Space opera
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- For other meanings of this term see Space Opera (disambiguation).
Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic adventure, interstellar travel, and space battles where the main storyline is centred around interstellar conflict and character drama.
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History
"Space opera" was originally a derogatory term, a variant of "horse opera" and "soap opera". Wilson Tucker suggested the term in 1941. It meant an action-oriented tale of space adventure instead of "respectable" science fiction story that concentrated on effects of technological progress and inventions. However there is no sharp dividing line and many authors manage to combine the space adventure and the supposedly 'respectable' elements, ensuring that the best written space opera is represented among the best of science fiction generally.
Originators of the first space opera stories were E. E. Smith, with his Skylark and Lensman series; Edmond Hamilton; Jack Williamson; John W. Campbell; and later Leigh Brackett.
In recent years, a resurgence in space opera has resulted in what some consider to be a sub-subgenre often called "new space opera." Typically, new space opera combines the interstellar scale and grandeur of traditional space opera with elements of hard science fiction. New space opera is therefore scientifically rigorous while ambitious in scope.
Among the practitioners of the new space opera are Stephen R. Donaldson, Dan Simmons, John Varley, David Brin, Iain Banks, Catherine Asaro, Orson Scott Card, John Clute, Charles Stross, J. Michael Straczynski, Peter F. Hamilton, Lois McMaster Bujold, M. John Harrison, Donald M. Kingsbury, David Weber, Ken MacLeod, Alastair Reynolds, Mike Resnick, and C. J. Cherryh.
Anime has now become one of space opera's main contributors. Series such as Cowboy Bebop, Gundam series, Dirty Pair (Original and Flash), Crest of the Stars, Legend of Galactic Heroes, the Five Star Stories and Martian Successor Nadesico are increasing in popularity and to a certain extent influence the genre.
Space opera forms a central part of the belief system of Scientology, whose founder L. Ron Hubbard was originally a pulp science fiction writer. The story of Xenu illustrates space opera themes in Scientology, which regards science fictional space opera as being an unconscious recollection of real events which occurred in the distant past. Space opera is defined in the Official Scientology and Dianetics Glossary as follows:
... of or relating to time periods ... millions of years ago which concerned activities in this and other galaxies. Space opera has space travel, spaceships, spacemen, intergalactic travel, wars, conflicts, other beings, civilizations and societies, and other planets and galaxies. It is not fiction and concerns actual incidents and things that occurred on the whole track [in the past].
Characteristics
The scientific veracity of various backgrounds varies tremendously. In some cases, the only violation of the known laws of physics is the faster-than-light travel. Although this can be seen itself as very divergent from reality, at the other end of the scale, stories tend to be even less realistic. Some protagonists use various mystical powers and are able to destroy whole planets and alien species. Star Wars, with its Death Star and 'Force' lies close to the original pulp science fiction.
Character development and description varies as well. Lois McMaster Bujold and Iain M. Banks write about very human conflicts. Some critics and fans, however, deny the use of the term space opera for a work with well-developed characterization. Both sides of this debate have been expounded at length in the usenet forum rec.arts.sf.written.
A popular subset of space opera stories concentrates on large-scale space battles with futuristic weapons. Some of them take their military tone and weapon system technology very seriously. See military science fiction.
Many science fiction writers use variants of space opera background with less military fervor and planet-busting xenophobia. At one extreme, the genre is a speculation about future war in space or effects of war on humans; at the other it consists of the use of non-science fiction plots in a superficially SF background.
Many of the TV science fiction series from Battlestar Galactica to Star Trek are variants of space opera. Harry Harrison and Douglas Adams parody space opera clichés. Fritz Leiber's The Wanderer tells a story about a situation when Earth sees one episode of interstellar conflict. Others, like Samuel R. Delany in Nova, refer to mythological concepts.
In his 1965 story Space Opera, Jack Vance parodied the genre by writing about an interstellar operatic company which brought culture to deprived worlds.
Sample space opera backgrounds
Books
- A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
- A Million Open Doors (series) by John Barnes
- The Alliance-Union Universe by C. J. Cherryh
- Barsoom (Mars) series by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Berserker series by Fred Saberhagen
- Cities in Flight series by James Blish
- Culture series by Iain M. Banks
- Dies Irae trilogy by Brian Stableford
- Dorsai series by Gordon Dickson
- Dune by Frank Herbert - Galactic Empire
- Foundation series by Isaac Asimov
- The Gorrideon by Barry Stephen Nieuport
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes by Tanaka Yoshiki (also manga and anime - see below)
- Honor Harrington series by David Weber
- Humanx Commonwealth series by Alan Dean Foster
- Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons (Hyperion and sequels)
- Known Space series by Larry Niven, and its spin-off Man-Kzin Wars.
- Lensman series by E. E. Smith (possibly the prototype of all others)
- Light by M. John Harrison
- Mageworld series by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald
- Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
- Night's Dawn trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton
- Noon Universe series by
- Perry Rhodan series
- Rim worlds of A. Bertram Chandler
- The Saga of Pliocene Exile by Julian May (which might perhaps be described as "time opera")
- Serrano Legacy by Elizabeth Moon
- Uplift Universe by David Brin
- Vorkosigan Saga series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Comic Strips
Television
- Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
- Babylon 5, created by J. Michael Straczynski
- Banner of the Stars aka Seikai no Senki by Morioka Hiroyuki (anime)
- Banner of the Stars II aka Seikai no Senki II by Morioka Hiroyuki (anime)
- Battlestar Galactica
- Blake's 7, created by Terry Nation
- Cowboy Bebop (anime)
- Crest of the Stars aka Seikai no Monshou by Morioka Hiroyuki (anime)
- Farscape
- Firefly, created by Joss Whedon
- Gundam
- Harlock Saga by Leiji Matsumoto (anime)
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes by Yoshiki Tanaka (anime)
- Lexx
- The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (anime)
- Outlaw Star (anime)
- Robotech (anime)
- Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry
- Stargate SG-1 (and its spin-off, Stargate Atlantis)
- Raumpatrouille - Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes ORION
Film
- Star Wars, created by George Lucas
Games
Many role-playing games, computer games and board games are set in space opera-type universes. Of those, RPGs have the most in common with the classic definition of space opera, basically allowing players to role play (create their own stories) in a space opera universe. Board games usually use space opera as a background for strategy games, most often representing military space battles. Computer games combine various space opera elements and have spawned many space opera-related subgenres, some resembling RPG or board games, some unique like the 4X genre, where players can create an entire space empire civilisation.
Role playing games:
- Bulldogs!
- Fading Suns
- Space Opera Space Opera (http://www.space-opera.org/GB), setting created by E. Simbalist, M. Ratner & P. Mc Gregor
- Traveller, setting created by Marc W. Miller
Board games:
- Full Thrust, a popular 2D space battle simulation board (and miniatures) game
- Hard Vacuum, a board/miniatures game of WWII space combat in an alternate universe where the Allies and Axis have both achieved space flight
Computer games:
- Homeworld, a 3D space real time space battle simulation with a space opera story (campaign)
- Master of Orion, a classic 4X game
- Nexus: The Jupiter Incident, a game of real time tactical combat with an epic story
Console games:
- Colony Wars, a 3D space fighter sim
- Xenosaga
- Star Ocean
Other
- Kai,_Death_of_Dreams - an opera
- Orion's Arm - a hard science fiction space opera website
- Schlock Mercenary - a webcomic
See also
- Galactic Empire
- hard science fiction
- soft science fiction
- Political ideas in science fiction
- Religious ideas in science fiction
Articles
- Dave Langford: Fun With Senseless Violence
- David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer: Space Opera Redefined (http://www.sfrevu.com/ISSUES/2003/0308/Space%20Opera%20Redefined/Review.htm)de:Space Opera
es:Space opera fr:Space opera it:Space opera ja:スペースオペラ pl:Space opera sv:Rymdopera