Malazan Empire: Space Opera - Malazan Empire

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Space Opera

#1 Guest_Jay Tomio_*

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Posted 24 June 2005 - 03:31 AM

quote:
Helliconia Series - Planetary Romance


You're right - instead I offer Alastair Reynold's work, whom I recently started reading - not on the level as some mentioned thus far, but I really did like the improvements in 'Chasm City'.

Also you can't go wrong with the Doc Smith if you want to go old school.

quote:
Ringworld Series - Hmmm, problematic, has elements of BDO and Planetary Romance with a Space Opera backstory


This seris is often referred t oas Space Opera by many - it's one that I can deal with; without to much arguement.
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#2 User is offline   Mort 

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Posted 29 June 2005 - 04:49 AM

@DD

I think Fanatsy devolves to Epic, High, Sword and Sorcery, Romantic, Light.

Not sure if that is what you were after - I'd suggest we let SM pontificate when he next checks this out - I'll admit he is lists books that I only have dim darkmemories of ever reading.
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#3 Guest_Falco_*

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Posted 25 June 2005 - 04:07 AM

Yeah, I second (third whatever) Reynolds. Hmm, must pick up Asher's work next time, if so many like it.
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#4 Guest_Dark Daze_*

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Posted 25 June 2005 - 06:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Stone Monkey:

Unlike quite a few sf subgenres, Space Opera has a fairly precriptive definition: Space Travel, adventure, usually conflict...


Doesn't planetary romance too? Is planetary romance space opera without the travel? I'm not that familiar with the subgenres of science fiction.

Also, are there fantasy equivalents to the science fiction subgenres? A fantasy BDO novel?
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#5 User is offline   McLovin 

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Posted 29 June 2005 - 10:31 AM

For those of us not conversant in the genre-jargon, what does BDO stand for???
OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.
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#6 User is offline   ObsoleteResolve 

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Posted 21 June 2005 - 10:23 PM

Oh, I did forget to mention one that I find fun (really fun, that's all it is) in the previous post: Simon R. Green's "Deathstalker" series is good, solid fun.

I've seen Hamilton in the book stores. Hmm... if Cooks "Tyranny..." or Micheal Cobleys "Shadowkings" doesn't come in by the time I finish Kay's "Last Light of the Sun," I think I'll pick him up.

Thanks for the suggestions Posted Image

.david
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#7 Guest_Dark Daze_*

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Posted 29 June 2005 - 10:05 AM

I've also heard of fantasy subgenres such as humorous fantasy, mannerpunk, science fantasy, historical fantasy, superhero fantasy, arthurian fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, wuxia, realistic fantasy (Latin American genre?), alternate reality and alternate history.

However, I was wondering if there are any books that make up a subgenre without having that subgenre named or at least not in common use. For example, some people call a few of Vance's books sword and planet. Also, aren't the Malazan books part BDO stories? The warrens and houses of azath are BDOs, right?
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#8 Guest_bluesman_*

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Posted 22 June 2005 - 02:41 PM

I agree with most above. Plus of course Hamiltons latest (Pandora Star and soon Judas Unchained). Not forgetting Simmons great Ilium which just got concluded with Olympus.

Hmm, gotta make a thread about that Posted Image.

Less known might perhaps be Michael Moorcoks Sci Fi endevours. He's one of the best technical writers for fantasy but his Sci Fi while older is still very good.


BM
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#9 Guest_Duiker_*

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Posted 22 June 2005 - 03:39 AM

Don't forget Stephen R. Donaldson's dark & gritty quintet The Gap Cycle:
The Gap into Conflict: The Real Story
The Gap into Vision: Forbidden Knowledge
The Gap into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises
The Gap into Madness: Chaos & Order
The Gap into Ruin: This Day All Gods Die
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#10 User is offline   stone monkey 

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Posted 24 June 2005 - 02:48 AM

What I find interesting about this thread is that some of the books being recommended aren't actually Space Operas...

Dune Series - Planetary Romance
Helliconia Series - Planetary Romance
Rendezvous with Rama - BDO story
Ringworld Series - Hmmm, problematic, has elements of BDO and Planetary Romance with a Space Opera backstory


Unlike quite a few sf subgenres, Space Opera has a fairly precriptive definition: Space Travel, adventure, usually conflict...
If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. If some one maintains that two and two are five, or that Iceland is on the equator, you feel pity rather than anger, unless you know so little of arithmetic or geography that his opinion shakes your own contrary conviction. … So whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants. Bertrand Russell

#11 User is offline   Asheroth 

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Posted 25 June 2005 - 01:58 AM

@ObsoleteResolve: I agree completely, Gridlinked was cool, but The Skinner is ridiculously awesome. Sniper is, I think, my favourite character ever. "Take that, f*cker.' Hehehe.

What I REALLY want from Asher is a prequel about the Prador wars. That'd be great.
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#12 User is offline   caladanbrood 

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Posted 22 June 2005 - 06:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Stone Monkey:
Or if you really want to go back to the old school, EE 'Doc' Smith's:
Lensmen Series

I've never met anyone else who has read these!Posted Image
It's a great series, but kinda hard to get hold ofPosted Image
O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.
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#13 Guest_FizbansTalking_Hat_*

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Posted 21 June 2005 - 08:30 PM

Hyperion Cantos - Dan Simmons
Hyperion
Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
Rise of Endymion

Night's Dawn Trilogy - Peter F. Hamilton
The Reality Dysfunction: Emergence (Book 1)
The Reality Dysfunction: Expansion (Book 2)
The Neutronium Alchemist: Consolidation (Book 1)
The Neutronium Alchemist: Conflict (Book 2)
The Naked God: Flight (Book 1)
The Naked God: Faith (Book 2)

Dune - Frank Herbert
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heritics of Dune
Chapterhouse Dune

Culture Books - Iain M. Banks
Consider Phelbas
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
The State of the Art
Against a Dark Background
Feersum Endjinn
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward

Posted Image
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#14 User is offline   drinksinbars 

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Posted 23 June 2005 - 12:10 AM

anyone notice skinner and cowl are two names of the crimson guard in malazan?
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#15 User is offline   stone monkey 

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Posted 22 June 2005 - 02:46 AM

Cool, I love Space Opera...And - as those who are used to me by now would guess - I have some suggestions for further reading that you might have missed out on.

You might also want to try Paul MacAulay's: Secret Harmonies
Four Hundred Billion Stars
Eternal Light
The last of which is a proper slam-bang space opera in the modern style.

How about Vernor Vinge's:
A Deepness in the Sky
A Fire Upon the Deep
which from a loose series.

Or Tony Daniel's:
Metaplanetary
Superluminal
An unfinished series that brings a modern perspective to interplanetary warfare.

Or if you really want to go back to the old school, EE 'Doc' Smith's:
Lensmen Series
Skylark Series
Family D'Alembert Series
The first of which is something of a guilty pleasure for me.
If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. If some one maintains that two and two are five, or that Iceland is on the equator, you feel pity rather than anger, unless you know so little of arithmetic or geography that his opinion shakes your own contrary conviction. … So whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants. Bertrand Russell

#16 Guest_Duiker_*

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Posted 29 June 2005 - 03:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dark Daze:
realistic fantasy (Latin American genre?)


"Realistic fantasy" is kind of an internal contradiction. I think the term for stuff written by Garcia Marquez, Borges, Calvino etc. is "magical realism".

@Longhorn I think a BDO is a "Big Dumb Object", like a alien relic, abandoned spacecraft, ringword, asteroid, etc in space.
For fantasy I know at least on SDO ("small Dumb Object") of terrible importance, a certain little golden ring.
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#17 User is offline   vaiski 

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Posted 25 June 2005 - 12:27 PM

Thanks for the suggestions people, found 7 more books to order Posted Image
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#18 User is offline   drinksinbars 

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Posted 29 June 2005 - 05:10 AM

forgetting modern.
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#19 Guest_Jay Tomio_*

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Posted 24 June 2005 - 12:02 AM

I agree with most of the the ones mentioned, like Hamilton, and especailly Banks, but would also recommend a couple more - Brian Aldiss's 'Helliconia' series, and John C. Wright's 'Golden AGe Trilogy'.
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#20 User is offline   stone monkey 

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Posted 01 July 2005 - 03:19 AM

BDO does indeed stand for Big Dumb Object eg Ringworld or Orbitsville. The equivalent fantasy term would probably be (according to "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" at least) an Ancient Engineering Project eg the Argonath or the White Bridge.
If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. If some one maintains that two and two are five, or that Iceland is on the equator, you feel pity rather than anger, unless you know so little of arithmetic or geography that his opinion shakes your own contrary conviction. … So whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants. Bertrand Russell

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