Space Opera
- Everything is very large scale – big battles, big civilizations, sweeping events. Often a little melodramatic, but a lot of fun.
- Tends to take place against the backdrop of a galactic civilization.
- Often the plot is a more intimate story against this operatic background. How is this individual or family or relationship affected by these sweeping events?
- Used to be a pejorative term indicating a shallow and action/adventure-focused story - the space equivalent to the schlocky sort of horse operas/westerns. In the 1990s there was a resurgence of interest and now it’s generally quality adventure storytelling on a really big scale.
- Often feels a bit mythic, and the characters have archetypal aspects.
- Does not have to be serious - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is an example of a very humorous space opera.
- Often includes: Human Diaspora, Military SF, Politics.
Books/Series:
Flinx Series by Alan Dean Foster (also Human Diaspora, Psionics)
Dune by Frank Herbert (also Human Diaspora, Aliens, Politics)
Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold (also Bioengineering)
Serrano’s Legacy by Elizabeth Moon (also Military, Life prolongation, Mystery – 1st trilogy – Herris Serrano series))
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