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Old 12-16-2012, 05:21 PM   #1
simonalexander2005
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How to write Space Opera (funny)
Hey, I came across this a few years back, and thought I'd share here

http://www.z9m9z.demon.co.uk/filk/opera.txt

Basically, it's a comedy outline for writing space opera. What do you think? Does it ring true to you?
Last edited by simonalexander2005; 12-16-2012 at 10:00 PM. Reason: removing quoted text from post
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Old 12-17-2012, 03:48 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by simonalexander2005 View Post
Hey, I came across this a few years back, and thought I'd share here

http://www.z9m9z.demon.co.uk/filk/opera.txt

Basically, it's a comedy outline for writing space opera. What do you think? Does it ring true to you?


I don't know enough about space opera to comment on it specifically but that was funny.
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Old 12-17-2012, 04:15 PM   #3
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This is filk (folk song or pop music melodies with sf&f parody lyrics).

It's full of affectionate mockery that will really only make sense if someone has read a lot of space opera. It is a sad commentary on my reading life that I get most of the jokes.

As a template, it is probably more on the side of dead wrong than useful, unless you earnestly try not to make the mistakes cited within the song.

Think of this gem as to space opera what Tough Guide to Fantasyland was to fantasy, and you're ready to go.
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Old 12-18-2012, 09:34 PM   #4
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I read and love space opera and I don't agree. This seems to have been written by someone with a very tired, one dimenional view of SO. Anne Maccffrey (my favorite space operiste) certainly doesn't result to old si/fi tropes like that.
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Old 12-19-2012, 01:31 AM   #5
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I read and love space opera and I don't agree. This seems to have been written by someone with a very tired, one dimenional view of SO. Anne Maccffrey (my favorite space operiste) certainly doesn't result to old si/fi tropes like that.
No, I agree it's very much a generalisation of Space Opera - and SO's probably developed a lot since 1998 anyway - but I think it's still funny, and maybe even useful in giving a new writer an outline of characters (that need much development on what's provided) when writing a story for the first time? Or certainly as Filigree says - as a warning if nothing else
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