A great article that I’d lost track of by David Brin… “Star Wars” despots vs. “Star Trek” populists
Anyway, when it comes to portraying human destiny, where would you rather live, assuming you’ll be a normal citizen and no demigod? In Roddenberry’s Federation? Or Lucas’ Empire?
See also his “incautious and heretical re-appraisal of J.R.R. Tolkien”… this latter article should be mandatory reading for would-be fantasy writers.
Now, this just about begs some Amazon links, but I’ll spare you the blatant shilling today. Just go look at the links, instead.