Cyclopaedia 6 – Space Opera Overview Articles
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.
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