This can be anything from Hyperspace in Star Wars, Warp Drive in Star Trek, travel through the Warp in Warhammer 40k or anything else.

I’ve always liked “slow” FTL travel, where going a few light-years still takes a few days or so. I also really like travel through an alternate dimension like in 40k, Event Horizon, Witchspace in Elite Dangerous.

I wanna know your favorite versions, or do you prefer stories that obey the laws of known physics, like the Expanse or Rimworld?

  • Zonetrooper@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    Whatever it is, I’m inclined to like the versions where FTL is a teensy bit dangerous. Not necessarily 40k’s “FTL is actual hell and frequently fails in terrible ways”, but more… it’s risky. It’s a mundane risk, maybe. But still, there’s that little bit of risk in the background and it needs to be approached carefully…

    Like, Babylon 5’s hyperspace is an actual place you make trips into, but it’s also highly nonlinear, and so it is entirely possible to get lost or stuck if your ship malfunctions. Also, there are living things in there which may not be friendly.

    Even Star Wars’ Hyperdrives can be dangerous. It doesn’t get played up in the stories much, but a malfunctioning or improperly programmed hyperdrive can strand you in deep space, subject you to severe time dilation, or just splat you against a realspace object.