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A review by moth_dance
Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
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.