#482 - Let's Talk About Seax, Baby

[Veronica, Supreme Sword]

We've opened nominations for Mad Marchness!, our March tournament of book picks. Plus, the failure of the Hugos and the rise of Romantasy. And we begin our first impressions of Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne.

http://swordandlaser.com/home/2024/2/...
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[Tamahome]

If Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas had a fight, who would win?

[Jan]

The reader?

[Jan]

I had to live for two weeks on protein shakes without anything else before a stomach operation to reduce the size of my liver so there was more room for the surgeon and while protein shakes are not as bad anymore it soured those shakes for me 😉

[Tamahome]

How did that affect your regularity?

[Jan]

Went out the window 😅

[Iain]

I am not sure Tom’s definition of Space Opera is consistent with the traditional one.

Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, ….

[Ruth]

Iain wrote: "I am not sure Tom’s definition of Space Opera is consistent with the traditional one.

Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-ta..."

I don’t think there’s an “official” definition of space opera, but I think of it as science fiction stories that are heavy on the fiction and light on the science, with things like galaxy-spanning empires, lots of alien species interacting with each other, and easy FTL travel.

[John (Taloni)]

Tamahome wrote: "If Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas had a fight, who would win?"

All of us. preps popcorn

[Tamahome]

Now I'm thinking of that Seinfeld with the female cat fights...

[Iain]

Ruth wrote: I don’t think there’s an “official” definition of space opera, but I think of it as science fiction stories that are heavy on the fiction and light on the science, with things like galaxy-spanning empires, lots of alien species interacting with each other, and easy FTL travel.

While it might not be official, I take the origins of Space Opera as E.E. "Doc" Smith book The Skylark of Space in 1928 which has led to many imitators. One of the defining concepts is the scale of the story. This is what makes it Opera, that over-the-top plot and emotional stakes. A large cast with essentially superhuman protagonists and dastardly villains seems to be a requirement.

Tom was referring to stories I feel are much closer to Planetary Romance which has a smaller scale (I had to listen to the comments a coupke of times .

Most SF involving interstellar travel ends up being soft SF once the add FTL travel (note this includes books in the Expanse once it starts using the Proto-molecule and magically efficient engines).

WE have only read a few Space Operas in the group.

Pandora's Star is clearly a space opera. On of the creators of teleportation is a direct lift from Skylarks' Seaton.

Consider Phlebas, A Fire Upon the Deep, Foundation, Hyperion, Anathem would make up the other candidates.,

[Interstella5555]

Where in the podcast were we talking about sapce operas? I must've really zoned out lol

[John (Taloni)]

Space opera? How about a space shanty? (Crosspeaust from ze Discooord.)

♬ We're Vikings on the Moon,
Our Drakkar's sailing soon
Well, there ain't no air
But we won't despair
'Cos we'll breathe through our harpoons!

Freeimage Host:


(To the tune of "Whalers on the Moon" from the second Futurama episode.)

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Tamahome wrote: "If Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas had a fight, who would win?"

Love

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Iain wrote: "Ruth wrote: I don’t think there’s an “official” definition of space opera, but I think of it as science fiction stories that are heavy on the fiction and light on the science, with things like gala..."

You say Opera, I say Opry

[Tamahome]

Peter F. Hamilton goes the extra mile on the science though. It varies.