Space Opera

Wavy_Blue · Dec 27, 2009

So I've been really interested in science fiction lately, something I was virtually uninterested in before this past summer. Anyway, I've come across the term space opera a couple of times (generally in conjunction with Star Wars) but I'm having trouble pinning down a definition or finding other examples of the sub-genre.

So, basically I'm wondering what other books, tv shows, films, etc, are considered space operas?

David Wisehart · Dec 27, 2009

Examples of space operas:

Buck Rogers
Babylon 5
Farscape
Battlestar Galactica
The Foundation Series, by Isaac Asimov
The Uplift books, by David Brin
The Vorkosigan books, by Lois McMaster Bujold

and many others...

Xelebes · Dec 27, 2009

Peter F. Hamilton's The Night's Dawn trilogy has the words "space opera" on the cover.

efkelley · Dec 28, 2009

Space Opera generally doesn't focus on hard science as the cause of or solution to the characters' conflicts.

More information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_opera

Izz · Dec 28, 2009

Star Wars is the ultimate space opera...

larger than life characters, epic plots, technology that's amazing but not explained in detail.

Thump · Dec 28, 2009

Star Trek is a perfect example of Space Opera. I'd say Stargate is also an example. Literature wise, I know less because I don't really read Space Opera to me it's a subgenre better adapted to the screen.

Albedo · Dec 28, 2009

All these writers write space opera: Alastair Reynolds, Ken McLeod, Stephen Baxter, Peter F. Hamilton, Iain M. Banks. Reynolds and Baxter typically write space opera more akin to hard science fiction, the others less so.

Liosse de Velishaf · Dec 28, 2009

There's an older thread with an almost identical question. Let me see if I can find the link.

ETA: Here you go:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158763
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165501

Space Opera

Wavy_Blue

Adventure is out there!

David Wisehart

Xelebes

Delerium ex Ennui

efkelley

ow

Izz

Doing the Space Operatic

Thump

defying grabbity

Albedo

Alex

Liosse de Velishaf