Re: “Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series”

On Mon, 3 Jun 2024 08:02:34 -0500, "Michael F. Stemper"
<michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:

On 02/06/2024 10.55, Paul S Person wrote:

<snippo>

I think I've mostly regarded "space opera" as a formation based on
"horse opera". FWIW. YMMV.

>
I have no doubt about that being the etymology of the term. But, it's hardly
a definition. And I was wondering specifically about the definition used by
the folks setting up the poll; the definition that viewed Hyperion and
Foundation as "space opera".

OK, here's what
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_opera#:~:text=A%20horse%20opera%2C%20hoss%20opera%2C%20oat%20opera%20or,used%20variously%20to%20convey%20either%20disparagement%20or%20affection>
has to say:

"A horse opera, hoss opera, oat opera or oater is a Western film or
television series that is clichéd or formulaic, in the manner of a
(later) soap opera or space opera.

"The term, which was originally coined by silent film-era Western star
William S. Hart, is used variously to convey either disparagement or
affection. The term "horse opera" is quite loosely defined; it does
not specify a distinct sub-genre of the Western (as "space opera" does
with regard to the science fiction genre)."

And that's the entire content. So, a space opera is to a horse opera
as science fiction is to westerns.

And the definition of a "horse opera" is that it is "clichéd or
formulaic". Sounds about right for SF as well.

Huh. I was expecting to hear about the Fat Lady singing.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"