In SciFi - what is a space opera & give some titles?

[Penforhire]

To me a space opera is distinguished from other SF by the scale or scope of the story. Action on multiple planets at least (multiple star systems are more common), affecting millions or billions of people. But yeah, lots of space ships, lol.

I'll throw out The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks as a sprawling whimsical space opera contained in one book. A more serious one is A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge (more of a space opera than its follow up, A Deepness in the Sky).

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

To me a space opera is distinguished from other SF by the scale or scope of the story. Action on multiple planets at least (multiple star systems are more common), affecting millions or billions of people. But yeah, lots of space ships, lol.

I'll throw out The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks as a sprawling whimsical space opera contained in one book. A more serious one is A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge (more of a space opera than its follow up, A Deepness in the Sky).

In terms of movie classifications, that would have been known as an "epic" rather than an "___ opera". When I think of opera, I think of a simple story that can be done on a stage with limited numbers of people. It sounds like "space opera" has morphed in meaning over time if your definition is the primary one today.

[Penforhire]

Are there any examples of a space epic that would not be considered space opera? I have heard the term "space opera" frequently but not "space epic." I see the Wikipedia entry focuses on the melodramatic aspect.

Oddly enough, "epic fantasy" is a common genre label so I can see where you might associate those.

[Dazrin]

Here is one author's take on space opera, emphasis added:

One of the things good science fiction does is extrapolate from current trends to show us where we might be heading—or simply to give us some perspective on the present. ... Writing this sort of sci-fi is so difficult, in fact, that a lot of authors prefer not to even attempt it. Rather than attempt a serious extrapolation of trends, they take a plot and characters that could be right out of a another milieu—say a medieval epic, World War II drama, or cowboys-and-Indians Western—and add what’s missing to make these stories truly awesome: spaceships and lasers. These interstellar adventure stories have come to be called “space operas.”

The prime example of this genre to anyone growing up in the 1970s or 80s is, of course, Star Wars. ...

[HarryT]

One classic example of Space Opera which is terrific fun, and a great book, is L. Ron Hubbard's "Battlefield Earth". Forget any prejudice you may have against his more way-out stuff; this is well worth reading.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

If you want some old school space opera you could give Doc Smith's Skylark or Lensmen series' a go. Other old school stuff to consider Gordon R. Dickson's Childe Cycle (Dorsai), A. Bertram Chandler's Rim World series and Poul Anderson's Flandry series.

"Flandry" is a hero's hero on a par with Horatio Hornblower as he works his way up the ranks while preserving the decadent human empire.

A favorite of mine and my brother in law who was a real USN Captain.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by HarryT

One classic example of Space Opera which is terrific fun, and a great book, is L. Ron Hubbard's "Battlefield Earth". Forget any prejudice you may have against his more way-out stuff; this is well worth reading.

A good movie as well.

[Greg Anos]

Much of the works of H Beam Piper, particularly Space viking fit the category.

Harry Harrison did a side-splitting parody of Space Opera in Star Smasher of the Galactic Rangers

[JLius]

I agree with Xanthe:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I wouldn't agree with those ten rules. That just seems too tongue-in-cheek, and I think that space opera has evolved into a more respectable genre than just mere melodrama.

To me, space opera is an story arc that lasts for at least three books, involves primarily a non-Earth setting (though Earth/Terra might be a secondary/tertiary/or-merely-referenced setting), involves multiple subplots, is set in a well-defined socio-economic-political system or systems, and the plots and characters evolve as time progresses. There is usually some basic conflict - cultural misunderstandings and/or bigotry, political unrest, interstellar conflict, clan/family disputes, etc. There are elements of romance to it, but usually in the sense that when you're following characters over years of their lives, personal attachments do happen with all the associated joys and miseries.

A successful space opera gets me invested in the characters and the created universe. They become real to me and I want to find out "what happens next".

Examples:
David Weber's Honor Harrington Series
David Weber & John Ringo's Empire of Man series
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller's Liaden Universe series
Catherine Asaro's Saga of the Skolian Empire
Karen Traviss' Wess'har series
Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series
Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War series
C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner series
Kristine Smith's Jani Kilian series

I can suggest one 'space opera' that everyone should read, even those that don't like science fiction: The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons. It is sublime. If anyone could suggest me another work of equal beauty, I would be ever so grateful.

[curtw]

Originally Posted by JLius

I agree with Xanthe:


I can suggest one 'space opera' that everyone should read, even those that don't like science fiction: The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons. It is sublime. If anyone could suggest me another work of equal beauty, I would be ever so grateful.

David Brin's uplift series in general is very good, but the second book, Startide Rising, is a masterpiece. You do not need to have read the first book for it to make sense.

[JLius]

Originally Posted by curtw

David Brin's uplift series in general is very good, but the second book, Startide Rising, is a masterpiece. You do not need to have read the first book for it to make sense.

Thank you! I'll begin reading the first as soon as I finish The Rise of Endymion.

[suedenim]

Peter Hamilton not mentioned!!!

Nights Dawn Trilogy to start

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

A more serious one is A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge (more of a space opera than its follow up, A Deepness in the Sky).

I'm surprised the thread got so far before Vinge came up. A Fire Upon the Deep is outstanding, and definitely space opera, though with a slightly psychedelic bent.

Asimov's Foundation is a widely heralded classic, but as a recent reader I didn't think it had aged well.

Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie's first (and so far only) novel published last year, was grand space opera.

Originally Posted by JLius

Thank you! I'll begin reading the first as soon as I finish The Rise of Endymion.

I loved the Uplift books, but one aspect curtw left out--they're full of absurd humor. There's a definite Douglas Adams influence at work, though the books aren't satire.

[JLius]

I agree, A Fire Upon the Deep is good. Deepness in the Sky is, in my opinion, even better (by mistake I read Deepness first, but it was a good mistake since it's a prequel to Fire and I don't like going back in time :-)). Haven't read the children of the sky, seems more fantasy than sf and I'm not a fantasy fan.

[bill_mchale]

Jumping late into this thread, but I would have to say that some of the book series listed here are really more military sci-fi than space opera, particularly the Honor Harrington series.

As a general rule, I consider it Space Opera if it is set in a universe where the stakes are higher than in most other science fiction novels and the setting is grand. The enemy doesn't hvae to be immensely old, but it helps. I agree with the idea that Earth is probably at best a minor player.

I will add to the list the Revelation Space series by Alastair Reynolds.

--
Bill