On Superpowers

Let's talk about superpowers! Now, I have no interest in getting in a fight about superheroes, specifically, but this is definitely a topic to talk about. I'm a fantasy-sci/fi writer, after all. I aspire to this kind of stuff, both in writing and in life. How cool would it be to have these abilities? So here are my favorite superpowers.

---

Intuitive Empathy
I write a lot about mind-reading (telepathy), as some of you know. It's a superpower I admire. Very useful. But the risks and stress that come with a power like that are incredible. The effect on your mind and body could be horrific. Not to mention the incredible loss of innocence that would occur because of this power. There are some nasty people out there.

So what's the better alternative? Being an empath. Still very stressful, but worth it for the information, I think. An empath, for those who don't know, is someone who can feel others' emotions. An emotion-reader, rather than a thought-reader. Since empathy itself is a very highly desired trait, this seems like a good power to go with. Nice for understanding people. This is my top choice.

---

Clairvoyance
This is also a highly stressful superpower, right up with mind-reading, but I think on lower levels, it's a good power to have. Despite the stress that would come from having visions about things in the future--things you can't control, possibly bad things--this could prepare you for upcoming events. 

So long as you only learn what you can take, what you need to know at that moment, this is a good power to work with.

Telekinesis
This is the ultimate power of lazy people. I could work with it: the ability to lift things with your mind, sort of like the Harry Potter "Accio!" spell. Useful for people who don't want to get up. Or lift things physically. Or any of that.

​Superspeed/Teleportation
Also good ones for lazy people--probably the teleportation (moving to a new place instantaneously) more, although superspeed sounds cooler and is better for fighting. It's also fun to write scenes with. Either way, you get places faster, and the world is happier. No driving, hassle, whatever.

I WILL READILY ADMIT TO BEING LAZY IF I CAN HAVE THIS POWER.

Flight
Kind of like the above, except mostly I like it because this is full-on classic superhero stuff. Think Superman. He's my favorite superhero. He's the first, the classic, the ideal. His perfection is the reason I like him so much. So yeah, Superman is pretty much why flying rocks the world.

​(In case you wanted to know, my other favorite superhero is Captain America, simply because he's so sweet and idealistic and awesome.)

---

---

So that's that! Tell me about your favorite superpoewrs. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next week for.... HALLOWEEN and....

NANOWRIMO!

Images via Christiane Vleugels and news.discovery.com.