Science Fiction versus Space Opera, Part 5/5: Conclusions

[jade_sabre_301]

So, just to remind everybody, this got started because Beth and Quark were both like I JUST DON’T LIKE SCI-FI AND I DON’T KNOW WHY, and so I decided to start theorizing as to why, because part of me loves sci-fi, but I’m also with them-I haven’t encountered much (outside of the Star Wars books, and many of those are not as readable when you’re 24

Comments

[loquaciousquark]

This? Is a beautiful post. Thoughts as soon as I get off work.

[jade_sabre_301]

THANK YOU THANK YOU i am glad you read it I posted the whole thing and immediately went I SPENT LIKE FOUR HOURS ON THIS I HOPE SOMEONE ACTUALLY READS IT thank you thank you thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

also i miss you in my life i see you on saturday yes? yes? :)?

[loquaciousquark]

Read it? LOVED it. I have so many thoughts!

[jade_sabre_301]

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3333333333333333333333333333333333333

[fabricalchemist]

HOMG this is a massive post, I'm basically here to say

OMG OMG TWELVE DAYS OMG IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU OMG AHHHHH MY LITTLE JADEY IS GOING TO BE A LADYYYYY

[brandy_painter]

As someone who falls into the same category as Beth and Quark I think you have summed up all of this quite nicely. My husband is a huge sci-fi fan and the whole ideas/technology/human nature/systems is largely what draws him to it. He watches Star Trek to unwind and I....do anything else that is in another room while that's happening. :)

12 days until you get married and you write a lj dissertation on sci-fi vs space opera. Stress coping mechanism? :) I'm so excited for you!!!!!

[pigrescuer]

I LIKE THIS.

I've never heard of space opera before*, in my head I divide things into sort of 'hardcore' scifi and softer, more character driven sci fi. And I define it as anything that is possible using technology and science as we know it now.

So, my favourite series that I would define as sci fi:

The Hunger Games (YA dystopia, oops)
Uglies/Pretties/Specials/Extras by Scott Westerfeld (YA post-dystopian society ^_^)

LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD'S VORKOSIGAN SAGA. Which, if you haven't read, I hope it is only for complete lack of time because the amount of times I've seen her suggested over in Sounis because MILES=GEN. She definitely fits into MWT-esque writing.

*One of LMB's books does actually have space opera. Like, an opera, in space, performed by four-armed space people.

[pigrescuer]

Also, what is an Engaged Encounter?

AND 12 DAYS WOOT I AM COMING TO SEE YOU GET MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!

[pigrescuer]

And then I scrolled down my friends page and realised this is was 5/5. But, excellent summary on the last page. :)

[beth_shulman]

Ooooooh I hope there are lots of awesome suggestions in the comments

[keestone]

Well, Horror is its own category, but like all of these "genres" and "subgenres" it can intermix. It's often Fantastic because of the unexplained/magical/mystical, but it could also Science Fictional (Alien is totally a Horror movie set on a space ship, but it's also a very strong Science Fiction movie.)