Space Opera Lives ... And Lives... And Lives ...

KEN KORCZAK:

It's incredible to think that space opera has been around for at least 100 years now.

The term "space opera" was coined in 1941 by a science fiction fan by the name of Wilson Tucker. Tucker would later become something of an author in his own right. Labeling a certain kind of SF "space opera" was not a compliment, but a denigration of what Tucker considered an inferior form of the genre.

Tucker defined space opera as "hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn, spaceship yarn."

But today space opera is still going strong. It is a standard sub-genre of science fiction, and there are plenty of new authors who are undaunted about "grinding out" what certain snooty literary types might dismiss as "hacky" stuff.

As for me, I don't like hacky, formulaic space opera much either, but I wax philosophical about it. If there's a market for it, if a demographic enjoys reading it, and if a writer can make a few bucks -- what's wrong with that?

Anyway, here is my book review of a new space opera offering by Canadian writer Chris Reher. SPACE HUNTER

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Here's my latest book review, and it's a rave

KEN KORCZAK:

I love reviewing books. That's why I read more than 100 books per year, or about two per week. Last year I plowed through 127 books.

I especially like reading first-time writers and "Indie" publishers. Today thanks to electronic publishing anyone can publish a book -- and it certainly seems like anyone and everyone does. Of course, that means the gazillions of pages of schlock and plain old bad writing is clogging up Kindle Direct Publishing over at Amazon and lots of other sites.

Thus, when I discover an incredible gem, such as Prophets of the Ghost Ants by Clark Carlton -- well, it's a thrill. I think this first-time author is destined to be picked up by a major publisher; he may even get a movie deal. This book is that good. See my review HERE

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PULP FICTION

KEN KORCZAK:

Man I love PROJECT GUTENBERG, the first and original free ebook site, created by the creator of the ebook himself, the late Michael Hart.

And then the Kindle came along! The stage was set for old science fiction wonks like me to find reams of schlock -- science fiction pulp classics (and not so classics) for the taking!

Browsing the cyber files of Gutenberg is like panning for gold. You never know when you are going to score an incredible, forgotten SF golden nugget.

Unfortunately, you also have to wade through a lot of crapoola -- works of science fiction that never deserved to be reincarnated in the wacky afterlife of online libraries.

Case in point: See my review here of CREATURES OF THE ABYSS.

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