Fictional resistance movements and groups
Encyclopedia
This article examines the resistance organization in works of fiction
that resist tyranny. While these are fiction an author will often seek realism by examining similar historical organizations. Conversely, people's views of real situations are often affected by works of fiction that are part of the social conscience. Several fictional resistance organizations have been named after historical resistance groups.
are a resistance group from the video game Final Fantasy VII
, who attempt to save the planet from the Shin-Ra company that is attempting to drain the lifestream from the planet and converting it into 'Mako energy'.
the Bajoran Resistance was formed upon the invasion of and brutal occupation of Bajor by Cardassian
forces.
, the British Resistance fights to liberate England from the Chimera with the help of an American soldier named Sgt. Nathan Hale.
series by J. K. Rowling
, Dumbledore's Army
is a student organization founded by the main character, Harry Potter
, to fight against the Ministry of Magic
's control over Hogwarts and to teach other students practical defensive magic.
.
, Homeworlds Resistance
was an undercover resistance movement on Neosapien
-occupied Earth and Venus during the war. Because Mars, the third Homeworld, was controlled and populated primarily by Neosapiens even before the war started, there was no resistance organization there. The Resistance was composed of people who couldn't fit into Phaeton's regime and abandoned hope that the Exofleet
will return some day (in the first years of the war, Neosapiens successfully held it away from the Homeworlds).
's resistance movement is formed in reaction to humanity's negative attitudes toward mutants who have unusual powers and abilities. While Professor X
advocates that humans and mutants are equal, Magneto regards humans as a danger to mutants and argues that humanity should be exterminated. Two of the groups within the resistance are the Brotherhood of Mutants
and the Acolytes
, led by Magneto.
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
and Star Trek: Voyager
were formed when the Federation gave the Cardassian Union some territory in exchange to end a war. Those Federation citizens living in the "disputed territories" formed a paramilitary group for defense, due to Cardassian raids, and also in reaction to being betrayed by their own government. This paramilitary group is called the Maquis, named for the World War II-era French Maquis
resistance in German-occupied areas. When the alien Dominion
appeared in the Alpha Quadrant, they slaughtered the Maquis. Only a few survived in Federation prison
or mental hospital
colonies, on Voyager, or in hiding.
series by J. K. Rowling
, the Order of the Phoenix is an organization led and founded by wizard Albus Dumbledore
to fight against the main antagonist, Lord Voldemort
, and his followers, the Death Eater
s. The Order of the Phoenix also fought against the Ministry of Magic
, the wizarding government, when it was under Voldemort's control in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
(formally known as the Alliance to Restore the Republic) is the prominently featured resistance group in the Star Wars
movies, from A New Hope to The Return of the Jedi, who oppose the oppressive Galactic Empire
. After the fall of the Empire, they become the ruling New Republic
.
are a resistance group from the video game under the same title, who attempt to escape form Martian mines ruined by the evil company Ultor.
film and television franchise, led by John Connor
, against the computer system Skynet
that has taken over the world and aims to kill all remaining humans. Skynet sends a Terminator
back in time to kill Connor, in order to prevent him from leading the Resistance.
are a group dedicated to overthrowing the Combine empire, an alien civilization that has invaded Earth due to the actions of Gordon Freeman in the first Half-Life game.
TV shows depict resistance groups that fight "native" tyrants and/or aliens, mainly the Kromaggs on the different Earths the main characters encounter as they "slide" from Earth to Earth. The show is set in the present(at the time it was filmed),
thus this may qualify as "alternate history". One episode depicted the grisly consequences of
the successful passage of legislation similar to Prop. 187 in CA., another depicted
the US under Communist rule, yet another depicted what happens as lawyers settle
lawsuits in Old West gunfights instead of settling them in court, and yet other
shows depict Earth under alien dominion, with some Earths fighting them. Another
Sliders show depicted an Earth that is similar to the "Sword and Sorcery" movies. This implies
that if you can imagine what ever you're imagining, there is an Earth or more than one Earth
in which what you're imagining is that Earth's reality.
, The Wolverines are a resistance group, named after the wolverine
and a high school sports team, which fights Soviet and allied forces which have invaded the United States.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
that resist tyranny. While these are fiction an author will often seek realism by examining similar historical organizations. Conversely, people's views of real situations are often affected by works of fiction that are part of the social conscience. Several fictional resistance organizations have been named after historical resistance groups.
AVALANCHE
AVALANCHEAvalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
are a resistance group from the video game Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
, who attempt to save the planet from the Shin-Ra company that is attempting to drain the lifestream from the planet and converting it into 'Mako energy'.
Bajoran Resistance
In Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
the Bajoran Resistance was formed upon the invasion of and brutal occupation of Bajor by Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
forces.
British Resistance
In Resistance: Fall of ManResistance: Fall of Man
Resistance: Fall of Man is a first-person shooter video game for the PlayStation 3. It was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game is set in an alternate history 1951, and follows Sgt...
, the British Resistance fights to liberate England from the Chimera with the help of an American soldier named Sgt. Nathan Hale.
Dumbledore's Army
In the Harry PotterHarry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
series by J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE , better known as J. K. Rowling, is the British author of the Harry Potter fantasy series...
, Dumbledore's Army
Dumbledore's Army
Dumbledore's Army is a student organisation in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series that is founded by the main characters, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, in order to stand up against the regime of Hogwarts High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge, as well as to learn practical Defence...
is a student organization founded by the main character, Harry Potter
Harry Potter (character)
Harry James Potter is the title character and main protagonist of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The majority of the books' plot covers seven years in the life of the orphan Potter who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard...
, to fight against the Ministry of Magic
Ministry of Magic
The Ministry of Magic is the government of the fictional Magical community of Britain in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. First mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Ministry makes its first proper appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix...
's control over Hogwarts and to teach other students practical defensive magic.
Holocaust Education and Avoidance Pod
Not a resistance group, but rather a universal manual for potential resistance groups to fight against genocide and ethnic cleansing in the book CryptonomiconCryptonomicon
Cryptonomicon is a 1999 novel by American author Neal Stephenson. The novel follows the exploits of two groups of people in two different time periods, presented in alternating chapters...
.
Homefront
The 2011 game Homefront follows a small resistance group in Montrose, Colorado. They are fighting a North Korean occupation of the United States in the year 2027.Homeworlds Resistance
In the 1993-1995 sci-fi animated television series ExosquadExosquad
Exosquad is an American animated television series created by Universal Cartoon Studios as a response to Japanese anime. The show is set in the beginning of the 22nd century and covers the interplanetary war between humanity and Neosapiens, a fictional race artificially created as workers/slaves...
, Homeworlds Resistance
Homeworlds Resistance
In the 1993-1995 sci-fi animated television series Exosquad, Homeworlds Resistance was an undercover resistance movement on Neosapien-occupied Earth and Venus during the Neosapien War. Because Mars, the third Homeworld, was controlled and populated primarily by Neosapiens even before the war...
was an undercover resistance movement on Neosapien
Neosapien
The Neosapiens , featured in the science fiction animated television series Exosquad, are a fictional race of genetically engineered sentient humanoids.-Background:...
-occupied Earth and Venus during the war. Because Mars, the third Homeworld, was controlled and populated primarily by Neosapiens even before the war started, there was no resistance organization there. The Resistance was composed of people who couldn't fit into Phaeton's regime and abandoned hope that the Exofleet
Exofleet
Exofleet is the name for all battle spaceships in the sci-fi animated television series Exosquad, built by the humans of the Homeworlds also known as the Terran space navy...
will return some day (in the first years of the war, Neosapiens successfully held it away from the Homeworlds).
Magneto's Resistance Movement
MagnetoMagneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
's resistance movement is formed in reaction to humanity's negative attitudes toward mutants who have unusual powers and abilities. While Professor X
Professor X
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
advocates that humans and mutants are equal, Magneto regards humans as a danger to mutants and argues that humanity should be exterminated. Two of the groups within the resistance are the Brotherhood of Mutants
Brotherhood of Mutants
The Brotherhood of Mutants, originally known as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, is a fictional Marvel Comics supervillain team devoted to mutant superiority over normal humans. They are among the chief adversaries of the X-Men...
and the Acolytes
Acolytes (comics)
The Acolytes is a team of comic book mutant supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The Acolytes followed the principles of the mutant Magneto, particularly the mutant right of superiority over normal humans. Some members of the Acolytes even worshipped him with a religious fervor and regarded...
, led by Magneto.
Manhattan Resistance
From the EA Games title Freedom Fighters. The Manhattan Resistance is a group that forms in New York City on the island of the same name after the Soviet Union invades the United States of America. The group is led by Isabella Angelina, Mr. Jones (who later in the story turns out to be a Soviet general), and the game's protagonist, Christopher Stone.Maquis
The Maquis in Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
and Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
were formed when the Federation gave the Cardassian Union some territory in exchange to end a war. Those Federation citizens living in the "disputed territories" formed a paramilitary group for defense, due to Cardassian raids, and also in reaction to being betrayed by their own government. This paramilitary group is called the Maquis, named for the World War II-era French Maquis
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
resistance in German-occupied areas. When the alien Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
appeared in the Alpha Quadrant, they slaughtered the Maquis. Only a few survived in Federation prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
or mental hospital
Mental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
colonies, on Voyager, or in hiding.
Order of the Phoenix
In the Harry PotterHarry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
series by J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE , better known as J. K. Rowling, is the British author of the Harry Potter fantasy series...
, the Order of the Phoenix is an organization led and founded by wizard Albus Dumbledore
Albus Dumbledore
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a major character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. For most of the series, he is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts...
to fight against the main antagonist, Lord Voldemort
Lord Voldemort
Lord Voldemort is the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series written by British author J. K. Rowling. Voldemort first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was released in 1997...
, and his followers, the Death Eater
Death Eater
In the fictional world of the Harry Potter series, the Death Eaters constitute a group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, the chief antagonist of the series, who seek to purify the Wizarding community by eliminating the Muggle-borns...
s. The Order of the Phoenix also fought against the Ministry of Magic
Ministry of Magic
The Ministry of Magic is the government of the fictional Magical community of Britain in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. First mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Ministry makes its first proper appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix...
, the wizarding government, when it was under Voldemort's control in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Rebel Alliance
The Rebel AllianceRebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
(formally known as the Alliance to Restore the Republic) is the prominently featured resistance group in the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
movies, from A New Hope to The Return of the Jedi, who oppose the oppressive Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
. After the fall of the Empire, they become the ruling New Republic
New Republic (Star Wars)
The New Republic is a government in the fictional Star Wars universe.When the Rebel Alliance re-established the Old Galactic Republic after the downfall of the Galactic Empire, it became known as the New Republic, just as the original Galactic Republic had become known as the Old Republic by that...
.
Red Faction
Red FactionRed Faction
Red Faction is a first-person shooter video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It was released for the PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Mac in 2001. A version for the Nokia N-Gage was developed by Monkeystone Games. The game was also re-developed as a top-down shooter for...
are a resistance group from the video game under the same title, who attempt to escape form Martian mines ruined by the evil company Ultor.
The Resistance (The Terminator)
The Resistance from the TerminatorTerminator (franchise)
The Terminator series is a science fiction franchise encompassing a series of films and other media concerning battles between Skynet's artificially intelligent machine network, and John Connor's Resistance forces and the rest of the human race....
film and television franchise, led by John Connor
John Connor
John Connor is a character appearing in the American science fiction Terminator franchise and he serves as the series main protagonist. Created by writer and director James Cameron, the character is first referred to in the 1984 film The Terminator and first appears portrayed by teenage actor...
, against the computer system Skynet
Skynet (Terminator)
Skynet is the main antagonist in the Terminator franchise—an artificially intelligent system which became self-aware and revolted against its creators...
that has taken over the world and aims to kill all remaining humans. Skynet sends a Terminator
Terminator (character concept)
In the Terminator film series, a terminator is an autonomous robot, typically humanoid, originally conceived as a virtually indestructible soldier and assassin, as well as an infiltrator....
back in time to kill Connor, in order to prevent him from leading the Resistance.
The Resistance (V)
The Resistance from the V science fiction franchise, in which aliens invade Earth under the guise of friendship. When the aliens' real intentions are known, the people of Earth form The Resistance.The Resistance (Half-life 2)
The Resistance in the computer game Half-life 2Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 , the sequel to Half-Life, is a first-person shooter video game and a signature title in the Half-Life series. It is singleplayer, story-driven, science fiction, and linear...
are a group dedicated to overthrowing the Combine empire, an alien civilization that has invaded Earth due to the actions of Gordon Freeman in the first Half-Life game.
Sliders
Some of the SlidersSliders
Sliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
TV shows depict resistance groups that fight "native" tyrants and/or aliens, mainly the Kromaggs on the different Earths the main characters encounter as they "slide" from Earth to Earth. The show is set in the present(at the time it was filmed),
thus this may qualify as "alternate history". One episode depicted the grisly consequences of
the successful passage of legislation similar to Prop. 187 in CA., another depicted
the US under Communist rule, yet another depicted what happens as lawyers settle
lawsuits in Old West gunfights instead of settling them in court, and yet other
shows depict Earth under alien dominion, with some Earths fighting them. Another
Sliders show depicted an Earth that is similar to the "Sword and Sorcery" movies. This implies
that if you can imagine what ever you're imagining, there is an Earth or more than one Earth
in which what you're imagining is that Earth's reality.
Wolverines
In Red DawnRed Dawn
Red Dawn is a 1984 American war film directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Kevin Reynolds. It stars Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen and Jennifer Grey....
, The Wolverines are a resistance group, named after the wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
and a high school sports team, which fights Soviet and allied forces which have invaded the United States.
Code Geass
In Code Geass, The Order of the Black Knights is a resistance group organized by Lelouch Lamperouge under his Zero Identity, and serves to his purpose of fighting against the Holy Empire of Britannia for the liberation of Japan (called Area 11 in the series).Fictional resistance fighters
- Roj Blake (Blake's 7)
- John Connor (Terminator series)
- Mike Donovon (V: The Series)
- Major Kira (Star Trek:DS-9)
- Princess Leia (Star Wars)
- Magneto (The X-Men franchise)
- Ensign Ro (Star Trek:TNG)
- Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
- Han Solo (Star Wars)
- Kyle Reese (Terminator)
- Robert Jacobs (Homefront)