Today, I'm pleased to be hosting MPax, who made me sit up and pay attention to Space Opera. Having piqued my interest, she's here today to shed some more light on what this sub-genre is all about.
Thank
you to Joy for hosting me today on her lovely blog and letting me talk to all
of you. She asked me write about what space opera is. I bet you’ve seen it. If
not, you’ve heard of it.
Space
opera is a sub genre of Science fiction, which takes place wholly or partially
in space. It’s the most popular form of sci-fi in the US.
Is
that why I write it? No. One of the most influential moments of my life was
watching Apollo 11 land on the Moon. I was barely six, but I understood how
incredible a feat it was. It captured my imagination and filled me with awe and
wonder. Not many moments have made me feel that way, so it stuck with me.
Lost in Space and Star Trek fed that spark. Then 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, and Star Wars fueled it some more, inflaming
an intense curiosity to know what’s out there.
For
now we’re stuck in our own solar system, so the only way to scratch that itch —
beside working at an observatory every summer and devouring NASA’s website — is
to imagine it.
Television
has been a big influence on the worlds I create. My favorite space operas have
been: Star Trek TOS, Stargate, Firefly,
Babylon5, and Deep Space Nine.
Although
many space operas have guns, wars, swaggering heroes, and major drama, and
those traits define the genre somewhat, it’s the setting more than anything
that truly defines it. It’s the setting that attracted me to writing it,
fiction with no bounds.
Do
you have a favorite space opera? What drew you to your genre?
The Backworlds After the war with Earth, bio-engineered
humans scatter across the Backworlds. Competition is fierce and pickings are
scant. Scant enough that Craze’s father decides to hoard his fortune by
destroying his son. Cut off from family and friends, with little money, and
even less knowledge of the worlds beyond his own, Craze heads into an uncertain
future. Boarding the transport to Elstwhere, he vows to make his father regret
this day.
Available
as an ebook from: Available from: Amazon
/ AmazonUK / Smashwords / Barnes
& Noble For other outlets such
as iTunes and Kobo, see M. Pax’s
Backworlds Page
99
cents on Amazon. Free everywhere else.
Sign
up for M. Pax’s newsletter for
discounts on sequels in the series and to be notified when The Backworlds goes FREE on Amazon.
About the author:
 |
| MPax with Telescope |
M.
Pax’s inspiration comes from the wilds of Oregon, especially the high desert
where she shares her home with two cats and a husband unit. Creative sparks
also come from Pine Mountain Observatory where she spends her summers working
as a star guide. She writes mostly science fiction and fantasy, but confesses
to an obsession with Jane Austen. She blogs at her website, www.mpaxauthor.com and at Wistful Nebulae. You’ll find links
there to connect on Twitter, Goodread, FB and other sites.
Hi JL and MPax,
ReplyDeleteI've started 'Backworlds' but have to finish another book first before I can finish it. I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing it afterwards.
My greatest influence was reading Asimov's Foundation series, the Robot series and Frank Herbert's DUNE. Then, Brin, Bear, Benford - the Killer B's, and Orson Scott Card.
Thanks for the info MPax! Nice guest, JL.
I'm about thirty % done. Loving it. I'm at the part where he's trying to decide which world to choose. I can't believe his father would do that to him.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read much science fiction until last year. Now I'm reading a little here and there. I sometimes have a hard time getting into the world, but once I'm firmly situated with it, I've enjoyed most that I've read. I'm going to download The Backworlds on my next visit to Amazon.
ReplyDeleteHi, Joy :)
Thanks again for hosting me today, Joy.
ReplyDeleteI loved all of those series, DG. Dune remains one of my all-time favorite series. I found out that Frank Herbert came to Oregon and was inspired at the coast to write Dune.
Drama makes a book go round, Clarissa.
There's all different types of sci-fi, Carol. Space opera tends to focus more on the action and plot than the science and technology. The hard stuff puts the emphasis on the sci and the tech.
I wish I knew enough to write a space opera! I love the sound of it. What setting is more magical and wondrous and treacherous than space?
ReplyDeleteWelcome, MPax! Cool post. Star Trek and Firefly are some of my fav. This reminded me to get my copy of Backworlds too. Thx.
ReplyDeleteIn sad news, Ray Bradbury, one of the great writers of science fiction and space opera, died yesterday. Has me all mopey now ...
ReplyDeleteI agree about the magical part, Julie. It's fantastic.
They're great shows, Mina.
I remember men walking on the moon. I think I was three years old.
ReplyDeleteAlways been a fan of Star Trek. Favorite character is Worf.
M Pax - Your book sounds great! Just added to my TBR list. I love Oregon and bet you do find lots of inspiration there. Thanks J.L. and M Pax for an interesting post!
ReplyDeleteRay Bradbury was such an influence on me. His passing is a sad one.
ReplyDeleteMy favs are StarTrek, Star Wars and Firefly. DS9 is awesome!
Mary...chocolate! Cracked me up. :)
I'm like you, Mary. Except I was a lot more than 6 when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Took a day off from uni to watch the scratchy, black and white transmission. I was studying history, and this was history being made. And then, yes, Star Trek, 2001, Star Wars. I love space opera. It's such a broad, sweeping canvas.
ReplyDeleteHow did I not know what Space Opera was? Thanks for the education, M Pax!
ReplyDeleteWorf was a good character, Diane. He was my husband's favorite ... after Beverly Crusher. I liked Deanna's mother a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy. Thanks! I do find lots of inspiration in Oregon. Especially out here in nowhereville. It can get mighty interesting.
It is sad, Laura. DS9 was awesome. I bet I came up with that on a day I went to see the chocolate man in town. :)
It did add up to quite a resonance, Greta. At the observatory, seems all the volunteers are about the same age ... grew up with astronauts and the space program.
You're welcoome, Emily.
Mary, you rock - all of those shows and movies influenced me as well!
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd really like to write is something like Firefly. I like the mixture of space opera/adventure/western.
I think my favourite space operas were the original star trek series and Firefly.
ReplyDeleteSo many people have no idea what space opera is even though they love it. I can't believe Ray Bradbury is gone. At least we still have his fantastic books. Wonderful post.
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ReplyDeleteWhat an informative post! I didn't know what space opera was until I read this post! I loved the movie Contact and I have always enjoyed science fiction books. I watched Star Trek and I loved Star Wars. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad I followed M. Pax to this page because now I am following a new blog!
~Jess
http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/
P.S. Sorry I had to delete my other message- but I realized it was confusing.
Ok! I just downloaded it. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteHi M Pax. Hi Joy. Love Space Opera. It's special. Lovely to see you here M Pax and good on you Joy for hosting her. All the best with this book!
ReplyDeleteDenise
I like that, too, Alex. I've incorporated some of that into Backworlds.
ReplyDeleteI love the original Star Treks, Lynda. I'm still obsessed with Firefly.
I can't believe Ray is gone either, Isis. His talent will influence us for decades to come because of all the writers he inspired.
Contact was a great book, too, Jess. They actually did a decent job with that movie.
Thanks, Stephanie.
Hi Denise. Thank you. Space opera is special, and fun.
I've been a Trekker since the first time I saw the show back when Classic Star Trek was being broadcast new. I love SciFi, whether space opera or not. Nice to to a label on it. =D
ReplyDeleteThank you, MPax, for finally clearing up space opera for me! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're not the only one, Talli.I didn't realize that stuff like Star Trek full under this category.
DeleteI love it, too, Donna. Obviously. lol
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Talli.
Star Trek certainly made the genre as popular as it is, JL. There were a few before it -- Flash Gordon & Rocky Jones, Space Ranger.
I know of the Sci Fi shows, of course, but the term space opera is somehow new to me. And it makes sense. ; )
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia. It does make sense, doesn't it? Big, bold, and in space.
ReplyDeleteMary, thanks so much for being my guest. You've shed a lot of light on an area that I wasn't so clear on before. Wishing you success with all your pursuits.
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