Space Opera

By: Catherynne M. Valente

Narrated by: Heath Miller

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Eurovision in an over-the-top galactic science fiction spectacle from best-selling author Catherynne Valente where sentient races compete for glory in a universe-wide musical contest - where the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth.

A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented - something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding.

Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.

This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny - they must sing.

A band of human musicians, dancers, and roadies have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.

©2018 Catherynne M. Valente (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Heath Miller narrates a story that is equal parts scathing social commentary and hilarious send-up of music competitions.... Miller shines as the sarcastic and sardonic narrator who guides listeners through the byzantine galactic history that led to this confusing state of affairs. He also does an outstanding job creating a range of convincing alien personas, as well as bringing the human characters to life.... Those who enjoy intelligent satire will be richly rewarded." (AudioFile)

loved it

You should not wait to listen to this book. Fun writing, great themes, and the imagery will make you re-read sections, then feel like you need to read faster to catch up.

So much fun

This was quite the ride. The beginning felt but jumbled and exaggerated, like it was trying too hard, but once I got into the swing of the thing it was honestly quite good. There were some part as that felt too over the top but kept with the narrative energy so what can you do? Also the narrator was splendid.

witty, funny, but try too hard....

While the book is witty, funny and clever they try far too hard to pack it in every sentence, every spoken word. I found myself having to get through 3/4 the book before I could really enjoy it. I will admit it may be different if you're British since it is of English humor.

Glorious, glittering absurdity

"Life is beautiful, and life is stupid." If you loved Douglas Adams, don't miss this!

Don't panic. Just enjoy.

Listening to this for the plot, which is diaphanous at best, is like going to Las Vegas because you enjoy a good game of blackjack. It's fine, you certainly CAN do it, and some may even find it fulfilling. But it sort of misses the point. Because the point of Vegas isn't finely-run blackjack tables, and the point of this isn't the main plot, it's the spectacle, the show, the bright lights, the improbable alien beings all around, and the ludicrously purpled prose.

If you enjoy the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but wish it featured more excerpts from the guide itself, more dry humorous vignettes of a truly weird and fantastic cosmic society, then you will probably love this book.

meh

meh. Not hard sci-fi and not good comedy like hitchhikers guide or red dwarf

Delightful clever, fun, and satisfying read

Witty psychedelic romp filled with humor and the hope of redeeming humanity. Really enjoyed the snark and surprises throughout the story. Catherynne’s elegant, complicated, colloquial, and delightfully descriptive writing is perfectly narrated by Heath Miller.

I loved this so much

I don't know where to start. I bought the Kindle version of this book this morning because a couple people in my Twitter feed were talking about it. By the second chapter I had bought the audible version too because I knew two things: first that I wasn't going to be able to stop when it was time to get in my car, and second that this book, this writing, these sentences were meant to be read aloud.

I proceeded to sneak headphones at my desk while it was still quiet enough to get away with it, then read the text version too the detriment of getting any work done aside from helping actual customers for the rest of the day. I listened as I drove to game night at a friend's, where, despite trying not to, I gave in to temptation and rudely read on my phone under the table between turns.

Throughout the day, with mixed success, I've stifled both laughter and tears and now that I've finished, I plan to start again for I'm sure there is some subtilty that I've missed.
Life is beautiful. Life is stupid. Space Opera balances the two perfectly.

Imaginative and sharp!

Space Opera manages to be hilarious while exploring the question of, should humans really be considered sentient? It uses jokes to capture that sense of cosmic wonder and insignificance. I was blown away.

Also, Heath Miller's performance is superb.

A concert of amazingness.

Most characters were voiced differently enough, including the narrator, who was very reminiscient of the hitch hikers guide. I loved every minute of it, although it started to go quite quick at the end there. I guess one could call it the crescendo of the book.