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. In literature, a theme is a broad idea in a story, or a message or lesson conveyed by a work. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... NGC 4414, a typical spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices, is about 17,000 parsecs in diameter and approximately 20 million parsecs distant. ... Scholars debate about what exactly constitutes an empire (from the Latin imperium, denoting military command within the ancient Roman government). ... In the Star Wars fictional universe, the Core Worlds are the known worlds, or planetary systems, that are near the core of the Star Wars galaxy. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... In Isaac Asimovs Robot/Empire/Foundation series of novels, the Galactic Empire is an empire consisting of planets settled by humans across the whole galaxy. ... Isaac Asimov (January 2?, 1920?[1] – April 6, 1992), IPA: , originally Исаак Озимов but now transcribed into Russian as Айзек Азимов) was a Russian-born American Jewish author and professor of biochemistry, a highly successful and exceptionally prolific writer best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. ... Hari Seldons holographic image, pictured on a paperback edition of Foundation, appears at various times in the First Foundations history, to guide it through the social and economic crises that befall it. ... A writer is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926–July 31, 2001) was an American science fiction author of the genres Golden Age. ... Dominic Flandry is the central character in the second half of Poul Andersons Technic History science fiction. ... The Galactic Empire is the main antagonist in the Star Wars universe. ... The Galactic Republic is the name of the interplanetary government used in the fictional Star Wars universe prior to the establishment of the Galactic Empire. ...

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.) A light-year, symbol ly, is the distance light travels in one year: exactly 9. ... Einstein redirects here. ... Two-dimensional analogy of space-time curvature described in General Relativity. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... In physics, hyperspace is a theoretical entity. ... This article is about the Alcubierre metric. ...

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. Star Wars is an epic science fantasy saga and fictional universe created by George Lucas during the late 1970s. ... Hari Seldons holographic image, pictured on a paperback edition of Foundation, appears at various times in the First Foundations history, to guide it through the social and economic crises that befall it. ... The fictional CoDominium universe is a future history (now alternate history) setting for the books in the CoDominium Series by Jerry Pournelle. ...

Galactic empires in science fiction

• Imperial Stars by E. E. Smith - the first example of a 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, 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 Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
• Psychlo government
• Irken Empire
• Dalek Empire
• Shi'ar empire
• Kree empire
• Skrull empire
• Machine Empire
• United Alliance of Evil

Gray Lensman in Astounding Oct. ... Doctor Who is a long-running award-winning British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The series depicts the adventures of a mysterious time-traveller known as the Doctor who travels in his TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space) time ship, which appears from the exterior... The Long Game is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on May 7, 2005. ... The fictional Dune universe, or Duniverse, is the political, scientific, and social setting of author Frank Herberts six-book Dune series of science fiction novels. ... Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, portrayed by Giancarlo Giannini in the Dune miniseries The Padishah Emperor was the title of the hereditary rulers of the Padishah Empire in Frank Herberts fictional Dune universe. ... The fictional CoDominium universe is a future history (now alternate history) setting for the books in the CoDominium Series by Jerry Pournelle. ... The fictional CoDominium universe is a future history (now alternate history) setting for the books in the CoDominium Series by Jerry Pournelle. ... Hari Seldons holographic image, pictured on a paperback edition of Foundation, appears at various times in the First Foundations history, to guide it through the social and economic crises that befall it. ... In Isaac Asimovs Robot/Empire/Foundation series of novels, the Galactic Empire is an empire consisting of planets settled by humans across the whole galaxy. ... The cover of the first novel in the Hitchhikers series, from a late 1990s printing. ... Douglas Noël Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001) was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. ... Galactic Imperial seal, as represented in the Hitchhikers Guide television series. ... Star Wars is an epic science fantasy saga and fictional universe created by George Lucas during the late 1970s. ... The Galactic Empire is the main antagonist in the Star Wars universe. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ... The Imperium of Man is a fictional galactic empire that contains the vast majority of humanity in the forty-first millennium, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe created by Games Workshop. ... Legend of the Galactic Heroes ) is a series of science fiction novels by Yoshiki Tanaka. ... The Galactic Empire is one of two superpowers in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... This page is about the race. ... Introduction The Romulans, a fictional race in the Star Trek universe, are descended from Vulcans and are characterized as being deceitful, cunning, and treacherous. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state, consisting of many different races, with ultimate power held by the xenophobic Changelings. ... The official emblem of the Terran Empire The Terran Empire is, in the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Mirror Universe counterpart of the United Federation of Planets. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In the Star Trek television series, the Mirror Universe is an alternate reality. ... Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926–July 31, 2001) was an American science fiction author of the genres Golden Age. ... Dominic Flandry is the central character in the second half of Poul Andersons Technic History science fiction. ... Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was a prolific author of largely feminist fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, and a steadfast encourager of equality (and quality) in writing. ... The Darkover series consists of several novels and short stories set in the fictional world of Darkover as created by science fiction author Marion Zimmer Bradley. ... Map of the Honorverse. ... The Solarian League is a fictional star nation in David Webers Honorverse. ... The Star Kingdom of Manticore is commonly known as Manticore and is abbreviated as SKM; it is a fictional human star-nation in the Honorverse, which is the background setting for a series of books and stories written by David Weber and others, and published by Baen Books. ... Farscape (1999–2003) is a science fiction television series, featuring a present-day astronaut who accidentally travels through a wormhole to a distant part of the galaxy. ... Peacekeepers are a militaristic organization in the fictional Farscape universe. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ... Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American science fiction television program, part of the Stargate franchise. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... Superior Defender Gundam Force ) is Japanese anime. ... Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, known as Hoshi no Kirby (星のカービィ Hoshi no Kaabi, literally Kirby of the Stars) in Japan, is an anime series based on Nintendos Kirby franchise. ... Psychlo are the most prominent alien race in L. Ron Hubbards book Battlefield Earth. ... Created by Jhonen Vasquez, Irken is a fictional alien race that wishes to conquer the universe. ... The Dalek city on Skaro, from The Daleks. ... The Shiar, also called the Aerie, are a fictional species of aliens in the Marvel Comics universe. ... The Kree, also known as the Ruul, are a scientifically and technologically advanced militaristic alien race in the fictional Marvel Universe. ... The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in the Marvel Universe. ... The Machine Empire is a group of fictional robotic villains in the Power Rangers universe, who first appeared in the television show Power Rangers: Zeo and were later mentioned in Power Rangers in Space and Power Rangers: Wild Force. ... The United Alliance of Evil is a fictional organization from the Power Rangers television series. ...

Galactic empires in religion

• The Galactic Confederacy in the Church of Scientology.
• The Aetherius Society's "Interplanetary Parliament".
• The "Elohim" in Raëlism.

In higher levels of Scientology doctrine, The Galactic Confederacy refers to the political unit formerly ruled by the alien tyrant Xenu. ... Scientology cross Symbol Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy The Church of Scientology is the largest organisation devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... The Aetherius Society is an organization founded by Dr. George King (1919-1997) in 1955. ... A gathering of Raëlians in South Korea Raëlism is an UFO religion that is known by the names of Raëlian Church, MADECH from 1974 to 1976,[1] and International Raëlian Movement afterwards. ...

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.

Imperium Galactica is a computer game made by Hungarian-based Digital Reality that combines many of the features of turn-based and real-time strategy games. ... Digital Reality is an Hungarian video game developer company which originally was founded under the name of Amnesty Design in 1994. ... Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain is a computer space sim game for the PC. It is a mainly real-time strategy game emphasizing empire building and customization. ... THQ Inc. ... The Space Empires series is a long-lasting series of 4X turn-based strategy games by Malfador Machinations that allows the player to assume the role of the leader of a space-faring civilization. ... Malfador Machinations is a small game company based in Santa Rosa, California. ... EVE Online is a persistent world multiplayer online game set in space. ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... Photo of CCP at work CCP (Crowd Control Productions) is known for the MMORPG game EVE_Online. ...

Galactic empires in music

• Galactic Empires Concert Band piece by David R. Gillingham

Galactic empires are a fairly common theme in science fiction. ... A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, or wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family and percussion instrument family. ...

See also

• Interstellar Alliance