I wish there was a way to vote books DOWN the list. I hate so many of these!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Okay, I'll admit there is a spaceship in it, but no part of it actually takes place in space.

OK, haven't been on here in a while - too long!
I just did some major maintenance on the list - removed non-space opera (no matter how good a SF book it is, if it isn't space opera, it shouldn't be on this list), and any books that were duplicates or not the first in their series.
Let me know if I need to do any others, I didn't have time to look them all up...

How do you define space opera? the opera part that is? thanks
:}

I tend to go by the Wikipedia definition:

"Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic (ETA: not 'romance'), often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing powerful (and sometimes quite fanciful) technologies and abilities. Perhaps the most significant trait of space opera is that settings, characters, battles, powers, and themes tend to be very large-scale. [Also:] Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger-than-life characters.

Before the 1970s, the term space opera was used in a negative sense, to denote bad quality science fiction, but over time it changed meaning, to describe a particular science fiction genre, without any value judgment." - Wikipedia


Personally, I find the terms most helpful in deciding whether something is space opera or not are:
1)melodramatic,
2)in outer space or in an interstellar society/large scale,
3)adventure
4)larger-than-life characters.
Also:
If a story is heavy on the science/technology of the science fiction, it usually isn't space opera. Space opera is a bit light and fluffy - not too dense.

Hope this helps!

yes its a big help many thanks.

why is there no ender's game?

Meggean wrote: "why is there no ender's game?"

While I love Ender's Game, it doesn't fit the definition (given above) of space opera.

Why?
-99.9% of the book takes place on Earth or in the one space station. (view spoiler)[(Ender and the reader don't know that there are actual battles going on in deep space until the very end of the book.) (hide spoiler)]
-it's not an 'adventure' story (traveling place to place on a quest or mission), it's a more a coming-of-age story, with a lot of interpersonal angst.

This isn't dissing Ender's Game, it's one of my favorites, it just doesn't fit in the 'Space Opera' genre - books need to be more than just set in outer space for that.

Starship troopers and forever war are soooooo NOT space operas, they have like 3 characters. They do not feature larger than life characters.

Can I remove sequels in the series, like "Judas Unchained" - sequel to "Pandora," to keep with the description of the list - 1st books in series only. And there's like half a dozen of Miles Vorkosigan books.

It's in the rules, i think thats ok....

Anastasia wrote: "Can I remove sequels in the series, like "Judas Unchained" - sequel to "Pandora," to keep with the description of the list - 1st books in series only. And there's like half a dozen of Miles Vorkosi..."

Feel free - I set up that rule specifically to keep the list from being cluttered with all the books in each series, especially since many are very looooong series. = )

Is Speaker for the Dead really space opera? It mostly takes place on a single planet. And Ender's game is still on the list.

Cleaned up the list again.
Enders Game and Speaker for the Dead are definitely not space opera!
Also, fans of Iain M. Banks - all the Culture books are part of a series, vote for the first one Consider Phlebas if you like any of them. Only the first book in a series should be listed.

Thanks!

I just realized Asimov's Foundation Trilogy and E.E. "Doc" Smith's Skylark and Lensman series aren't here. I skipped over them too. I wonder why. Too old? Too traditional? I've forgotten plot details but they were certainly "Space Opera" and helped define the genre.

I feel like "Foundation" and the old stuff doesn't stack up anymore. EE Doc books I bought, tried to read, and couldn't. Awfully awkward sentences.

Anastasia: Yes, too old. When I read them (I won't say when) they were fine, even though EE's (good initials) was very "pulpy."

I've notice the same problem when I try to re-read some of my other old favorites, they just don't measure up. I'm embarrassed I liked some of them, even allowing for changing values. So, excellent then doesn't equal excellent now.

That's probably why I didn't vote for either one. I doubt I'd recommend reading them to anyone except a really serious sf fan and they'd already know about them anyway.

Foundation isn't on here because it is too much philosophy and not enough 'melodrama' to qualify as space opera. Space Opera is light and fluffy, I can't think of any of the Foundation books that would qualify.

Not sure why Skylark and Lensman aren't on here, just haven't been voted on by someone, I guess.

How can you omit E.E.Doc Smith from a list of space Opera. It's widely accepted that he defined what we now consider to be the subgenre!

Tyrone - you understand how these lists work, right? Everyone voting on the list can add any books that fit the parameters to the list.

Personally, I only added books that I've read to the list; since I haven't read any of the Doc Smith books yet, I didn't add them.

Why didn't you add them when you voted on the list?

I have. 2 now on the list...

Just a reminder:

NOTE: Please only list the first volume of a series, or the omnibus containing the first volume.
No self-published books, unless they have at least 100 3+ star reviews.

I don't judge on the 'excellent' part, if you like it enough to vote for it, that's enough for me, but I will be deleting all books that don't meet the.criteria in the nicely bolded Note.

This way the list stays as a resource, without becoming too cumbersome to read through. Thanks!

The City of Baraboo should be here. Its light and fluffy, space based and interstellar.

Carolyn wrote: "I tend to go by the Wikipedia definition:...
...
If a story is heavy on the science/technology of the science fiction, it usually isn't space opera. Space opera is a bit light and fluffy - not too dense.


I am almost sure that Robinson Mars trilogy isn't a space opera.

Thanks!

Boris wrote: "I am almost sure that Robinson Mars trilogy isn't a space opera.

Thanks! "

Yeah I think your right. Even if it was only Red Mars should be here. Princess of Mars? What's that doing there.

Wealhtheow wrote: "I wish there was a way to vote books DOWN the list. I hate so many of these!"

I agree!

Cleaned up the list 12/22/2012 (since the world didn't end. :)

Surprised you don't consider Ender's Game a Space Opera novel. I think it is.

I added A Call to Arms(The series of the Damned) by Alan Dean Foster, Escape Velocity by Christopher Stasheff, The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey, and The Regiment by John Dalmas to the list. Curious as to your thoughts on those.