Scan barcode
strategineer's review against another edition
4.0
Which of us are people and which of us are meat?
Let's set the stage (you can read all of this on the front cover so no spoilers):
In Space Opera, an intergalactic World War 2-stand-in breaks out, causing much destruction and suffering (while humans remain woefully unaware of this).
As a result of this confrontation, the remaining alien civilizations unite and organize a Eurovision-esque contest (the Metagalactic Grand Prix) to determine how the resources of the galaxy will be shared amongst the participants for the following year (based on their relative ranking in contest).
Importantly, if a civilization is participating in the competition for the first time then coming in last place leads to them being exterminated.
Of course, eventually, humans find themselves participating for their first time and send an oddball duo of has-been musicians who've either settled down (and "sold out") or wasted the rest of their lives away trying to recapture the success of their youth.
Hijinks ensue.
The novel executes on this wacky premise in a comedic way reminiscent of Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times and that's something i cherish because writing comedic novels is anything but easy.
The novel has a unique voice that might rub some people the wrong way. The way that the many run-on sentences were written gave the text an almost lyrical vibe that felt like a good fit given the premise of the book.
I would have given Space Opera a 5/5 but unfortunately I feel as though the book would have benefited greatly from more of a focus on the main character Danesh and his partner in crime Oort. Spending more time with them, experiencing their newly expanded world (filled with many alien aliens) from their perspective would have been great. Instead, many chapters are spent describing in detail the events/winners of past Metagalactic Grand Prix(s).
These chapters are fine in isolation but, within the context of the rest of the novel, they clash with the more personal chapters preceding and following them leading to a less fulfilling read (at least for me).
Overall, I recommend Space Opera if you're looking for something light, that might make you smile and chuckle more than you would expect.
Let's set the stage (you can read all of this on the front cover so no spoilers):
In Space Opera, an intergalactic World War 2-stand-in breaks out, causing much destruction and suffering (while humans remain woefully unaware of this).
As a result of this confrontation, the remaining alien civilizations unite and organize a Eurovision-esque contest (the Metagalactic Grand Prix) to determine how the resources of the galaxy will be shared amongst the participants for the following year (based on their relative ranking in contest).
Importantly, if a civilization is participating in the competition for the first time then coming in last place leads to them being exterminated.
Of course, eventually, humans find themselves participating for their first time and send an oddball duo of has-been musicians who've either settled down (and "sold out") or wasted the rest of their lives away trying to recapture the success of their youth.
Hijinks ensue.
The novel executes on this wacky premise in a comedic way reminiscent of Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times and that's something i cherish because writing comedic novels is anything but easy.
The novel has a unique voice that might rub some people the wrong way. The way that the many run-on sentences were written gave the text an almost lyrical vibe that felt like a good fit given the premise of the book.
I would have given Space Opera a 5/5 but unfortunately I feel as though the book would have benefited greatly from more of a focus on the main character Danesh and his partner in crime Oort. Spending more time with them, experiencing their newly expanded world (filled with many alien aliens) from their perspective would have been great. Instead, many chapters are spent describing in detail the events/winners of past Metagalactic Grand Prix(s).
These chapters are fine in isolation but, within the context of the rest of the novel, they clash with the more personal chapters preceding and following them leading to a less fulfilling read (at least for me).
Overall, I recommend Space Opera if you're looking for something light, that might make you smile and chuckle more than you would expect.
foxwish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Racism, Car accident, Cancer, and War
cassandrayoo's review
3.0
this is one of the strangest books i’ve ever read and i still don’t really know what happened but it was a fantastic hilarious ride???
moth_dance's review against another edition
5.0
Space Opera is one of the greatest mindfucks of 21st century SF.
Hear me out.
I saw the reviews on here about it's chaotic and confusing syntax, or the super extra references that frustrated a few seasoned SF readers who were in all honesty just looking for the next Hitchhiker's Guide but felt left out by the syntax and references. But I saw this glittery, bright paperback cover on a recommended table at The Strand, and I went all in. Sure, it took me a month to finish cause I stopped and started at places thanks to my work/school life, but I went ALL IN with the story and characters and mood.
So I'll try to keep this short and just describe this book using references I deem the highest of their order, rather than bringing up the obviousness of [b:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|386162|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)|Douglas Adams|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388282444s/386162.jpg|3078186] (which is great, but it's not everything) or whatever other SF books fans deem the highest:
Space Opera is Buffy on fast-forward but also slow-mo, drenching you in its quips and pop culture and world building and beloved fandom.
Space Opera is what would've happened to [a:Francesca Lia Block|9072|Francesca Lia Block|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530045619p2/9072.jpg]'s own magical punk band characters Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys from [b:Goat Girls: Witch Baby and Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys|10455794|Goat Girls Witch Baby and Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys|Francesca Lia Block|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355130262s/10455794.jpg|43700], if they'd been part of a very massive SF MMORPG.
Space Opera is the love child of a wild two-hour uninterrupted Wayne McGregor dance production and about fifty episodes of Soul Train but make it music.
Space Opera is everything from Alexander McQueen's S/S 2010 "Plato's Atlantis" show in spirit but the A/W 2009 "Horn of Plenty" show in attitude but A/W 1997 "It's A Jungle Out There" show in fashion.
Space Opera is this list of women: Patti Smith and Carrie Fischer and (No Doubt-era) Gwen Stefani and Shirley Manson and Erykah Badu and Janelle Monáe and Brody Dalle and Elizabeth Fraser and Dolores O'Riordan and Selena and Rosalía and Fiona Apple and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Björk and Kate Bush and Grimes and St. Vincent and PJ Harvey and Madonna and Cher and Whitney Houston and Etta James and Amy Winehouse and Dolly Parton and Sia and Lana del Ray and Siouxsie Sioux and Karen O and Kelli Dayton and Aaliyah and Florence Welch and Stevie Nicks and Alison Goldfrapp and (duh) Yoko Ono all singing at once as aliens and beings and objects and the most relatable cat in the verse and as this merry band of human men (which is actually my one dispute with this book; more female characters please?).
Space Opera is what it is.
I hope you read this one. And I hope Catherynne M. Valente keeps writing more and more and more and more and forever more. Also, I didn't cry until the very end when reading her Liner Notes, in which Valente gives thanks for her dearly departed cat, who was obvious the inspiration for one of the greatest felines of SF in our time, Capo. RIP Toby.
Hear me out.
I saw the reviews on here about it's chaotic and confusing syntax, or the super extra references that frustrated a few seasoned SF readers who were in all honesty just looking for the next Hitchhiker's Guide but felt left out by the syntax and references. But I saw this glittery, bright paperback cover on a recommended table at The Strand, and I went all in. Sure, it took me a month to finish cause I stopped and started at places thanks to my work/school life, but I went ALL IN with the story and characters and mood.
So I'll try to keep this short and just describe this book using references I deem the highest of their order, rather than bringing up the obviousness of [b:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|386162|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)|Douglas Adams|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388282444s/386162.jpg|3078186] (which is great, but it's not everything) or whatever other SF books fans deem the highest:
Space Opera is Buffy on fast-forward but also slow-mo, drenching you in its quips and pop culture and world building and beloved fandom.
Space Opera is what would've happened to [a:Francesca Lia Block|9072|Francesca Lia Block|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530045619p2/9072.jpg]'s own magical punk band characters Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys from [b:Goat Girls: Witch Baby and Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys|10455794|Goat Girls Witch Baby and Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys|Francesca Lia Block|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355130262s/10455794.jpg|43700], if they'd been part of a very massive SF MMORPG.
Space Opera is the love child of a wild two-hour uninterrupted Wayne McGregor dance production and about fifty episodes of Soul Train but make it music.
Space Opera is everything from Alexander McQueen's S/S 2010 "Plato's Atlantis" show in spirit but the A/W 2009 "Horn of Plenty" show in attitude but A/W 1997 "It's A Jungle Out There" show in fashion.
Space Opera is this list of women: Patti Smith and Carrie Fischer and (No Doubt-era) Gwen Stefani and Shirley Manson and Erykah Badu and Janelle Monáe and Brody Dalle and Elizabeth Fraser and Dolores O'Riordan and Selena and Rosalía and Fiona Apple and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Björk and Kate Bush and Grimes and St. Vincent and PJ Harvey and Madonna and Cher and Whitney Houston and Etta James and Amy Winehouse and Dolly Parton and Sia and Lana del Ray and Siouxsie Sioux and Karen O and Kelli Dayton and Aaliyah and Florence Welch and Stevie Nicks and Alison Goldfrapp and (duh) Yoko Ono all singing at once as aliens and beings and objects and the most relatable cat in the verse and as this merry band of human men (which is actually my one dispute with this book; more female characters please?).
Space Opera is what it is.
I hope you read this one. And I hope Catherynne M. Valente keeps writing more and more and more and more and forever more. Also, I didn't cry until the very end when reading her Liner Notes, in which Valente gives thanks for her dearly departed cat, who was obvious the inspiration for one of the greatest felines of SF in our time, Capo. RIP Toby.
awryry's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katieinca's review
3.0
This absolutely delivered on the absurdity of the premise "like Eurovision, but in space." It was, in general, good fun. And that's because of, not despite, the occasional 2 page long sentences and a very liberal stance on things like what words or phrases ought to be used as, say, adjectives. You can feel the deep admiration for Douglas Adams in every page. But you know how in Hitchhikers there'll be some tangent/backstory/aside about Vogon poetry or the reincarnation of a whale but still our main plot moves along? I felt like this got the ratios wrong, and we spent so much time on background asides that by the time we actually got to space-eurovision we were 80% of the way through the book. I still managed to develop a surprising amount of affection for Dess and Oort, so kudos to Ms. Valente for that.
erintowner's review
3.0
One other reviewer accurately described this book as overwritten. Fans of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy will like Space Opera. It was engaging and fun.
rimestock's review against another edition
The premise is interesting, but I just can't with the writing. There are a lot of absurdly long sentences I feel so out of breath just looking at them. And I would've probably been okay with those if there was some semblance of a rhythm to the prose but... it's just complete word vomit.