Cyclopaedia 6 – Space Opera By T.R. Knight (InnRoads Ministries * Article Series)
Overview movie Star Wars redefined the space opera for new generations spawning many other Space Opera is a subgenre of science fiction movies and TV shows utilizing the with an emphasis on adventure, chivalry, conventions of space opera storytelling. heroism, inter-planetary travel, melodrama, romance, and especially space battles. Most Space Opera Contrasts of the stories are set in the far future during outer space travels. The term “space opera” Critics and fans often struggle to properly comes from a hybridization of space travel define and categorize space opera within and “soap opera.” The term was coined in science fiction. Just because a story occurs 1941 by Wilson Tucker as the science fiction in space does not make it space opera. The equivalent of a soap opera because the four most common other science fiction stories were “tacky, grinding, stinking, subgenres that are confused with Space outworn, spaceship yarn” as he called Opera include them. • Cyberpunk • Hard Science Fiction In The Space Opera Renaissance, Hartwell • Military Science Fiction and Cramer define space opera as "colorful, • Planetary Romance dramatic, large-scale science fiction adventure, competently and sometimes Following are sources of information beautifully written, usually focused on a pertaining to Space Opera to assist sympathetic, heroic central character and prospective game masters, game designers, plot action, and usually set in the relatively writers, and storytellers in knowing where distant future, and in space or on other to start their research. worlds, characteristically optimistic in tone. It often deals with war, piracy, military virtues, and very large-scale action, large Articles stakes." (pp. 10-18) A Night at the Space Opera These space opera stories were extremely By Grossman, Lev popular in the late 1920s and early 1930s in Source: Time, 2008 Feb 29. science fiction magazines such as Amazing Stories. The Hardships of Being a Sith Lord: Implications of the Biopsychosocial Model It was during this time that the genre found in a Space Opera. its founding father in Doc E.E. Smith. His By Berg, RM work, The Skylark of Space, is sighted by Source: Advances in physiology education, many sources as the first great space opera. 2016 Jun; 40(2): 234-6 His Lensman series would go on to become the most famous and referenced space opera series of all time. In the 1970s, the
Cyclopaedia 6 – Space Opera Page 1 of 4 Of Silver Ships, Space Exploration, and Downbelow Station Science Fiction: A Conversation With Scott By Cherryh, C.J. H. Jucha By Papadopoulos, Leonidas Dune Source: AmericaSpace, By Herbert, Frank (2015-08-26T02:00:19.000Z) Ender’s Game Science Fiction: Curtains for Space Opera? By Card, Orson Scott By Phillips, Leigh Source: Nature, v491 n7424 (2012 11 15): Flash Gordon comic 330-331 By Raymon, Alex
Space Opera for the 1990s Fluency By Barrett, David V By Wells, Jennifer Source: New scientist (1971) vol. 136 (10 Oct. 1992) Foundation By Asimov, Isaac
Books The Gap Cycle By Donaldson, Stephen R. Armada By Cline, Ernest Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy By Adams, Douglas Bill, the Galactic Hero By Harrison, Harry Hyperion By Simmons, Dan Buck Rogers comic By Nowlan, Philip Francis Legends of the Galactic Heroes By Tanaka, Yoshiki The Centauri Device By Harrison, M. John Projecting Tomorrow : Science Fiction and Popular Cinema Consider Phlebas By Chapman, James and Cull, Nicholas John By Banks, Iain M. Rendezvous with Rama Constitution By Clarke, Arthur C. By Webb, Nick Saga comic Crest of the Stars By Vaughn, Brian K. By Morioka, Hirojyki The Skylark of Space By Smith, E.E. “Doc”
Cyclopaedia 6 – Space Opera Page 2 of 4 Space and Beyond : The Frontier Theme in Race for the Galaxy - Tabletop Game Science Fiction Ratchet & Clank - Computer Game By Westfahl. Gary Serenity – RPG Space Empires - Tabletop Game The Space Opera Renaissance Space Opera - RPG By Hartwell, David G and Cramer, Kathryn Star Frontiers - RPG Starship Troopers Starlancer - Computer Game By Heinlein, Robert A. Star Trek - RPG Star Trek CCG - Tabletop Game Star Wars: Heir to the Empire Star War Imperial Assault - Tabletop Game By Zahn, Timothy Star Wars (WEG) - RPG Star Wars Armada - Tabletop Game Triplanetary Star Wars CCG - Tabletop Game By Smith, E.E. “Doc” Star Wars Queen’s Gambit - Tabletop Game Star Wars Rebellion - Tabletop Game Universes of E.E. Smith Star Wars Risk - Tabletop Game By Ellik, Ron and Evans, Bill Star Wars: Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, & Force and Destiny - RPG Vorkosigan Saga Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - By Bujold, Lois McMaster Computer Game Starblazer Adventures - RPG What Mad Universe StarCraft - Computer Game By Brown, Fredric Starfleet Battles - Tabletop Game Stellar Conquest - Tabletop Game Traveller - RPG Games Twilight Imperium - Tabletop Game Warhammer 40K - Tabletop Game Alternity - RPG Wing Commander - Computer Game Babylon 5 RPG - RPG Xia: Legends of a Drift System - Tabletop Dune - Tabletop Game Game Eclipse - Tabletop Game Eclipse Phase - RPG EVE Online - Computer Game Cinema Firefly - RPG Firefly The Board Game - Tabletop Game Andromeda - TV Forbidden Stars - Tabletop Game Avatar Freespace - Computer Game Babylon 5 - TV GURPS: Lensmen - RPG Battle Beyond the Stars Jovian Chronicles - RPG Battlestar Galactica - TV Mass Effect - video game Blake’s 7 - TV Master of Orion - Computer Game The Black Hole Otherspace - Computer Game Buck Rogers - TV
Cyclopaedia 6 – Space Opera Page 3 of 4 Chronicles of Roddick Museum of Science Fiction Cowboy Bebop - Anime http://www.museumofsciencefiction.org/ Duck Dodgers - TV Ender’s Game Star Trek Events Farscape - TV http://www.startrek.com/upcoming_events The Fifth Element Firefly - TV Star Wars at Walt Disney World Flash Gordon - Movie and TV https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractio Galaxy Quest ns/hollywood-studios/star-wars/ Guardians of the Galaxy Gundam - Anime Star Wars Conventions Himmelskibet http://www.starwars.com/events/conventio Ice Pirates ns Jupiter Ascending The Last Starfighter Tatooine in Tunisia Lexx – TV http://www.tunisiaonline.com/star-wars-tu Lost in Space - Movie and TV nisia/ Macross/Robotech - Anime Red Dwarf -TV Yoda Fountain Serenity http://www.hiddensf.com/430a-yoda-statu Spaceballs e-lucasfilms-presidio-sf.html Space Battleship Yamato/Starblazers – Anime Space: 1999 - TV Space Truckers People Star Trek - Movies and TV Star Wars Douglas Adams Stargate Brian Aldiss Stargate SG1 - TV Isaac Asimov Starship Troopers Orson Scott Card The Last Straighter Arthur C. Clarke Titans A.E. Frank Herbert WALL-E Flash Gordon Wing Commander Robert Heinlein George Lucas Philip Francis Nowlan Alex Raymon Locations Buck Rogers E.E. “Doc” Smith EMP Museum J. Michael Straczynski http://www.empmuseum.org/ Wilson Tucker John Williams
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