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From: rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: space "operas"
Message-ID: <1187@hound.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-May-85 12:31:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: hound.1187
Posted: Wed May 29 12:31:06 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 30-May-85 05:28:13 EDT
References: <2056@topaz.ARPA> <694@udenva.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
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[]
It seems to me that there are at least two schools of thought on the
subject of "space opera."
One school, the vocal majority, equates space opera with "horse opera" and
goes on to describe a hackneyed, western shoot-em-up plot with lots of
other negative, put-downish connotations.
On the other hand, I have always thought of the space opera as characterizing
that branch of SF where there is considerable action on a relatively large
canvas. To me some of the most rewarding and enjoyable stories would bear
the name space opera rather proudly. For example,
Pattern for Conquest, by George O. Smith, is certainly a classic in the genre.
Probably all of the stories of the immortal E.E.Smith, PhD.
The Foundation Series by Asimov.
Star Wars Trilogy 

Some that would not qualify as space operas in my book:
2001 - action small scale and localized except for one sequence.
Most of the works of A.E. Van Voght.

Borderline examples:
Ringworld and Ringworld Engineers

What do you think?

-- 

"It's the thought, if any, that counts!"  Dick Grantges  hound!rfg