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space opera
Sign in to saveAlso known as space operas, space film, space drama
subgenre of science fiction
~15 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Cover of sci-fi magazine Imagination, June 1956
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction and science fantasy that emphasizes epic outer space adventures set in a universe in which faster-than-light travel has become common. The plots often play out against a backdrop of space warfare, alien civilizations and galactic empires. The sub-genre is sometimes thought of as a futuristic homage to earlier adventure sagas, such as those found in mythology and chivalric romance.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “space opera” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.