space opera

English

Etymology

Coined by fan and writer Wilson "Bob" Tucker in 1941. The term was originally derived from the term horse opera to describe a specific, hackneyed science fiction writing style.

Noun

space opera (countable and uncountable, plural space operas)

1. (initially derogatory) A subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes space travel, romantic adventure, and larger-than-life characters often set against vast exotic settings.
   • 1941 January, "Bob" Tucker, Le Zombie‎^[1], number 36, page 9:

     SUGGESTION DEPT: In these hectic days of phrase-coining, we offer one. Westerns are called "horse operas", the morning housewife tear-jerkers are called "soap operas". For the hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn space-ship yarn, or world-saving for that matter, we offer "space opera"

2. A subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that uses serialization.
3. (countable) A work or production in this style.

Descendants

• → Dutch: ruimteopera (calque)
• → German: Weltraumoper (calque)

Translations

subgenre of speculative fiction

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 太空歌劇 / 太空歌剧 (tàikōng gējù)

• Dutch: ruimteopera f
• Finnish: avaruusooppera
• German: Weltraumoper f
• Italian: epopea spaziale f

subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that utilizes serialisation

• Dutch: ruimteopera f
• Finnish: avaruusooppera

a work or production

• Dutch: ruimteopera f
• Finnish: avaruusooppera
• German: Weltraumoper f

See also

• fantasy
• speculative fiction

Spanish

Alternative forms

• ópera espacial

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /esˌpeis ˈopeɾa/ [esˌpei̯s ˈo.pe.ɾa]

Noun

space opera f (plural space operas)

1. space opera

Usage notes

According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.