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The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time, according to Kunochan.com, are as follows:

  1. Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
  2. James T. Kirk (Star Trek)
  3. Han Solo (Star Wars)
  4. Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)
  5. Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)
  6. William “Husker” Adama (New Battlestar Galactica)
  7. Bruno J. Global (The Super Dimension Fortress Macross)
  8. Turanga Leela (Futurama)
  9. Jacob Keyes (Halo)
  10. John J. Adams (Forbidden Planet)
  11. Wilhuff Tarkin (Star Wars)
  12. Christopher Pike (Star Trek)
  13. Creideiki (Startide Rising)
  14. David Bowman (2001: A Space Odyssey)
  15. The Doctor (Doctor Who)
  16. Zaphod Beeblebrox (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)
  17. Exeter (This Island Earth)
  18. John Robinson (Lost in Space)
  19. Adama (Old Battlestar Galactica)
  20. Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

I hate almost this entire list. I’ll accept that some serious heavies don’t qualify because they are primarily station commanders or one-man pilots, not starship commanders (Sorry Sisko, Sheridan, and a whole bunch of Skywalkers). I’ll even accept (nay, support) Picard over Kirk, no matter what this video has to say about a throwdown between the two Trek captains. But Janeway over Mal Reynolds? Seriously? Mal weakened a repressive regime decieving all of humanity. Janeway rescued a crew that she got lost. And I like Futurama as much as the next guy, but no way Leela gets a higher spot than the entire list of Doctors.

That said, take the top six, throw out Janeway, and you’ve got my a pretty decent top five, in probably the right order. I’m curious to hear the consensus, so let’s hear it, people:

Who are your top five sci-fi starship captains?

Comment away.

Jay GarmonJay Garmon has a vast and terrifying knowledge of all things obscure, obtuse, and irrelevant. One day, he hopes to write science fiction, but for now he'll settle for something stranger -- amusing and abusing IT pros. Read his full profile. You can also follow him on his personal blog or via his Twitter feed.

Print/View all Posts Comments on this blog

Where's Marvin? LocoLobo | 10/04/07
I hate to see a list like this without Sheridan DadsPad | 10/05/07
I 2nd that! hollam@... | 10/07/07
He had a ship...so can't be kept off via a technicality gcarl@... | 10/08/07
Agamemnon SQL_Joe | 12/12/07
Ditto! AppSupSpec | 10/14/07
But was it a Starship? TonytheTiger | 10/10/07
What is the exact configuration of a starship. kryan@... | 10/12/07
I think you'll find it somewhere in the wording lol MarkWAliasQ | 10/12/07
Definition: Starship and Captain Kage18E | 10/12/07
That lets Mal out. blu_z | 10/12/07
Serenity takes how long? a.southern@... | 11/02/07
Faster than light is not a necessary condition CodeCurmudgeon | 10/12/07
Commander Grimes DantheBestMan | 10/12/07
Partly TonytheTiger | 10/12/07
I think it would be TonytheTiger | 10/12/07
Two more from books murphym@... | 10/12/07
Lazarus Long Clanphier | 10/15/07
Honor Harrington melias@... | 08/14/09
The Gay Deceiver? Palmetto | 08/14/09
The guy who flew the first FTL flight in Star Trek? BrooklynPennyPincher | 10/12/07
That would be... rhogue1@... | 10/12/07
BSG 75 madams97 | 11/02/07
my list jeasterlingtech@... | 12/28/07
Dave Bowman had to say "Please" ...so OldER Mycroft | 10/04/07
Klaatu... JonathanX | 10/04/07
Gort was the 'Security Officer' methinks - OldER Mycroft | 10/04/07
Bowman what a Captain kryan@... | 10/12/07
Where are the captains from written fiction? This list blows chunks. Palmetto | 10/04/07
Two literary captains Ed Woychowsky | 10/04/07
Much as I love Nate and Mavra, Palmetto | 10/04/07
Amen... Histrion2 | 10/05/07
Caveman say: Palmetto | 10/05/07
Fans of Tony Hopkinson | 10/05/07
More of an airplane pilot. kenny+tr@... | 10/10/07
Absolutely murphym@... | 10/12/07
Not a really useful list - should be SciFi Ship Captains blhayes@... | 10/12/07
I'm with you... and glad you pointed out the Honor series! OregonLighthouse | 10/12/07
Miles Vorkosigan john.kemker@... | 10/15/07
Did he ever command a ship? melias@... | 08/14/09
More Fictional Captains from books (w/ Authors-series) Tertius | 10/19/07
PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER IN A ROOM--- BALTHOR | 10/04/07
If you did put them all in one room... Histrion2 | 10/05/07
James Bolivar diGriz ? critch | 10/10/07
Another Ed Woychowsky | 10/11/07
Even if he ever commanded a ship, he was a THIEF! melias@... | 08/14/09
I actually liked Janeway Absolutely | 10/04/07
Janeway doesn't belong on the list at all IMO. Inkling | 10/04/07
Why because Picard keeps his pants on? clynch@... | 10/05/07
Kirk, Adama should be higher! Sheridan, Sisko were great leaders! richard.stroud@... | 10/10/07
Adama and Kirk LMAO MarkWAliasQ | 10/12/07
Janeway belongs on "worst of" list bblackmoor@... | 10/12/07
Janeway certainly the worst. Locrian_Lyric | 10/12/07
Janeway NOT the worst raynebc@... | 12/28/07
Most definetly Xenarulz | 12/28/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time fdasfd@... | 10/04/07
DS9 wasn't a starship. Palmetto | 10/05/07
He commanded the Defiant alpha431@... | 10/05/07
I enthusiatically withdraw my objection. Palmetto | 10/05/07
Sulu, Janeway, Archer.... pyropakjim@... | 10/05/07
I'll weigh in jkaras | 10/12/07
Janeway a fine captain? Locrian_Lyric | 10/12/07
thanks for reminding me... catseverywhere@... | 11/08/07
DS9 nice wasnt but a starship but Kage18E | 10/12/07
These people should read more Tony Hopkinson | 10/05/07
Angus Therrmopyle grover@... | 10/08/07
Well he had a novel leadership style :D Tony Hopkinson | 10/09/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time derek.karpinski@... | 10/05/07
Hmm not sure Tony Hopkinson | 10/05/07
I think the john_ludlow@... | 10/05/07
StanleyTweedle, John Sheridan, Jason Nesmith fcarr@... | 10/05/07
Tweedle? Are you nuts? Histrion2 | 10/05/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time clynch@... | 10/05/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time daveclark@... | 10/05/07
The Star Trek Fans missed one.. Ed Woychowsky | 10/05/07
nice one..I'll see your Dunsel and raise you an M5 gcarl@... | 10/08/07
I'll see your M5, Palmetto | 10/09/07
Khan! Ed Woychowsky | 10/11/07
More missing... AlpineHaddock | 10/10/07
The list should stand as it is. Manitobamike | 10/10/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time stuart.cohen@... | 10/10/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time critch | 10/10/07
Kirk over Picard... everyday smartohana@... | 10/10/07
MWAHAHAHAH and based on that... MarkWAliasQ | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time mjwallin@... | 10/10/07
those are some of the missing captains, but astancius@... | 10/10/07
Captain Jonathan Archer of the ENTERPRISE deserves better - anyone agree ? bugs008@... | 10/12/07
Yes DigitalFrog | 10/12/07
Who on the list makes you want to BE them? dave_shepherd | 10/10/07
RE: Who on the list makes you want to BE them? PubliusValeriusPublicola | 12/28/07
Blake from Blakes 7 upjours@... | 10/11/07
didn't see this catseverywhere@... | 11/08/07
Blake vs. Avon a.southern@... | 11/09/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time portable@... | 10/11/07
If you want someone from STAR WARS......... 3timestrouble@... | 10/12/07
double posted - ignore richard.figueiredo@... | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time richard.figueiredo@... | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time caswell_anderson@... | 10/12/07
Cmdr Powell!!! pmolina@... | 10/12/07
If Kai is out, then so is Powell blu_z | 10/12/07
Ok. However... pmolina@... | 10/12/07
How about Mudd pmolina@... | 10/12/07
couple more candidates: Ace Rimmer pmolina@... | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time jravelo2@... | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time Dr_Zinj | 10/12/07
I disagree about Mal. blu_z | 10/12/07
Hurrah! for Honor Harrington portable@... | 10/13/07
Where's Captain Avatar? dpanzer@... | 10/12/07
Where are Joshua Calvert and Honor Harrington? nodisalsi@... | 10/12/07
Honor Harrington StomsAz | 10/12/07
Hell I forgot Josh Tony Hopkinson | 10/12/07
Yeah - Avatar must be on the List PhillyDave | 10/12/07
Here's MY list blarman | 10/12/07
RE: My Five DigitalFrog | 10/12/07
What about... bob.baltes@... | 10/12/07
Get yer own ideas MarkWAliasQ | 10/18/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time Riggs25 | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time Dustyrose | 10/12/07
How DARE we leave out Lt. Ellen Ripley ! ! ! carhearts@... | 10/12/07
Lt.... Capt.... The also ran's are another story MarkWAliasQ | 10/15/07
Amen gdunger | 08/17/09
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time docotis@... | 10/12/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time Warinpiece | 10/13/07
startide rising rabear | 10/14/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time laj1@... | 10/19/07
Roj Blake catseverywhere@... | 11/08/07
Brian Blessard a.southern@... | 11/09/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time edgarjluque@... | 11/08/07
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time edgarjluque@... | 11/08/07
Janeway??? chaneys@... | 12/31/07
The Doctor a Starship Captain?????? DaemonSlayer | 03/05/08
But does it travel kryan@... | 03/06/08
Capt. John "Black Jack" Geary bgarcia@... | 08/14/09
RE: The Top 20 Sci-Fi Starship Captains of All Time ddobson@... | 08/16/09
True seanferd | 08/16/09
Hm jck | 08/17/09
Turning in my geek card, because I seriously doubt I could even name 10 Forum Surfer | 08/17/09
weenie-ish? jck | 08/17/09

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