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# ''Alien Contact'': Humanity makes [[First Contact]] with alien life forms. This can happen at any point. It's placed for here for convenience, since the best known Alien Contact tales occur before the Empire forms. <br />The precise sub-genre depends largely on whether the aliens are technologically inferior, comparable, or superior to humanity, and whether or not they are hostile, but it ranges from alien invasion to humans playing star-god.
# ''The Cycle of Empire'':
## ''[[Rising Empire|Formation of Empire]]'': At this point, the independent human and/or alien worlds are united for whatever reason. [[The Alliance|Sometimes its for a common defense]], sometimes its by force. The result is the birth and expansion of new government. Note: ''Empire'' doesn't have to mean [[The Empire]] (although it often does). It could be [[The Federation]], or the rise of interstellar civilization. The ''First Empire'' is often [[Earth Is the Center of Thethe Universe|centered on Earth]].
## ''Empire at its Height'': Here, civilization is at its apex, showing the best qualities and values. Technology is highly advanced and there is order. During the Interregnum, people will look back to this time as a Golden Age. <br />The various iterations of empire differ slightly. The first is the most optimistic period. The ''Second Empire'' is generally wiser and more benevolent, but is also aware that empires can fall. In the Golden Age, the ''Second Empire'' was often also the ''Final Empire''. ''Third'' and later empires are essentially the same setting as the ''Second Empire'', but the higher number serves to imply an old galaxy, not locked in stasis.<br />Whichever iteration it is, authors rarely focus much on the Empire itself. Presumably there's simply not enough action. Tales set during this period typically focus on exploration of unknown space, or small scale dramas - the kind of events that might shake a solar system, but go completely unnoticed by the larger galaxy. If this period doesn't turn out to be the Final Empire, eventually the edifice begins to crack, leading to:
## ''Decline and Fall'': The Empire begins to decay, often due to [[Deadly Decadent Court|decadency and corruption]]. Outer provinces begin to revolt, barbarians begin to invade, internal conflict increase. At the end of this phase, [[Vestigial Empire|the Empire is but a shadow of itself.]] Expect this phase to bear at least a passing familiarity to [[The Roman Empire|Edward Gibbon's seminal text]] or Gibbon's own successors, though exceptions have been known to exist.
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* James Blish's ''Cities in Flight'': {{spoiler|Actually ends at Stage 7, the Rebirth of the universe!}}
* [[Cordwainer Smith]]'s ''Instrumentality of Mankind'': Plays the trope straight, although the Instrumentality appears to have reached its Apex, it stays stuck in an Interregnum of stagnation until it decides to re-diversify humanity.
* ''[[Co DominiumCoDominium]]'' manages to delay World War III until the interstellar colonization stage, thanks to the titular American-Soviet alliance. When the [[Co DominiumCoDominium]] does fall apart earth is rendered barely inhabitable and there is no unifying human government until Sparta conquers all the other colonies. Also first contact occurs during the time of the second Spartan Empire.
** Several of Pournelle's ''High Justice'' stories are set during Stage #1. Perhaps thinking of this trope, the publishers had assumed that the stories were prequels to the [[Co DominiumCoDominium]] series. [[Word of God|The author disagreed]].
* [[David Weber]]'s ''[[Empire From the Ashes]]'': Set during the Interregnum following the fall of the Fourth Empire, the story witnesses the formation of the Fifth Imperium. {{spoiler|The reason of the constant Declines and Fall (invasion of Genocidal aliens), may be solved, and may prevent another relapse of history}}
* ''[[Dune]]'': The background history of the Imperium tends to follow this trend. ''The Buterlian Jihad'' serves the role of ''World War III'' by resetting the political and technological situation. The Corrino-led Imperium serves as the First Empire, and the Paul/Leto II regimes as the Second Empire. It's one of the few examples in which the Second Empire follows up the first without an Interregnum.
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* [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s ''Future History'' follows the trope closely. Heinlein's other works often set their tales during the first few stages: Intra-solar and Interstellar exploration, with some dealing with Alien Contact.
* ''[[The History of the Galaxy]]'' follows this trope for the most part. [[World War Three]] is barely mentioned, followed by the emergence of [[One World Order]]. Then the Solar System is settled. FTL is discovered, which leads to a massive extrasolar colonization effort, during which [[Lost Colony|Lost Colonies]] are created. A devastating [[War Of Earthly Aggression]] follows, resulting in the formation of [[The Federation]] (First Empire). After a millennium of rule and exploration, it collapses due to internal strife and the inherent inequality of the colonies. The official [[First Contact]] happens during the First Empire stage. During the Interregnum period, a surprise attack by a previously-unknown alien race cuts off many worlds from communication and nearly spells doom for humanity. A few brave individuals manage to repel the invaders. This convinces the disparate colonies that [[The Federation]] needs to be reformed (Second Empire stage). At this moment (the author keeps writing), [[The Federation]] shows no signs of weakening. Some races have managed to do step 7, but humans aren't likely to give up their bodies any time soon.
* Keith Laumer's ''[[Retief (Literature)|Retief]]'' series hints at this, the CDT playing the role of the Second Empire following the fall of the first human government.
** There are a few (very minor) hints that the first government was the Terran Concordiat from Laumer's ''[[Bolo]]'' series, although the tone of the two series' [[Sliding Scale of Silliness Versus Seriousness|doesn't really mesh]]. Said stories are also an example themselves, covering a timespan from the start of World War III up to the collapse of the Concordiat in the [[Apocalypse How|Final War]] with the [[Intelligent Gerbil|Melconians]].
* ''[[Known Space]]'': Often shows the exploration of Solar System and Interstellar Space, as well as Alien Contact.
* [[H. Beam Piper]]'s ''Terro-Human Future History'' is cyclical, going through at least five Empires after the Terran Federation falls. Piper's timeline was a little more detailed than Asimov's, and was also influential in codifying the trope.
* [[Poul Anderson (Creator)|Poul Anderson]]'s ''Psychotechnic League'' stories has World War III occur at the begining, a brief Interregnum which results in exploration of the Solar System and the formation of the Solar Union, which plays the role of the First Empire. However, things go bad, and another Interregnum occurs, until the discovery of FTL travel, which leads to the formation of the Stellar Union, in the role of a Second Empire.
** A second series of his fits this pattern as well -- the [[Technic History]] stories set in the ''Poleseotechnic League'' of [[Intrepid Merchant|Nicholas van Rijn and David Falkayn]] and subsequent Terran Empire of [[Overt Operative|Dominic Flandry]].
* Donald Kingsbury's ''Psychohistorical Crisis'' follows the trope fairly closely and is set during the ''Second Empire'' Phase. It's no surprise, since the books are a [[Homage]]/[[Spiritual Successor]] to Asimov's [[Foundation]] trilogy.
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** Also humanity was contacted and annexed by the Commonwealth towards the end of step #2, they had just sent out a single relativistic exploration ship when aliens offered them slipstream drive.
* ''[[Babylon 5]]'': Human history pretty much follows the trope: Exploration, followed by a devastating conflict (the Minbari War), which leads to the formation of the Babylon project. It ushers in a brief peace, until the Shadows begin causing problems again. After a brief Interregnum (The Shadow War and the Clark regime), the governments form the Interstellar Alliance, which is hinted to much more lasting. However, {{spoiler|History repeats itself.}} The Centauri were once a great Empire, but have long been in decline. Though this is reversed when [[Unlucky Everydude|Vir Cotto]] become the [[Hidden Depths|greatest Emperor]] in Centaurian history. Babylon 5 is probably one of the few examples in which other civilizations have reached Stage 6 and 7.
* ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'': The series had the Earth Empire and the Galactic Federation, which apparently succeeded the Empire. Although, the Federation doesn't seem to last, since the show latter involves the "Fourth Bountiful Human Empire". The Empire also doesn't last. In fact, according to the [[Simon Pegg|Editor]], there never was a "Fourth Bountiful Human Empire". It was just a smoke screen for the Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe, who was also a smoke screen for {{spoiler|the Daleks}}.
* ''[[Stargate SG -1]]'': Hinted in the Stargate universe, where the Ancients had left their home galaxy, colonized the Solar System, ushered a Golden Age, and then declined. Although, the Ancients end up reaching Stage 7. Humanity, on the other hand, are stuck in the Interregnum, and may develop into a better civilization latter. The Asgard had reached Stage 6, but thanks to the Replicators and genetic defects, they're in decline.
* ''[[Star Trek]]'': The background history of Earth. 20th/21st Century humans play the role of the First Empire, World War III occurs and everything collapses. Then following the Interregnum (the aptly named Post-Atomic Horror), First Contact is made. Humanity begins to explore the Stars. Eventually, this leads to the formation of the Federation. There are hints that Humanity may reach Stage 6 and 7 in the far future.
 
 
== Tabletop Games ==
* ''[[Battle TechBattleTech]]'': The game itself is set during the Interregnum, following the demise of the Star League. Up to that point, humanity had gone through Solar and Interstellar exploration, Formation, Decline, and Interregnum. Currently, the game wobbles between Renaissance and Interregnum. For the most part, Alien Contact has been avoided.
** Semi-intelligent aliens have shown up twice in the fiction- once as a minor incident in the early novel Sword and Dagger with a primate-like species known as the pinkies that may or may not have had tool using ability, and once as a major plot point of Far Country, with a species of intelligent birdlike aliens that had Stone Age technology. [[The Scrappy|Far Country]] has frequently been criticized over this point, and the head of production for [[Battle TechBattleTech]] has stated repeatedly that the intention is to keep the game about different human empires fighting, not to make it a humans vs aliens game.
* ''[[Fading Suns]]'' pretty much follows this pattern too. Possibly averts the III World War part by going for [[One Nation Under Copyright|corporatocratic period]] instead, though Earth still becomes an [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet]] (with a twist). The game is set at the dawn of the second imperial period (this time an actual [[Empire]], the first one being a [[The Federation|republic]]).
* The timeline for ''[[Genius: The Transgression (Tabletop Game)|Genius: The Transgression]]'' is the approximate history of the universe, and seems to cover every possible stage of civilization ever proposed. There are federations, empires and what looks like about a dozen apocalypses. A Trillion years on from now, the remaining species desperately try and revert the heat death of the universe.
* ''[[Traveller]]'' follows this with several cultures. At the default time of the [[GURPS]] version, the Imperium is old and seemingly stable but the frontiers are chaotic and incompletely explored.
** Though the history of Humaniti is a bit different due to the [[Precursors|Ancients]] [[Transplanted Humans|seeding them]] all across the galaxy. The Vilani discovered Jump drive first and founded the First Imperium, as it was just starting it's decline the expanding Terran Federation encountered them, went to war, and took over turning it into the Second Imperium. The Second collapsed into interregnum quickly, and a thousand years later the Third (and current) Imperium emerged.
* ''[[Warhammer 40000]]''; both humanity and the Eldar are experiencing an interregnum.
* ''[[Eclipse Phase (Tabletop Game)|Eclipse Phase]]'' takes place ten years [[After the End|after "The Fall"]], a combination [[Robot War]] and [[The Singularity|Singularity]] that left earth a radioactive wasteland patrolled by killer robots. Most of the <1 billion survivors are scattered across the solar system. A couple years after the Fall the [[Portal Network|Pandora Gates]] were discovered and used to explore and colonize a few extrasolar planets, shortly after [[Starfish Aliens|The Factors]] made contact. Transhumanity is too fragmented for any sort of "empire" and if the Anarchists have their way it's unlikely there ever will be one.
 
 
== Video Games ==
* In ''[[Mass Effect (Franchise)|Mass Effect]]'', this cycle has been continuing for millions of years with many different species in the past, enforced by an extremely ancient species of robotic [[Eldritch Abomination|Eldritch Abominations]], who regularly exterminate ([[Fate Worse Than Death|or worse]]) all intelligent life in the galaxy once it gets advanced enough.
* ''[[Escape Velocity|EV Nova's]]'' [http://www.ambrosiasw.com/assets/files/graphics_products/evn/preambles/nova_preamble_1.pdf official timeline] only goes back as far as stage 3. The Colonial Council colonized much of the galaxy. Then it began to crumble due to a string of wars. The deathblow was the Armetis terrorists' destruction of the Sol [[Warp Whistle|hypergate]], which caused many of the others to be destroyed, cutting the member systems off from each other. The Renaissance began when physicists rediscovered how to build hyperdrives, allowing humanity to reform interstellar governments. Things have since solidified into a fairly [[Standard Sci Fi Setting]].
 
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