Galactic empire
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Galactic empires are a fairly common theme in science fiction. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background, or written about the growth or decline of such an empire. The capital of a galactic empire is frequently a core world or home world. Some of these empires are clearly based on the Roman Empire; the Galactic Empire of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series (which inspired empires of later writers and film-makers) being an obvious example, as is the Terran Empire of Poul Anderson's Dominic Flandry. The best known to the general public today is probably the empire from Star Wars, which was formed in turn from the Galactic Republic.
Most of these galaxy-spanning domains depend on some form of transportation capable of quickly or instantly crossing vast cosmic distances (usually measured in light-years), many times faster than could a beam of light. These invariably require some type of propulsion or displacement technology forbidden by Einstein's Theory of Relativity, or that otherwise relies on theories that circumvent or supersede relativity. (See: warp drive; hyperspace; Alcubierre drive.)
The term "galactic empire" has, no doubt because of association with the Empire from Star Wars, gained a less-than-favorable reputation. This, however, is not always deserved; the Galactic Empires from Foundation and the CoDominium universe are relatively benign organizations.
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[edit] Galactic empires in science fiction
- Dune universe - Padishah Empire
- CoDominium - First and Second Empires of Man
- Foundation series - Galactic Empire
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Author Douglas Adams refers to a "former Galactic Empire" as having ruled the Milky Way Galaxy years before the setting of his novels. In the television adaptation, another name for this empire, the "Imperatala Galacticon" is seen briefly on screen.
- Star Wars - Galactic Empire
- Warhammer 40,000 - Imperium
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes - Galactic Empire
- Star Trek - Klingon Empire, Romulan Empire, Dominion, and Terran Empire, an alternate form of the United Federation of Planets glimpsed in the Mirror Universe.
- Poul Anderson's Dominic Flandry series - The Terran Empire (unconnected with the previous one,and far more benign).
- Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series - The Terran Empire (still a third one), which mainly maintains trading stations on numerous planets rather than seeking to rule them directly (roughly comparable to the Portuguese empire in the Far East).
- Honorverse - Solarian League, the largest of political units of human diaspora can be considered such an Empire; from the late novels in the series it also becomes apparent, that the League is at the beginning of its fall.
- Farscape - The Peacekeepers, an imperialistic empire of a "superior" species, holding almost exclusive control of the Charted Space territories. The empire is entirely populated with Sebacean.
- Stargate SG-1 - The Goa'uld had a loose control over the milky way galaxy, but more or less it was still a galactic empire. The Asgard also held galactic dominance over there own galaxy before they committed mass self suicide in "Unending". The Ori held galactic dominance in there own galaxy.
- Stargate Atlantis - The wraith have their own galactic empire. It was formed during the destruction of the empire the Alterrans (Ancients) established in the pegasus galaxy.
[edit] Galactic empires in religion
- The Galactic Confederacy in the Church of Scientology.
- The Aetherius Society's "Interplanetary Parliament".
- The "Elohim" in Raëlism.
[edit] Galactic empires in computer games
- Imperium Galactica Series By Digital Reality.
- Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain by THQ.
- Space Empires Series by Malfador Machinations.
- EVE Online MMORPG by CCP Games.
[edit] Galactic empires in music
- Galactic Empires Concert Band piece by David R. Gillingham
[edit] See also
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