Universes With Fictional Physics
Utilizing Fasho, time traveling criminals engineered entire universes where physics appeared to operate according to fictional laws. Oftentimes those criminals "ruled those universes for so long that history had forgotten how they came to power." Robots could be replaced by slaves in artificial bodies (droids - much more emotionally suited to being terrified into obeying), ships could apparently travel faster than light without warping space or folding it, and only the criminals and their associates would have access to effective technology and life extension.
See: Potentially Significant Media