GALACTIC EMPIRE

'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.

Contents

Galactic empires in science fiction

Galactic empires in religion

Galactic empires in computer games

Galactic empires in collectible card games

Galactic empires in music

See also

Galactic empires in science fiction

★ ''Imperial Stars'' by E. E. Smith - the first example of an imperial genre of science fiction

★ ''Doctor Who: The Long Game'' - the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Many other "Earth Empires" have also been featured.

★ ''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 of Man

★ ''Legend of the Galactic Heroes'' - Galactic Empire

★ ''Star Trek'' - Klingon Empire, Romulan Empire, Dominion, Borg Collective, Cardassian Union, Kelvan Empire 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. Also, it is entirely possible that the Star Kingdom of Manticore is now in the process of becoming the nucleus of a new Empire.

★ ''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, and politically it was unstable, but more or less the Goa'uld Empire was still a galactic empire. The Asgard also held galactic dominance over their own galaxy before they committed mass self suicide in "Unending". The Ori held galactic dominance in their own galaxy.

★ ''Stargate Atlantis'' - The Wraith have their own galactic empire. It was formed during the destruction of the empire the Alterans (Ancients) established in the Pegasus galaxy.

★ Divine Order

★ The Dark Axis from Superior Defender Gundam Force

★ Nightmare Enterprises from

★ Psychlo Government

★ Irken Empire from Invader Zim

★ Dalek Empire

★ Shi'ar empire

★ Kree empire

★ Skrull empire

★ Machine Empire

★ United Alliance of Evil

★ Troobian Empire from

★ Time Lord Empire

★ Yuuzhan Vong Empire

Galactic empires in religion

★ The Galactic Confederacy in the Church of Scientology.

★ The Aetherius Society's "Interplanetary Parliament".

★ The "Elohim" in Raëlism.

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.

Galactic empires in collectible card games

★ Galactic Empires by Companion Games.

★ Star of the Guardians by Mag Force 7.

Galactic empires in music

★ Galactic Empires Concert Band piece by David R. Gillingham

See also

★ Interstellar Alliance