My Science Fiction Originality

My Strange Galaxy is a “space opera” universe as books, art, games and music. Star Wars and Star Trek are all these things… but they are not Strange Galaxy.

My “space opera” is one without spaceships. There are no robots or flying cars. There are alien races and exotic worlds. Magic is actually called “magic” and in all seriousness.

“Not this” or “some of that” are not the originality of Strange Galaxy. I created a universe in which mutually alien races advanced in mutually alien ways rival each other as equals.

A magically advanced civilization is technologically primitive. A technologically advanced civilization is magically primitive. A magical-industrial civilization is as primitive as it is advanced.

The species of a civilization is the nature that determines its development. Magical or technological or magical-industrial are decided by innate tendencies and aptitude.

It has been argued that an encounter between civilizations that developed without common influences would inevitably mean the one is hopelessly more advanced than the other. The visitors, by virtue of their ability to bridge the gulf, would most likely outclass the visited.

The argument is sound. In my Strange Galaxy, however, survival-of-the-fittest has eliminated all but the civilizations that can defend themselves. The races of these civilizations are not different breeds of the same species but rather different creatures entirely. Their differences are not levels of development as they would be between societies of the same species.

A magically advanced civilization cannot become technologically advanced. Not only are the particulars contrary to the natural preferences of the species in question, but the channeling of energy is disrupted by the use of devices that provide their own.

Strange Galaxy does not favor magic or technology. It does not favor guns or swords or particular types of guns or swords. The prowess of characters decides effectiveness.

Technology is faster, stronger and less taxing on its users than magic. Its guns are deadlier than swords. It consumes resources to use, however, and its parts are very particular and usually artificial.

Magic is simpler, personal and powered by channeling naturally available energy. Swords are unaffected by kinetic shielding and do not require ammunition or recharging.

Unlike natural creatures, vehicles and aircraft can be rendered inoperative by enervation spells. They are easier to ward. Should a fighting vehicle or combat aircraft reach its target, it will annihilate it.

Wooden sailing ships are tiny and slow compared to the steel warships of human navies. The vessels of a magically advanced civilization must “hide in plain sight” and utilize divination to move into position. They will open subtle portals and deploy boarding parties equipped with enervation devices. Even submarines may be found, boarded and neutralized.

My Strange Galaxy is a “space opera” with wars but it is not a war story. It is a universe with a consistent continuity but not an underlying narrative or specific cast of characters. The wars are simply the reality of an imaginary world of many worlds.

http://yellowplasma.deviantart.com/journal/My-Universe-of-Everything-685266416