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[Marc]

Tim A wrote: "Space Opera is a sub-genre of Science Fiction. Typically it's an adventure story set in space, with emphasis on character development and story as opposed to technology. It's characterised by a str..."

"Light" by M.John Harrison. I didn't have trouble with it, just couldn't see what made it space opera, or for that point, why the GR critics engaged in fierce debate as to whether it was spoofing cyberpunk or not.

I get your definition, but don't really see why that requires a sub-genre as many of those elements exist across the range of scifi? I can see the distinction between tech-heavy sci-fi and that which is less so, but the stuff around character, heros, stakes etc doesn't strike me as particular to this sub-genre.

Also why the word opera? What about these books makes them operatic?

Cheers. M

[Tim]

Marc wrote: "Also why the word opera? What about these books makes them operatic? "

Scale? It's big... it's bold.. it's operatic

Although when the term was originally coined, it was derogatory, and attempted to draw a parallel with soap opera. Of course that is no longer the case.

[Elle]

I always saw it has a sort of Space Drama - it's got a lot more plot dedicated to the actual people and the fact it is in space is just.. eh.

[Tim]

Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "I always saw it has a sort of Space Drama - it's got a lot more plot dedicated to the actual people and the fact it is in space is just.. eh."

Well the fact that is in space is quite key, otherwise it wouldn't be "space" opera, it would just be a character driven adventure ;) But yes, the emphasis is definitely on characters and plot rather than technology or "what-if weirdness"

"Hard SF" on the other hand will devote three chapters to the physics behind the operation of the warp-drive-engine-thingamybob, and half a paragraph to the people pressing the buttons or why the hell they are where they are and what they are doing.

[Marc]

see I get that distinction, but it scarce seems to justify a separate catergorisation as two genres?

Surely also anything that involves the author building a world (or universe rather) is by its very nature grand in scale?

[Tim]

Marc wrote: "see I get that distinction, but it scarce seems to justify a separate catergorisation as two genres?

Surely also anything that involves the author building a world (or universe rather) is by its ..."

Yes, but it's equally important what he does with it...

[Fiona (Titch)]

My next 5 reads are:




A Vampire's Kiss: Darkling Soul Entry One - C.C. Webster


If you have read any, opinions would be noted and appreciated x

[Lorraine]

Just finished face of a killer by Robin Burcell,i won't put the link as a)it's not on the kindle and b)it's total tosh.Going back to Winterkill by C.J.Box.

[Tim]

Just started Darren's

[Philip (sarah)]

Sorry Fiona,not read any of those! Enjoy then come back and tell us all about them.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Sarah, reading 1st book and liking it a lot x

[Paul]

Just finished Darkside, which is the second in a sort-of-but-not-really trilogy of crime thrillers set in an Exmoor village. It was bleak, melancholic and gripping.

The ending was a bit of a WTF moment. I saw it coming but rejected it as I couldn't see how the author could pull that off. I'm still in two minds as to whether she did or not.

Since some of the characters re-appear in the next book Finders Keepers I've gone straight on into that to see if it provides any answers. If not, on the basis of the first two books, it should at least be a cracking good read.

[Natalie]

Hi i'm new to this group, it's great to see loads of reviews and recommendations.

I have just finished reading Shut Up and Kiss Me and it was brilliant, couldn't believe it free on kindle!!

It's a great romance with passion, comedy and suspence.
It had me laughing, gave me butterflies and have you biting your nails! Give it a go! : )

[Jud]

We have a "It was free and it was good" thread Natalie you should post that in there as well

This one http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...

[Jud]

I just one clicked

[Vanessa (aka Dumbo)]

Thanks Natalie...I've one clicked it also.

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by Nicholas Sparks a few hours ago. The book was a bit of a disappointment really. I've read most of Spark's books and I think I'm too used to his writing style. I found the plot of the story to be extremely predictable and slighty unrealistic. But if you've never read a Nicholas Spark novel before, you'd probably like it.

Now I'm about to start reading by John Grisham. It's the october monthly read in a Goodreads group I'm in and I want to get a head start on it.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I didn't enjoy Ford County stories, gave up on it after a couple.

[Kath]

Last night I read Broken Angel by new lad round here, Gary Murning. It's a short but it's got depth. Enjoyed it rahter a lot!

Might not get much read for the next few days as I shall re-proofread the group book.

[Marc]

just finished

Not much cop... will post a GR review when I can be bothered

[[deleted user]]

At the mo I'm reading a book which was a daily deal the other day, The Hills is Lonely, and loving it. Very well written and fun.

:0)

[Clair]

Hi.. This is my first post on here but I have been reading posts... I've just finished beautiful disaster by Jamie McGuire - which I loved and I'm now about to start shut up and kiss me

[Patti (baconater)]

Welcome Clair! Yay!

Hope it's the first of many posts from you!

[M.A.]

In between renovations I've read excellent debut thriller about the IRA. I'm halfway through Donna Fasano's latest romance great read so far. :-)

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished Moulin by Andy Frazier.
Read Dracula's GuestThen 2 extremely brief shorts A Family Arrangement parts 1 & 2 by Shelagh Watkins.
Started a book by one of 'our authors' and abandoned it at 30% as it was full of spelling mistakes,words used out of context and just generally poor:@(.
Started and finished if you fly with the crows and absolutely loved it . Much of it is written in the West of Scotland vernacular.Very funny. I have downloaded another of the authors books.(They were both free)

[Jamie]

Afternoon folks,

I've just started Nemesis by Jo Nesbo. I've read a couple of others by the same author. This has been hard to get into and I very nearly gave up but it's got going now (p167). As ever Harry Hole's drinking and lone wolf approach to life are at the fore of the story but so far it's shaping up nicely.

[Kath]

I found that one a long time getting going too Jamie. I enjoyed it eventually but I prefer to be gripped a little earlier in a book than 40%.

[Lorraine]

Just finishedWinterkill,i enjoy these books,always well written with a good storyline.Just started Finders Keepers.
c.j.box
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winterkill-Jo...
belinda bauer
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finders-Keepe...

[Philip (sarah)]

Started and finished One Breath Away
Terrific hostage thriller.
Hope to be starting Words to the Wise A Gothic Saga.
Sirrenvaag! Don't know if the link is correct.Sorry!

[Jud]

That is the right link Sarah but maybe Corny would prefer the name to show differently... Will ask him

[Marc]

Jamie wrote: "Afternoon folks,

I've just started Nemesis by Jo Nesbo. I've read a couple of others by the same author. This has been hard to get into and I very nearly gave up but it's got going now (p167). As ..."

I've read 2 Nesbos now. They're okay I guess. But to me the trope of a loner, hard drinking detective is a bit done to death now. They are always mavericks aren't they? Do you know the history of fingerprinting, or many other forensic reference matrices were done by old-fashioned nose to the grindstone patient measuring and logging over many years. They were mavericks in that they explored these things where no one else did, but the application & devotion to the work they put in was anything but maverick.

[Philip (sarah)]

Thanks Jud! I just expected Sirrenvaag to show! No matter anyhow as it is still unavailable so I went with another of 'Our Authors' The Half-life of Hannah following Kath's recommendation, 50% in and really enjoying it.

[Kath]

I've just started that too Sarah - don't know how fast I'll get along with it though - I'm proofreading the Group Book now!

[Joo]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "so I went with another of 'Our Authors' The Half-life of Hannah following Kath's recommendation, 50% in a..."

I think Kath is on Nick's payroll as I'm reading it too.
It's not wonderful but is readable.

I finished Alex (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-ebook/dp...) yesterday and loved it.

[M.A.]

Finished and reviewed Donna Fasano's latest not sure what to read now have over 150 in my tbr list. :-(

[R.J.]

I've just finished a good chunk of Marc Nash's excellent flash fiction collection >>>>> 52FF <<<<< there is one a week for 52 weeks hence the title.

It's a great read from a goodreads indie .. here is my blog/review of it, sans spoilers >>>>>

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...52FF

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished The Half-life of Hannah This book has rather a slow start but worth hanging in there as the tension mounts as the story progresses and the main characters background is revealed.I was surprised by the ending and not much surprises me nowadays!

Hope to be telling you I am now starting Words to the Wise: Book Threebut I last checked at 8am and it still wasn't available.I live in hope!

[Marc]

R.J. wrote: "I've just finished a good chunk of Marc Nash's excellent flash fiction collection >>>>> 52FF <<<<< there is one a week for 52 weeks hence the title.

It's a great read from a goodreads indie .. herhere is my blog/review of it, sans spoilers >>>>>

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_......"

Thanks Ron

[Fiona (Titch)]

I'm also reading Morningside - Ashley Madau. So far I am loving this author's work x

[Kath]

Yesterday I read The Hare and the Gallows Tree by LK Jay - a nice little number - novella length and I enjoyed it. I also read The Wheel of Justice by Stephen Livingston. This is a very short story - well done and thought provoking, but is so short I question its value at £1.93. I got it on a free day though!

Edit to add authors' names!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I'm starting a month worth of horror/ghost stories and starting with The Horror Challenge Volume 1. Not something i have ever read before but enjoying it

[Marc]

started Dogs at the Perimeter

[Aoibhínn]

I've finished reading by John Grisham last night and this morning I've started by Christopher Ransom.

[[deleted user]]

I've just finished reading The Hills is Lonely which was very funny. Set in the Hebrides and full of local colour.

Now I'm reading Service of the Heir which I am enjoying, it's very well written.

:0)

[Karen]

Marc wrote: "started Dogs at the Perimeter"

That sounds worth a read. Will have to add it to the pile.
Have just finished Excellent Women which was a delight. Think I might start The Red House Mystery which I hadn't come across before - it was mentioned in another GR forum, and is free from Gutenberg, so that can't be bad.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Finished Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder this morning in the bath and have just finished a review of Morningside - Ashley Madau. Now I'm going to dip into Succubus Revealed - Richelle Mead as well as reading Reflected in You - Sylvia Day.

[Gary]

Have just finished Salman Rushdie's memoir, Joseph Anton, and now reading Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther. Again.

[[deleted user]]

I finished Service of the Heir and enjoyed it so much that I reached the next book in the series and started that straight away - An Abandoned Woman.

[Kath]

I think that's even better Karen!
Just read and enjoyed Fifty/Fifty and other stories by Matthew McFarland - a new kid on the forum. Nice one!

[Lorraine]

Just finished Finders Keepers,just starting The Devil's Bones.
Belinda Bauer
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finders-Keepe...
Jefferson Bass
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Devils-Bo...