Stick with me here. Besides Star Trek, what have been some of the most iconic, recognized or not, classically defined and epic or not space operas in the genre of science fiction or sci-f in movies, t.v. shows or literature and which ones could make excellent movies or t.v. shows or web series? With FTL travel and some type of teleportation or is that obsolete?
Iconic space operas
- Thread starter Valenti
- Start date
It was a movie serial in the 30s and the pilot for the Gil Gerard TV show was released as a film.
Last edited:
Babylon 5 was essentially a mish-mash of The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and "Doc" E. E. Smith's Lensman saga. So while not a straight-up adaptation, some could say that it's already been done.
I don't think I'd consider the Burroughs novels to be Space Opera, since he basically uses magic to move his character to another world and all the action takes place there. That falls more into the Sword & Sandal category, and Gullivar Jones predated them (possibly others that I don't remember).
Verne's From The Earth To The Moon and Around The Moon may be the first, since they use actual technology to make the trip-- but again, I'd personally hesitate to call them Space Opera because they don't actually land and have adventures. I think Well's The First Men In The Moon may be the first to use a spaceship to go to another world where the characters experience adventure. Of course, there's likely some lesser known works that bridge the gulf between Verne and Wells.
The Buck Rogers comic strip was based on some earlier short stories or novellas and could be considered the first real Space Opera as the term is generally defined, but, again, there's about twenty years between Wells and Nowlan, so there may be some others that I'm missing or forgetting.
Forbidden Planet is begging for a reboot.
Nooo, that would be like remaking Casablanca. I wouldn't mind a sequel, though, if it were compatible in theme and style.
Some might have said "The Day The Earth Stood Still" was begging for a reboot and we all know how that turned out.
As with any reboot it's how it's done.
Lister: "They've re-made Casablanca. Philistines! I mean, Casablanca? The one starring Myra Dinglebat and Peter Beardsley was definitive."
Firefly is Blake's Seven for goodness sakes right down to the story for Serenity and I can hardly tell the difference between Forbidden Planet and Star Trek other than teleportation and the iconic design of the Enterprise. Is space opera obsolete other than the two big titans of Trek and Wars and not like a McDoogles opening up next to a McDonalds also selling hamburgers.
As noted, BUCK ROGERS first hit the big screen way back in 1939, although it was a novel and hugely popular comic strip before then. Not aware of any Lensmen movies, but you were asking for examples from literature as well.
The Barsoom books kinda straddle heroic fantasy and space opera. There's lots of swashbuckling and swordplay (as in STAR WARS), but also anti-gravity airships, mad scientists, aliens, "thinking machiines," and so on. Heck, John Carter even ends up traveling into space to fight "the Skeleton Men of Jupiter" in the final book.
You can draw a straight line from Burroughs to STAR WARS. Heck, the Princess of Alderaan even ends up dressed like Dejah Thoris eventually.
Last edited:
I know there was a lot of cutting edge sci fi lit out there that many would like to be seen made into a space series like Verner Vinge and the three Bs, et al, but does Star Wars fit the strictest or best, or what have you, definition if there is one really of space opera out there or is there still fantasy elements in there and does that classify it as a hybrid anymore? To me, with all those robots and space ships it seems straight out sci fi and sci fi only. How about Dune? What is that? Sci fi, fantasy or both? I still love that franchise. Wasn't there talk of doing it yet again, better I hope this time - especially musically and I didn't like the casting and art designs, etc.
BSG and Dune are the first two that come to mind for me as somebody already mentioned B5. Also, Andromeda even though it really declined after a solid start. And I almost forgot Farscape and Stargate (although I'm not sure if that really counts).
Spacehounds of IPC by E. E. “Doc” Smith. Spaceships! Star Empires! Survival! Science!
It’s a hoot and fits not uncomfortably inside the Star Trek universe of your choice. It is the quintessence of space opera.
In any electronic book format you choose.
Plus: futuristic talking book. Both are free!
It’s a hoot and fits not uncomfortably inside the Star Trek universe of your choice. It is the quintessence of space opera.
In any electronic book format you choose.
Plus: futuristic talking book. Both are free!
Similar threads
