Space Opera - Dem's fighting words! From sh*t to shinola is an interesting interpretation of the development of this subgenre:
http://www.sfrevu.com/ISSUES/2003/03...ned/Review.htm
The more comical something sounds, the more insults one can hurl. You can't be serious, it's only Space Opera, or Teen Romance, or pulp (gulp). You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, but you dare not call me Shirley. At the end of the eclipse, I suppose it does not matter. Just keep the royalty checks flowing.