Space Opera

Catherynne Valente
Star Rating
★★★★
Reviewer's Rating
Jun 16, 2018

I was expecting something zany and I got it. Space Opera is pretty over the top. It reminded me of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series in its absurdity, which I mean in a good way.

What better way to avoid inter-galactic war and determine the sentience of newly discovered species than through a galaxy-wide singing contest?

Are humans sentient? That is what Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes (a once-upon-a-time, glam rock and glitter, despair and joy band) have to prove or all of humanity will be exterminated. No pressure.

While I enjoyed this book tremendously, the one issue I had was with the many, many run-on sentences. I found myself getting lost halfway through some of the intricate, fun if you are awake and have had at least two cups of coffee, not the weak instant stuff, but true burn your throat, clear your engine and strip the paint java that you can only get at six in the morning at the hole in the wall, eccentric and lovable place on the corner of hope and luck, when it’s open.

Other than that, Space Opera is a blast. With glitter.

Reviewed by Diane H.
See their Lists and Reviews in our Catalog!