What is Space Opera?
1.
An increasingly popular genre of Science Fiction. The term is largely self explanatory in that a space opera is a drama that is simply put in the context of science fiction. Although it can be "hard" science fiction, space operas typically focus on the characters to a point where the actual setting (space obviously, but more specifically, a technological future) is largely unimportant.
Have you seen Cowboy Bebop or that new Battlestar Galactica show?
No, I've never been a fan of space operas.
2.
A space opera is a grand epic drama or adventure set in a distant sci-fi future. What precisely fits into this genre is notoriously difficult to define, as it appears to encompass everything from Star Trek to the Culture universe.
'Excession' (Iain M Banks), 'A Fire Upon The Deep' (Vernor Vinge) and 'Second Foundation' (Isaac Asimov) are instantly recognisable as space operas.
