Space Opera

Loving the editors' stand alone works as well as their collaborations, I expected this book to contain short stories that lived up to their title. Space Opera = Opera in Space. Yes, I know "space opera" is a viable subgenre of science fiction, but given the musical bent of the theme, I was hoping for a more traditional interpretation. Several of the stories made engrossing reads and held my attention. I found this to be quite the entertaining bunch of stories by authors familiar and new. I especially loved Peter S. Beagle's story, was surprised by the craft in Robin Wayne Bailey's story, and felt a little bittersweet (because of her passing) reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's story. As a fan of science fiction, I heartily endorse this anthology. Sadly, not all the stories lived up to my expectation, mostly because I felt too few of them weren't science fiction-y enough. A music lover, I loved the theme, just was hoping for a bit more music and science fiction. Still, well worth your read, especially for the masters' whose works appears within these pages.

I liked these stories and thought they were well-chosen. Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarbourough make a good team. It was an interesting concept, mixing music and science fiction. This was a very good book for a collection, although I did prefer McCaffrey's Pern series.

Generally, science fiction anthologies are a mixed bag, some terrific stories, some terrible stories that you think may be in there just because the author has a "name." Space Opera, however, is nothing like any anthology I have ever read before. It is a one-note song, but that one note sings a joyful song. Made up of short stories commissioned for this anthology, they all share a theme, music. Within that theme, there are as many variations as the human mind can devise. Some stories are only tenuously connected with music, like the faintest hum. Others throb, resonate and pound into your brain like Sony's megabass. But all are worth reading, and some reading 2 or 3 or 4 times to capture all the rich nuances. For anyone who loves science fiction and music, Space Opera is a rare find and a thrilling melody. I particularly enjoyed the story contributed by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, and not just because we are both nurses. Anne Berson RN ([email protected])