers alternate earth, dresden files, to flying dragons in Temeraire, but if i can expand a moment to the comic worlds, why not the DC or Marvel unverses to keep thing literary.
The fact that there is so many fantasy worlds out there both popular and hidden away in memory it is easy to find worlds that we resonate with, where we can exist to our potential especially if you suffer from the being excentrc and geeky, we want to escape to places with magic, and wonder that we can't find here on our own.



For science fiction, the Star Trek universe would be the most comfortable, barring a Borg invasion.
Riverworld would be interesting but the downside is you have to die to get there.
The worst would be The Land from the Thomas Covenant books. It seems pretty depressing there.

I think I'd make my fortune battling pirates on the Sword Coast, then set up shop in Calimshan. Sell sunscreen to dark elf tourists.

If I were part of the "happenings" I think Mazalan. That seems like a nice dark place to make a name for yourself.
For Sci-Fi I am not sure. Star Trek to just live there with its utopia. Mass Effect for the story of it?
EDIT: How did I not think of Harry Potter. I wish boarding school was that cool.

Worst/No Thank You/No F#@$@ing Way - Jordan's Wheel of Time World

As for the worst places are The borg world, Terry Goodkind's sword of truth world no thanks not in a million years.

Worst/No Thank You/No F#@$@ing Way - Jordan's Wheel of Time World"
I've never read Wheel of Time, what's so bad about that particular world?



Ha ha! (Healthcare System) But seriously, the Forgotten Realms would be awesome. R.A. Salvatore is my fave...

Yeah, but you'd always have Lady Galadriel hanging around, reading your mind.

Whenever I've had this discussion with friends or teachers, it always comes back to healthcare. Whenever you have to put yourself practically into a world, basic necessities are the primary consideration.
I remember having this discussion with a professor who said "But Middle Earth is a Medieval society. If you break you leg climbing the Misty Mountains, there's no Careflight (medical helicopter)that can take you to a hospital."
I instantly responded, "No, but there are eagles that will pick you up, and take you to a House of Healing."
I nearly failed that course.

I'd stay away from Malazan, or Westeros, or other places with a war going on. Things that are exciting to read about wouldn't be fun to live through.

Agreed on Goodkind. The SOT world is far worse than WOT.

That made me laugh. I would most likely have been with you with almost failing.
Place to live: Fantasy- Narina during the golden age. Sci Fi- Firefly. Living in the Black, earning a honest living trading/hauling goods along the Rim, Wild West with a spaceship and gender equality (for the most part)
Thanks but F*&^ no!- Hunger Games (distopias in general) and alt reality Twilight universe.

John Carter of Mars wouldn't be so bad though.



SciFi I would go with Ian M. Banks Culture universe. The technology is so advanced that people can live almost anyway they can imagine.

The Four Corners has been mentioned a number of times. Was one of my choices as well.


unless you are a redshirt.

Sci Fi-Hands down the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy but please don't hand me a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Or Star Wars...Both are quite interesting, I wouldn't mind being a Jedi (In the old republic)


Isn't it this world?"
Yes, but they do explore other planets which is pretty cool.


The Mass Effect universe would be a lot of fun. As well as riding on a massive space ship from Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns.

Rothfuss's place at the university would be awesome too.
I also think Daniell's Outcast Chronicles would be an interesting place to experience! as long as you get a good house!
Oh, Week's Lightbringer series would also be an interesting place to be.
Elder Scrolls
Codex Alera would be awesome pre-invasion.
Pern for sure.
Iskryne would be interesting.
Dresden Files and Iron Druid for modern stuff.
Avatar: the last Airbender Ang series would be cool.
Worst: WoT, ASoIaF, SoT, Shadows of the Adept (i go back and forth on this one), David Eddings (because you would just be repeating hardships every decade but killing a god each time would be amusing),
Books mentioned in this topic
Swordspoint (other topics)Kushiel's Dart (other topics)
The Sorcerer's Ship (other topics)
I personally think living in Pat Rothfuss's Four Corners would be awesome. Going to the University to learn sympathy and naming, and listening to music in Imre. Not that there is some epicly bad stuff that happens in this world, but the University and the area nearby generally seem like a safe place to stay (unless you're Kvothe).
On the other hand, there is Joe Abercrombie's Circle of the World. Under no inducement would I ever want to go there. From the Northlands, to Midderland, to Gurkhul, this world is constantly at war. Bloody, terrifying, depressing war. Even in the 'safe' parts of the world, you'd likely be taken by the Inquisition for a crime they told you you'd committed. Love the series, but I'd never want to experience it firsthand.
So, which world would you most like to be in, and which would you rather avoid, and why?
P.S. I realize I didn't incude SF because I havent read as much of it, but feel free to bring it into the discussion. If I don't get the references, its my problem.