Introduce Yourself - Part 2

[John]

Welcome to the group Mateo.

[Aurora]

Name: Aurora
Favorite Books: Dracula, Dickens, Doyle, Zhan, Luceno
Favorite Genres: Star Wars
Favorite TV shows: Andor, Mr Robot, Frasier
Favorite Movies: Star Wars, The Dead Poets Society
Favorite Food: Pizza, Lasagna, all types of pastas.
Day Job: disabled
Hobbies: none
Other: Hello!

*If you are a Goodreads author, it's okay to say that, but please don't use this thread to drop your book link and writeup!!! This is where we want to get to know YOU! There is a Self-Promotion thread if you want to educate us about your book (must follow the rules).

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[John]

Welcome Aurora.

[Gosia]

Hello everyone :)

Name: Gosia
Favorite Books: Lord of the Rings, The Master and Margarita
Favorite Genres: Fiction, Sci-fi, fantasy
Favorite TV shows: Community, the Expanse, all Star Trek
Favorite Movies: The Princess Bride, Willow, Ladyhawke
Favorite Food: anything with tofu
Day Job: web developer (I make websites)
Hobbies: video games, TTRPG
Other: I had a multi-year break from reading, now I want to really get back into it.

[John]

Hi Gosia, welcome to the group - we look forward to hearing about which books you're reading after your break away.

[Pamela]

Hi everyone!
My name is Pam Allen, and I live in Oregon, USA.

My dad introduced me to Star Trek when I was very young, and over the years we had endless fun diving into the mind-bending conversations that great sci-fi inspires.

Since then, I’ve fallen in love with Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, Firefly, The Orville, Galaxy Quest, Dark Matter, Ender’s Game, and so many more. I’ve always been drawn to vast universes full of lore to uncover and fandoms to join.

The seed my dad planted finally grew when I discovered World Anvil, that’s where my own story idea stepped out of the Star Trek universe and became its own universe: Caelaxis.

Worldbuilding it has been such an adventure! When a friend described my debut book as a space opera, I looked up the term and realized — that’s exactly what I’ve loved all along.

Now I’m excited to find other space opera books to read for inspiration (and to get my brain back into writing mode, it’s been a while since I’ve had time to just read).

Please feel free to recommend any epic space operas with rich character development and deep lore. I’d love to explore new galaxies through your favorite stories!

[Betsy]

Pamela wrote: "Hi everyone!
My name is Pam Allen, and I live in Oregon, USA.

My dad introduced me to Star Trek when I was very young, and over the years we had endless fun diving into the mind-bending conversati..."

Welcome, Pamela. Have you tried the Honorverse? Great worldbuilding. Starts with On Basilisk Station.

And the Ishmael Wong books by Nathan Lowell? Starts with Quarter Share. Not as expansive as the Honorverse, but some solid worldbuilding.

[John]

Welcome to the group Pam.

[B.D.]

Hi everyone!

My name's B.D.

I read a lot of sci-fi when I was younger. I loved Hyperion, Dune, Vernor Vinge, but recently also binged on the TV series of the Expanse.

Don't have a lot of time to read books anymore, also because I'd rather write than read.

But glad to hear any tips of what I should catch up on! As I've grown older I noticed I get annoyed quickly when I see something that I don't deem 100% realistic (hard ask for space opera I know).

I am willing to accept a few fantastical ground truths, as long as the rest of the story and universe play out logically. I have a high standard - realism in terms of plot, physics, tech and human motivation and emotion. I think the Expanse qualifies. Any other such books out there?

Favorite food: Ramen

Cheers

[John]

Hi B.D. - welcome to the group.

[Caitlin]

Welcome, B.D.! Because you asked, I think Mary Robinette Kowal’s Lady Astronaut series beginning with The Calculating Stars hits all those points: solid physics, meticulous world building and realistic motivations and conflicts for the characters. Have you read it?

[Biana]

Hi BD!

I recommend Andy Weir...in particular, Hail Mary. Although, The Martian works too. My favorite part is that they science out loud. In The Martian he say... work the math frequently as he digs in and makes something work for him. In Hail Mary, the character was the teacher and continues to teach. I like that half of the science isn't so far over my head!

[Biana]

Pamela wrote: "Hi everyone!
My name is Pam Allen, and I live in Oregon, USA..."

Hi Pam! I'm in Oregon too!

[Pamela]

Betsy wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Hi everyone!
My name is Pam Allen, and I live in Oregon, USA.

My dad introduced me to Star Trek when I was very young, and over the years we had endless fun diving into the mind-ben..."

Thank You Betsy, Good to meet you and thanks for your reply. Have a wonderful day!

[Richard]

Richard G. Abrahams *Goodreads author

Favourite Books: Dune, LOTR, Asimov.

Favourite Genres: I love science fiction and fantasy. Within science fiction I prefer distant planets and galaxies. Not so much things set on Earth like dystopian or super hero. (Earth for thrillers and romance and historical drama is fine!)

I'm not sure about sub-genres. I joined this group to see if I can understand Space Opera better. Dune is my favourite series, and my own writing has evolved from a single planet to a complex empire with wars between and within species and planets. I have a feeling that's Space Opera. It would be great to discover some other series besides Dune and Foundation.

Favourite TV shows: Top Gear/Grand Tour, Game of the Thrones, Red Dwarf, Grey's Anatomy, IT Crowd, Dune Prophecy. And recently K-Drama: Arthdal Chronicles, Alchemy of Souls.

Favourite Movies: My most rewatched is the LOTR trilogy.

Favourite Food: Ribeye steak with a side of Malbec or left bank Bordeaux, followed by a perfect espresso. Although I also like variety.

Hobbies: I get a kick out of languages, at least to beginner level - Japanese, German, Spanish and now Korean to go with K-Drama. I dabble in guitar and bass sometimes. Cooking, travel, reading!

I'm looking forward to losing myself in more galaxies.

[John]

Welcome to the group Richard.

[Erik]

Hi everyone! 👋
My name is Erik Lenhart, and I’m thrilled to join this community as a passionate reader of science fiction and fantasy.

Favorite Books:
Dune (Books 1–6 by Frank Herbert, not the later continuations)
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (銀河英雄伝説)
The Witcher series
Elric of Melniboné books

Favorite Genres:
Space opera, cyberpunk, and dark fantasy

Favorite TV Shows:
Star Trek: TNG and Deep Space Nine
Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Crusade
Bubblegum Crisis (the original), AD Police Files, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
The Expanse (especially seasons 1–4)

Favorite Movies:
Blade Runner (the original classic)
All Star Trek TOS and TNG films (except Insurrection)
Babylon 5 movies

Favorite Food: Pizza 🍕

Day Job: Diplomat

Hobbies:
Too many! Reading (fiction and non-fiction—especially history, Roman Republic, and geopolitics), music (classical and power metal—yes, strange combo!), fitness, and martial arts (Tae Kwon-Do, Escrima, Wing Tsun).

Other: Just ask!
I’m here mainly as a reader who loves deep, character-driven stories with political intrigue and philosophical undertones. Looking forward to discovering new books and connecting with fellow fans!

Question for you all:
What’s your favorite space opera or cyberpunk novel? Or, if you’re into TV, who’s your favorite character from DS9, Babylon 5, or Legend of the Galactic Heroes?

[John]

Welcome to the group Eric.

My favourite space opera novel is probably Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks. (But if you ask me again in a weeks time, my answer might be different!).

[Erik]

Thanks John!

[John]

John wrote: "Welcome to the group Eric."

And we're a pretty friendly and civilised lot....so hopefully you won't have to call on your diplomatic skills!

[Richard]

Welcome Erik,
And I don't find the classical/power metal combo that strange! I'm not a fan of classical, but I love power metal. And Tarja Turunen is classically trained, and Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish) writes music that's almost like symphonies! Infinite (Stratovarius) is one of my go to albums when I need energising. Yes! I can see the classical/power metal connection!
Oops sorry, this is meant to be about science fiction, not music. But for me there's a close connection. I remember when reading Lord of the Rings I felt an association between Saruman and a Hollies song and between Sauron and a Queen song. And Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers always makes me think of Thomas Covenant.
Anyway enough of music, back to space opera. And welcome to the group!

[Betsy]

Erik wrote: "Hi everyone! 👋
My name is Erik Lenhart, and I’m thrilled to join this community as a passionate reader of science fiction and fantasy. ...

What’s your favorite space opera or cyberpunk novel?"

Welcome, Erik. I don't read cyberpunk. My favorite sci-fi is Hellspark, though there is some question as to whether it is space opera. It takes place mostly on another planet but there are some scenes on a ship. Next favorite is the Honorverse series. And then the Solar Clipper Universe series.

[B.D.]

John wrote: "Hi B.D. - welcome to the group."

Awesome, thanks! No but will give it a try

[B.D.]

Biana wrote: "Hi BD!

I recommend Andy Weir...in particular, Hail Mary. Although, The Martian works too. My favorite part is that they science out loud. In The Martian he say... work the math frequently as he di..."

Thanks for the suggestions! Yep, really like the Martian. Though I would say I'm looking for something with even grander scope. In general I don't need every single thing to be realistic. As far as I'm concerned there can be a few premises that would never be true in our world, as long as all the rest plays out realistically and consistently.

Hail Mary is a really cool concept, though it is a bit on the edge of too many unrealistic premises for me. The unrealistic physiology for the Eridians (really recommend the Zoologists Guide to the Galaxy for why) and the physics of astrophages is a bit too hand-wavy for me.

I guess I'm looking for the sweet spot of grand scope and internal consistency. I feel that almost by definition that requires acknowledging different physics or an alternative universe from ours. Not sure if anybody has counterexamples.