Blast from the Past: Rediscovering 1930s and 1940s Space Opera.

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Prepare for a literary voyage through the stars! I delve into the space opera novels of the 1930s and 1940s, discussing the pioneers of the genre and their enduring impact on the science fiction we love today.
#sciencefiction #scifibooks #spaceopera #booktube #bookrecommendations
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15 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 319

@ciscornBIG 10 месяцев назад

One of my science teachers in high school was a huge sci fan of this era. He was in his mid 80s in the 90s when he was my teacher but he helped me get to know scifi through Clarke, Asimov, sturgeon, and doc Smith. He lent me some super old books and in hindsight... I'm so glad I took such great care of these treasures then now that I know their true worth...

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Very nice! Wow he was on the elderly side for a high school teacher! My aunt was responsible for much of my early science fiction reading. Thanks for watching 👀! 📚🚀🇬🇧🤖👍👽

@ciscornBIG 10 месяцев назад

@SciFiScavenger Yes, he was very much on the older side. It was actually his final year. He was one of those elderly that look and act younger than their age. I miss him.

@TheBrotherGrim 10 месяцев назад

That's pretty awesome! My introduction to them was an internet radio app that had an Old Time Radio station around 11 or 12 years back. The sci- fi anthology shows were my favorites, and after doing a little digging I found out many of the stories were based on works by well known authors of the time. From there I got into the old pulp magazines and their authors individual works. I was already a pretty big sci-fi and fantasy fan, so it didn't take much to nudge me along that direction.

@bar-1studios 10 месяцев назад

Oof. Sorry you got into sci fi through Clarke, Aasimov, and Sturgeon. Did you ever discover any good writers?

@RelativelyBest 10 месяцев назад

Fun fact: "Space Opera" was first used as a disparaging term, comparing this type of stories to soap operas. The original name for the genre was "Super Science Adventure." I think that was a far better name, personally.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes that's right! I did a video on the origins and evolution of space opera, that was one of the fun facts I found along the way.

@RelativelyBest 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger That might have been how I found out about it, actually. I don't quite recall if it was your video, but it sounds like it.

@grisflyt 10 месяцев назад

An aside, but still relevant I think. "Soap opera" is misunderstood. It's a type of storytelling. Scorsese is correct in his criticism of the Marvel films. They are soap operas, like the comics. Soap opera is the art of telling a story where nothing really happens. Plots are just replaced by new plots. Loki is JR Ewing in Dallas. They never change. They may do good at times, but always have utilitarian motives. Thor usually foils Loki because he know Loki has other plans. Just like Bobby Ewing foiled JR. Usually in a twist. I'm not racking down on soap operas. I love many of them. I'm less of a fan when done in the movies. I'm sure you too accept things in TV series that you don't accept in the movies. Think Stargate, where the protagonist would escape unharmed from even the seemingly most hopeless situation. My point is that we should view soap opera as a narrative technique. We have to be honest here. How much character growth can you have in a forever series? Usually the only real or significant growth comes in their "origin story."

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

@@grisflyt sooooo, did Sue Ellen shoot Loki? And did Thor dream several movies worth of plot? 😀 I'm easily confused...

@RelativelyBest 10 месяцев назад

@@grisflyt I'm not sure I'd define soap operas as stories where "nothing really happens," because something always happens in stories, by necessity. Rather, I would say that soap operas are serialized narratives that aren't intended to work towards a specific _conclusion._ They're profit-driven stories meant to capitalize on keeping the attention of the audience for as long as possible and so they keep going until they're no longer profitable. Now, on one hand it does work as intended, but I think it's sort of an unnatural, unhealthy way of telling stories, and sooner or later that becomes noticeable to the audience and problematic for the writer. In many cases it even seems like the writers are actually having trouble maintaining the status quo simply because character and plot developments kinda want to occur naturally. I recently watched a rather poignant video on Spiderman, which pointed out that the character of Peter Parker was never intended to function indefinitely in this format. His superhero career aside, he was conceived as a young boy growing into manhood and finding his place in life. This is what made him appealing to the core demographic of primarily young men who could identify with him. But this also made him way too popular and profitable to be allowed to outgrow that audience (or, at least, that was the theory of Marvel's editorial) so they had to constantly "reset" him and stunt his development. In other words, Peter Parker had _too much_ character development. Ironically, he was actually _too well written_ for this sort of soap opera-style approach.

@brianmcguinness9642 10 месяцев назад

I discovered Doc Smith when my junior high school librarian gave me a paperback copy of Triplanetary that she was getting rid of. After reading that, I wrote to the publisher in search of more stories in the series, and the catalog they sent me led me to the Skylark series (the German series Perry Rhodan has a similarly cosmic scope) and Spacehounds of IPC. I discovered The Legion of Space in the library of my college science fiction club. My junior high school library had the Foundation trilogy in one book, which introduced me to Asimov. I remember how excited I was back in 1982 when Foundation's Edge and 2010 both came out. I enjoyed both, but preferred the former. Clarke got more political than I like. I discovered The Black Star Passes and other Campbell books in a local book store in the 1970s. Campbell had some really wild ideas, such as radiant darkness, solid light, and his thermal energy drive that were fun to think about. This video brought back a lot of fond memories. My favorite current writers are Catherine Asaro and Alastair Reynolds.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic! I'm glad you enjoyed your trip down memory lane. 1950s next, I've started to compile a long list, that video should be out in a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching 👀!

@BOBXFILES2374a 9 месяцев назад

Read Lensman reprint as a teenager .The Eich make Darth Vader look like a wimp!

@brianmcguinness9642 9 месяцев назад

@@BOBXFILES2374a Yes, they were pretty nasty. I tend to mentally associate "Eich" with "reich" which reminds me of another evil group.

@spocko2181 10 месяцев назад

You should check out C. L. Moore and her “Northwest Smith” stories. It’s basically Han Solo fighting lovecraftian horrors.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

sounds like fun, will look out for those. thanks for watching!

@prestigepea1235 10 месяцев назад

"fighting lovecraftian horrors" or sometimes bumping uglies with them! Great stuff though, I agree! Just very horny

@anydaynow01 10 месяцев назад

@@prestigepea1235 Nothing wrong with that!

@christophermoebs5514 10 месяцев назад

My Dad turned me on to the Lensman and Skylark series when they were re released in the 60s I still have them on my bookshelf. Also most of the foundation novels

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Very nice! I am missing a couple of the Skylark books, 1 and 2 I think. They'll turn up. Thanks for watching 👀!

@Mathblade 10 месяцев назад

Two of my favorites from the Forties: Slan and The World of Null-A by A. E. Van Vogt. Van Vogt is often overlooked, but books like his 1951 "Weapon Shops of Isher" have an interesting array of ideas--including the preeminence of a citizen over the state through individually owned weapons, and a commentary on gambling

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

VV will definitely be making an appearance in the next Space Opera installment. Thanks for watching 👀 !

@johnwright1447 10 месяцев назад

Lifelong fan and posthumous collaborator of A.E. van Vogt here. I wrote the authorized sequel to World of Null A .... He was truly a master of Space Opera and sadly underappreciated these days. Hope to hear much about him from you.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

@@johnwright1447 oh wow, fantastic! I've only read one of his books (space beagle) but it won't be my last. Thanks for watching 👀!

@esotericmissionary 10 месяцев назад

@@johnwright1447 I have a hardback copy of _Null-A Continuum_ that I read several years ago. It's good stuff! Good enough that it made me want to read all of the original series. Unfortunately, the only one I've found so far (at the book sales I frequent) is the second book, _The Players of Null-A,_ which I've yet to read because I want to find the first book and read them in order.

@dug3569 10 месяцев назад

War against the rull and voyage of the space beagle my faves from him-short story compilations following same characters

@thethan302 10 месяцев назад

Edgar Rice Burroughs's Barsoom series is fantastic. although half of them were published before the 1930s and 40s, he wrote the latter half of them well in the era we're discussing. He also did the smaller and less well known Venus series which does span the era we're talking about. These books fall much more into the realm of pulpy adventure rather than hard science fiction. Some classify these books as Planetary Romance. but i think the distinction is rather minor.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

ERB's work is usually considered Planetary Romance, as you say. The action all takes place on one planet. An early name for space opera was inter-planetary romance, cos spaceships n stuff. I have half an idea to do a spin off episode or two on planetary romance. Thanks for watching 👀!

@davidvavra9113 10 месяцев назад

Lucas gives credit to Kurusawa, but he's never acknowledged what he took from Doc Smith. A Jedi is ultimately a samurai Lensman.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Interesting! I'm planning to read lensman book next month. Thanks for watching 👀!

@spocko2181 10 месяцев назад

Don’t forget Herbert and Asimov.

@jimsteele9261 10 месяцев назад

The Death Star is what you get when the bad guys build the Skylark of Valeron. :-)

@rwarren58 10 месяцев назад

This is especially interesting to me as I read today’s space opera’s while growing up in the age of Heinlein and Asimov with an eye on new physics.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fabulous! Thanks for watching 👀

@artyfartblast3289 10 месяцев назад

I love this era and genre. Reminds me of curling up in bed at night as a kid, nice and warm with a mug of hot chocolate and drifting away to other galaxies in my mind.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I remember those days well - for me it was mainly Asimov. Thanks for watching 👀 !

@jen4730 10 месяцев назад

I love your work. Dont forget Harry Harrison and Keith Laumer

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Duly noted, thank you. And thanks for watching 👀!

@duanespurlock5879 9 месяцев назад

Nice look at a period bubbling over with super adventuring SF heroes. Well done!

@SciFiScavenger 9 месяцев назад

Thanks! Theres a 1950s episode too, and the 1960s will be there on Sunday. Thanks for watching 👀!

@5dork5 10 месяцев назад

I do hope in the next video you include the “Queen of Space Opera” Leigh Brackett, who wrote great tales from the early 1940s through the 1950s and happened to be married to one of the kings, Edmond Hamilton. She was also friends with and inspired the writing of a young Ray Bradbury, who was best man at their wedding.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Big fan of Leigh Brackett's writing based on the one book of her's I've read (The Long Tomorrow). I'll add her to the long list for the 50s video. Thanks for watching 👀!

@mrmicro22 10 месяцев назад

The science fiction hall of fame series is my best connection to these. I never knew they were old, only that someone said they were among the best. They were mostly right.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Edited by Silverberg? I think I have the first one on my shelves, I think that was edited by the man. Thanks for watching 👀. 🚀🤖🎃👽👍

@GaryChurch-hi8kb 10 месяцев назад

The first books I read as a boy were Edgar Rice Burroughs and EE Doc Smith. Shaped my interests for the rest of my life.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

The formative years. Mine were Day of the Triffids, 2001 and I, Robot. Thanks for watching 👀!

@Lord_RavnFar_Tannerwise 10 месяцев назад

Loved doc smiths skylark series

@andrewhelm2813 10 месяцев назад

That was something of a voyage into the unknown for me. I've heard of Asimov, Smith, Hamilton, and Williamson, of course, but I'd never really delved at all into their work. Thanks for the insight. Of my *Big Three* only James H Schmitz was publishing stories in the 1940's, most notably "The Agent of Vega", (1949) the first in a short lived series, and would continue to write until the 1970's. It wouldn't be until 1951 that E C Tubb starting making his mark in the genre with "Saturn Patrol" under the house name King Lang. Marion Zimmer Bradley's first novel; "The Door Through Space" (1961) served as a precursor to the Darkover series beginning a year later with "The Planet Savers".

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Duly noted for the next chapter! Thanks for watching 👀.

@vintagesf 10 месяцев назад

Fun topic! So many authors to choose from. A. E. van Vogt is someone I believe you’ve read. I would include him in this space opera group. How about Olaf Stapledon? Lots of possibilities. For the 50s and 60s I think of Alfred Bester, Cordwainer Smith, Frank Herbert and one from the Ace Science Fiction Specials I’m covering, The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz. Stay calm and carry on BookTubing!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Van Vogt had just a few of his books published in the late 40s, the rest followed in the 50s and beyond, so he didn't quite make it into this one. He will definitely appear in the next installment. Good suggestions for the next video thanks Richard. thanks for watching 👀!

@yiffytimes 10 месяцев назад

You will love what they call that style of art,,, Retro Future

@natesmemes1794 10 месяцев назад

*Great Video, I love the art on the cover of these old pulp fiction novels*

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes, that is half the joy of it. Thanks for watching 👀!

@BaranKRool 10 месяцев назад

This is fascinating! I know next to nothing about this era of sci-fi, other that the fact it inspired the more famous and more modern stories. Great channel and thanks for covering this! The spirit of adventure, and of fascination and optimism for the future is greatly underrated!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Me either to be honest, it was fun to do the research. 1950s next! Thanks for watching 👀. 🚀👽🤖🎃👍

@martynvaughan7196 10 месяцев назад

I do agree about E E Doc Smith, especially the Lensman series. It's a pity when Panther reissued it they tagged "Masters Of The Vortex" on the end making people think it was the climax of the story. An amusing item about Skylark Of Valeron is that about a quarter of the way in Smith forgot about one of the characters on board the ship and he is nevermentioned again!

@KarlSmith1 10 месяцев назад

More detail, please? I've read the Skylark series, but decades ago. But things like that usually tend to stick in my memory.

@jimsteele9261 10 месяцев назад

Richie Cunningham's older brother?

@robertlehnert4148 10 месяцев назад

Edward Elmer "Doc" Smith pioneered the interstellar science fiction story before WWI!, wrote a draft of _The Skylark of Space_ circa 1914, stuck it in a drawer and didn't take it out again until circa 1920.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes he is the goat of early space opera. Thanks for watching 👀!

@mondkalb9813 10 месяцев назад

There is a Captain Future anime series from 1978/1979 which was very popular in Germany in the early 80s.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Is there! I did not know that. I wonder if that's out on the Internet somewhere. Thanks for watching 👀 !

@hemidas 10 месяцев назад

Lensman series also got an anime adaptation in the mid 80's.

@dug3569 10 месяцев назад

Reminds me Germany had perry Rhodan series

@sethball2475 10 месяцев назад

Jack Williamson was my first great SF love; at around 10-12 years old, I read one of Heinlein’s “juveniles”, E. E. “Doc” Smith’s novel First Lensman, and Undersea Fleet, by Frederick Pohl and Williamson. Of those three books, it was Jack Williamson who for whatever reason who convinced me that with him I would be happiest (I’m not sure why young me only went to Pohl sporadically; I guess cover art and story synopses). I haven’t done a re-read of The Legion of Space that would probably sober me up, but I loved it and have only fond memories. I wanted a movie, with John Candy as Giles Habbibula (I think that’s the character’s name). I don’t think direct connections are known and established, but The Legion of Space often gets compared to Star Wars, in terms of underpinnings and concepts. I’m going to mention some space opera that predates the era you have focused on, although the main character was popular enough that his adventures did go all the way up to 1930s publications, is my understanding. French proto-SF by Jean de la Hire (pseudonym) featured the Nyctalope, an early space-faring ‘cyborg’ (well before the term existed) character. Translations of Nyctalope books have come to us from Black Coat Press; I read The Nyctalope on Mars as part of my quest to experience as much Radium Age SF as possible, and it was quite a thrill - warty as the book is, in some ways - to discover space opera tropes and excitement going back that early.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Wow, great comment! What is this radium age of which you speak?

@sethball2475 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger First of all, I think I spelled Frederik Pool’s name wrong - me who chuckles every time everyone spells Fredric Brown’s name wrong. These Fred’s are hard to keep sorted and spelled right! Several years ago, some kind of Google search - because I love reading lists and guides - landed me at a website featuring the so-called “100 Best Radium Age Science Fiction Books”. I bookmarked…and proceeded to ignore it. But only a few years ago, when newer SF was leaving me cold, I thought to myself “where did I leave that little ol’ bookmark, that list - because it’s only older SF, and that’s what I want!”. So when I finally explored what the heck it was I had bookmarked, I learned a few things. I learned that HiLo Books had put out this list of recommended SF from the “Radium Age” while they were busy re-publishing some of it (lots in the public domain, of course). I also learned that “Radium Age Science Fiction” is roughly from the period of 1904-1933 (depending on who you talk to). Further, it’s considered to be “the most neglected era of SF”…the stuff nobody bothers with. Even just glancing at the list, I saw all kinds of author names, and book and story titles, I had never heard of, so I knew this list was a gold mine of recommendations. And all you have to do is use phrases like “most neglected”, or “the best book you’ve never heard of”, or, even better, “entire era of reading material that is practically forgotten!!”…well, I mean, that’s me, that’s my reason for existence. So, if you google Best Radium Age SF, you’d probably still pull up the HiLo Publishing list of books (as I say, some of them they reprinted, to go with promoting their list), but the term Radium Age has caught on, and you’d pull up a few different lists, at this point. It has saved my interest in SF - and it is a very interesting era of SF to binge-read. In a way, it has helped me enjoy modern SF again. With modern SF, I struggle with hard science approaches that can confuse me, but science will always be in science fiction, and I have to deal with that. In Radium Age SF, I have to deal with outdated science, science explanations that go on a little long, maybe dominate the text in exactly the same way scientific “gobbledy-gook” of today’s SF do! - except that the old stuff’s science content isn’t even correct anymore. But I love it! I love it. Whether it’s 1923 or 2023 - SF separated by 100 Years or more has the same LOVABLE problems (with the exception of better written women characters, and better diversity of ethnicity - I mean, that had to change). Wooden characterization due to emphasis on fast pace or sense of wonder; too much dialogue from big-brain scientists; and even science, politics, or sociological conditions that were fresh at the time but make a great story dusty and creaky by the time I read it? It all seems part of the same chain to me, now - and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Meet the new stuff…same, kind of, as the old stuff. I’m a “roots and origins” guy. Yes, I don’t want to lose touch with what came out over the last few years - but when the chips are down, I wanna read the first Buck Rogers stuff (before he was Buck), I wanna discover the “French H. G. Wells”, Maurice Renard, and his novel Doctor Lerne, from 1909, so I can see how similar it is to the movie Get Out, from a century later. I needed to discover Odle’s The Clockwork Man…is Deluge by S. Fowler Wright still any good…and so on. Radium Age SF does seem to be making some kind of low-key comeback. I think one reason is simple: the stuff is basically, or precisely, 100 years old. I see more and more RU-vid videos re-imagining stuff like Star Wars, or The Terminator, as if it were created in the 1920s. The 2020s seem to be deflecting some focus to 100 years ago, and in SF, that’s a big chunk of Radium Age. The cool news is: versions of Star Wars, and The Terminator, already existed in the Radium Age.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

fantastic, thank you for the thorough reply!!

@StevenEverett7 10 месяцев назад

Oh my. A trip down memory lane. Great selection of stories, most of which I read many years ago! Among those mentioned I'm very fond of Venus Equilateral for it's humor and fun adventures. All the others mentioned, with the exception of Doc Smith I remember reading but they've left little impression except that I did like them. As far as Doc, well, I think I've made my opinion clear in other posts. 🤣🤣🤣

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I'll be hitting up Doc Smith next month. We shall see! Thanks for watching 👀!

@david124cherrington5 5 месяцев назад

Humor is the right word to use. I got a good chuckle about the new Space Station Director's run in with the Air Plant and the ensuing consequences of his actions in Venus Equilateral

@randywarren7101 9 месяцев назад

I was given the Lensmen series from my dad and the series got me hooked on science fiction. I read them so often I broke the bindings and they fell apart. I, over the years, continued to buy copies until the same thing usually happened! That's how much I grew to love the series and the companion books that were written!

@SciFiScavenger 9 месяцев назад

I wish I'd read it when i was (a lot) younger, i read Galactic Patrol for the first time recently and didn't get on with it all...DNFd, in fact! Shame i didnt feel the same way as you on this I'd have been much happier 😊. Thanks for watching 👀

@Six-Shooter 10 месяцев назад

Thank you, Scavenger for dedicating these videos to Space Opera. As previously mentioned videos ago in comments, it's one of the few genres of Science Fiction I like. Around this time would be where the shunning and gatekeeping of the genre would begin in Galaxy Magazine. Calling the genre as a whole, the Space Western. Obviously Science Fiction elitist dont like to have fun hahaha

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I swing both ways, as it were. I'm very happy to read more serious, sciency or challenging SF, but from time to time (often!) l like to read this stuff, old or new. Thanks for watching 👀.

@EdwardGerman 10 месяцев назад

That was great artwork included in your presentation.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks, I had fun putting it together. Thanks for watching 👀!

@EdwardGerman 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger Your welcome, I plan to watch more of your videos latter on.

@johncliffalvarez6513 10 месяцев назад

This channel was a great find. Love old school sci-fi.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fab, welcome! Plenty of other videos to check out. I plan to continue this series on space opera over the next few months. Thanks for watching 👀!

@johncliffalvarez6513 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger Thank you! Looking forward to that and catching up with your other content!

@IRMentat 10 месяцев назад

The more I see of “modern” copy-paste indistinguishable-universe (when everyone flying around in an armed, shielded, FTL comms and somehow also cargo-hauling personal craft the lines of credulity blur) sci-fi the more I crave the imagination of the past. It’s why original trek is still my top spot for the franchise (gods, monsters and stage play emotion) and why I moved to anime for a good long while (pre-Slice-of-life-everything). The old stories are far more of a unique experience.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

yes, i suppose the more recent books have the challenge of trying to find a new angle after almost 100 years of it all being done before. i don't mind suspending disbelief - arguably it's a required skill when it comes to SF! thanks for watching.👀 🚀👩‍🚀👽🌌👍

@Helliconia54 10 месяцев назад

i well remember the Lensman series. I also followed Asimov and Clarke

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Me too. Thanks for watching 👀!

@silverjohn6037 10 месяцев назад

Whether it's a homage, or a reaction against it, a lot of modern science fiction owes space opera a great debt. But we shouldn't forget the planetary romances of Burroughs that inspired the space operas. As for works from the 50's and 60's Andre Norton's stories are worth a look at. I know she's not the writer you think of when space opera is discussed, as she focusses on smaller more personal stories of individuals, the wider universe her character's move in is very much a space opera setting.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks! I have half an idea to do a spin off video or two on the planetary romances. Thanks for watching 👀!

@PtolemyJones 10 месяцев назад

E. E. "Doc" Smith was great. Skylark of Valeron!

@kathleenhensley5951 10 месяцев назад

One of my favorites should be mentioned... "Battle for the Stars" by Edmond Hamilton. I read it, first, as a 10 (?) year old in the early 1960s. It was an incredible experience for me, at that time of my life and I truly graduated from Comics into a Science fiction fan with that experience - a big turning point. When Star Trek appeared in 1966, It felt very familiar. I didn't stop reading comics, but I was starved for similar novels. Read Skylark and Triplanetary, and Lensman series but I don't remember them as well. I've actually considered re-reading them. Campbell was always a favorite. Asimov wrote some great kid's novels I read as a preteen and teenage but I can't remember their names any longer (?) His foundation series is seriously good. Read it in HS and at least once since then. There was a publishing company logo that had a traditional red-stone looking rocket (or the ship in "Destination Moon") .. .I would devour any of that series. >>>>you reminded of something I nearly forgot.. how hard and lonely it was to be a girl and science fiction and comics fan back in the 1950s and 60s. Now, it seems so funny that it was. Still in old age, I'll read space opera if I get a chance. I need not mention Everything from Destination Moon to Star Trek, Firefly, Babylon 5, etc etc. Space Opera never died, it just went to Hollywood.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Ah lovely, I'm glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. I think the Asimov books you're thinking of might be the Lucky Starr books. Stay tuned, 1950s episode is out Sunday at 4pm GMT. I'll look out for the Hamilton book. Thanks for watching 👀!

@thomassmith6232 10 месяцев назад

Certainly the juvenal novels of Robert A. Heinlein for the 50s.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks Thomas, duly noted. And thanks for watching 👀!

@TurnFullCircle 10 месяцев назад

this is wonderful stuff. thank you.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Excellent! There will be a 1950s edition in about 10 days. Thanks for 👀 !

@TurnFullCircle 10 месяцев назад

Hi...the classics are more by being less...and yet have a more realism despite it. Cheers@@SciFiScavenger

@ravenmoon5111 10 месяцев назад

Space opera has always been my favorite. It’s pure space sci if

@martynvaughan7196 10 месяцев назад

You could have mentioned A E Van Vogt with particular emphasis on Crane The Mutant. The War Agaisnt The Rull is a fix-up novel made from glued-together short stories but in its final form it is sopace opera.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yeah i left van Vogt this time, only a couple of his books were published in the 1940s. He'll definitely show up in the next chapter. 👍

@MartinUToob 8 месяцев назад

I read ALL of the E.E."Doc" Smith novels during my early teens: All 4 Skylark books and the entire Lensman series. Great stuff for a young kid, who's not "too" scientifically grounded at the time and fully enjoyed. A good memory! Thanks! Best wishes! 🎅🤖👍

@SciFiScavenger 8 месяцев назад

I read Galactic Patrol recently, 1st time, and i DNFd, didn't like it much at all and didn't care how it ended. I suspect i needed to read them when i was a kid to feel something for them now. Oh well, plenty more books in the sea, to mix my metaphors. Thanks for watching 👀!

@MartinUToob 8 месяцев назад

@SciFiScavenger Yeah. It's really helps when you're dumb enough.

@Wiley-Coyote 5 месяцев назад

Great Video, thank you for uploading! I really need to find me some Legion of Space!

@SciFiScavenger 5 месяцев назад

It's great! Thanks for watching 👀!

@jpotter2086 10 месяцев назад

".... and we'll do all that in 12min or less!" This is an excellent thesis for an entire channel, not just a video. Subscribed! Bell 'rung'! Look forward to more!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

There will definitely be more on this topic, one video per decade from 1950s on. And I might get stuck in to the planetary romance novels at some point, although I know even less about those. Thanks for watching 👀! 🚀🤖🚀👽🎃👍

@hroedlyon2954 10 месяцев назад

I think you're having too much fun, which is okay because someone has to have that level of enjoyment. Space opera has always been my favorite subgenre of science fiction. I would have included Olaf Stapledon's work, which echoes modern themes and concepts. When thinking of modern-day space opera writers, Peter F. Hamilton quickly comes to mind.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

It sure was fun to put together. I'm looking forward to doing the next installment. Noted re Olaf and agree with you on PFH. Thanks for watching 👀!

@TheNacon4 10 месяцев назад

I would recommend the early works of Robert A. Heinlein. Books like "The Roads Must Roll","Rocket Ship Galileo", "Space Cadet", "Have Spacesuit-Will Travel" and "Starship Troopers" did really re-write the early works of science fiction.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes I'm looking at Heinleins "juvenile" works for the 1950s episode. In reckon they qualify as space opera. Thanks for watching 👀!

@lesterdfunct 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for all these recommendations! Got to check some of those out this winter. Read the Foundation trilogy a while back and enjoyed that a lot.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Excellent! Plenty of other videos to watch, fill your boots! Thanks for watching 👀 and for subscribing. 👍

@User_Un_Friendly 10 месяцев назад

First three Skylark and the Lensman series are free on Gutenberg, with ORIGINAL PULP ILLUSTRATIONS. 😮😮😮😍😍😍

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic! I have them all in paperbacks, although just the one illustration on the cover. Thanks for watching 👀!

@kingforaday8725 10 месяцев назад

I cut my scifi teeth on Hugh Walters. Chris, Tony, Morrey, and Serge. Not exactly space opera but ya gotta start somewhere! Next was Andre Norton juvenile series. At the time I didnt know Norton was a woman! Then one day in an old second handbook store I discovered "Galactic Patrol" !!!! OMG!!! I fell in love!!! Finally figured out the Lensmen series was a set of 6 books! I then found First Lensmen and Gray Lensmen. I vowed not to read them until I first had read Triplanetary. We are talking mid 60's! My town didnt have but the one used bookstore. Supermarkets, drug stores, and Kmart carried paperbacks but mainly newer ones. Subspace Explorers and Spacehounds of IPC and more Norton helped keep me busy until Triplanetary finally showed up. Fortunately I still have my original paperbacks.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic! Not like you could pop onto ebay and just buy em either. More patience required back in the day! Thanks for watching 👀.

@unstopitable 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the video. There's a lacuna in my SF reading of this era, except for maybe Campbell. I'd like to read more, but the 70s and 80s have grabbed me. I will say this, though. I've run into some really trippy early Soviet SF films. I don't even care about the stories; I'm just mesmerized by the set and suit designs, and their color choices. Given their restraints--financial as well as ideological--they're impressive. Cheers.

@SciFiScavenger 6 месяцев назад

There's a lacuna in my vocabulary, i didn't know what lacuna meant! Every day is a school day. Thanks for watching 👀!

@antr7493 10 месяцев назад

What a great list. I can't wait to start. TY

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Awesome, thanks for watching 👀!

@rodneyadderton1077 10 месяцев назад

I am enjoying the video and hit the subscribe button. I can only wonder what it was like to have been a kid back then, and see these as they came out. Or as an adult.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I know! Must have been fun, particularly as we were still firmly earthbound at that time, not even satellites. You've timed it well, part 2 is out on Sunday, covering the 1950s. Thanks for watching 👀!

@rodneyadderton1077 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger I tapped the bell, I will be looking out for it.

@DrFranklynAnderson 10 месяцев назад

Oh man. In the ‘90s there was a kids show on American television where a dog re-enacted literary classics. That show had spin-off books, one of which adapted The Legion of Space. I haven’t thought about it in forever, but I remember really liking that book and wanting to find the original, but the librarians couldn’t find it and Google wasn’t a thing yet. Definitely need to look that up now! Thanks!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

A canine version of legion of space! That I need to see. 🐶🚀 Thanks for watching 👀!

@veradonchimera 10 месяцев назад

Just in case anyone was wondering, the book was called Unleashed in Space and it was part of The Super Adventures of Wishbone book series

@elonmusksellssnakeoil1744 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for the video!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching 👀!

@tccostello 10 месяцев назад

i'm a first time viewer, and thanks for welcoming me.!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fabulous, I hope you stick around! Thanks for watching 👀!

@stacycentral 10 месяцев назад

Very nice overview! I grew up as an Army brat in the 50s and 60s. Without American TV overseas, my buddies and I discovered SF books and magazines. We competed on who had read the most books in a week. With Ace, Ballantine, and others, it was pulp heaven! SF ultimately led me to a 40 year career in the Army and the Intelligence Community. Now I am regaling my grandsons on the thrill of ERB, Ray Cummings, Murray Leinster, Doc Savage, and many more. Of course, they'll have to contest my daughter on who gets my collection. 😅

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Oh wow, fantastic! I had fun digging in to the history of the genre. There'll be a 1950s episode in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for watching 👀!

@StephenRansom47 10 месяцев назад

😭 Thank You so much for this collection of brief overviews … These have contributed more than most could realize. From Flash Gordon to Babylon 5 … it is my personal opinion that The Lens is the Grandfather of The Force and the Jedi. 🙏

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Hi Stephen, great, really pleased you enjoyed it. Some other folks have mentioned that Lensman may have been am inspiration for George Lucas. I'll be reading my first Lensman book next month, so I'll see what all the fuss is about. Thanks for watching 👀!

@donaldlamkin1305 10 месяцев назад

I enjoyed your video. One of my favorite subjects

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

That's great! Stick around, 1950s episode this coming Sunday. Thanks for watching 👀!

@donaldlamkin1305 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger cool!

@skmcc9252 Месяц назад

That was a good vid. You mentioned Edmond Hamilton's Captain Future but I'd just like to add his Starwolf trilogy. I'm reading the last in this trilogy right now. They are by Ace books and they are - The Weapon from Beyond - The Closed Worlds - World of the Starwolves. All the best.

@SciFiScavenger Месяц назад

@skmcc9252 hi, yes I have the Venture SF omnibus edition of Starwolf, haven't got to it yet. Glad you enjoyed it, I've done several other videos in the space opera since this one, might be worth a watch. Thanks for watching 👀!

@andrewhaldenby4949 2 месяца назад

Love it, subscribed

@SciFiScavenger 2 месяца назад

Hi Andrew, that's great! There are a bunch of videos in that space opera playlist now. Thanks for watching 👀!

@billkemp9315 9 месяцев назад

Great, always excellent to go deeper in depth into our science fiction past. It would be great if you added all of the book titles and authors here in the comments section or the section above the comments.

@SciFiScavenger 9 месяцев назад

Hi Bill. Out of interest, what for? So you have it for reference? Or to find a particular section of the video? Let me know, will help me know where best to put it. Thanks for watching! Check out the 1950s episode from a few days back.

@billkemp9315 9 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger I would be interested in reading the stories/books

@SciFiScavenger 9 месяцев назад

@billkemp9315 got it, ok good suggestion, I'll do that from now on. Thanks Bill.

@LiamsLyceum 10 месяцев назад

Haven’t read too much from these decades, “Black Destroyer” by Vogt is worth a mention. I also quite like Gather, Darkness! by Leiber

@LiamsLyceum 10 месяцев назад

Oh and of course C. L. Moore is great

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes that short story/novelette went on to be part of Voyage of the Space Beagle. Thanks for watching 👀!

@esotericmissionary 10 месяцев назад

_The (Complete) Venus Equilateral_ is one of my favorite classics.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Nice, I need to look out for a copy of that. Thanks for watching 👀!

@sciencefictionreads 10 месяцев назад

Nice selection! A couple to add to my tbr. I just filmed a 30's/40's video but not Space Opera related.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Nice, look forward to seeing that. 👍 thanks for watching 👀

@franklintownsend7228 10 месяцев назад

When you get to the proper era.. Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series would be a great mention.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Oh yes, definitely! Thanks for watching 👀.

@hopscotchtop 10 месяцев назад

The Venus Equilateral was one of my favorite books back in high school.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Fab, I really want to read it, sound great! Thanks for watching 👀

@steveosteveareno2670 10 месяцев назад

Really enjoyed all the additional art and the covers. Appreciate your succinct coverage of the material. Always admired the more hard science aspect of George O. Smith. I'm probably more familiar with short stories of this era. Thanks. P.S. how about a similar essay about the 1950's and even 1960's?

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Stay tuned! 1950s episode coming in a couple of weeks, then the rest a decade at a time right up to 2020s. That's the idea, anyway. Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching 👀!

@AcademyNS 10 месяцев назад

I think Richard O'Brien wrote a love song to this genre.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Did he! Goes off to search it up... Thanks for watching 👀!

@AcademyNS 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger Science Fiction Double Feature.

@misterjaxon2559 10 месяцев назад

Hal Clement! Educated in physics and astronomy, he wrote "hard" science fiction. Start with Mission of Gravity and take it from there.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I do have MoG on my shelves, but I wonder if that is really space opera, i suspect it lacks the scale and melodrama usually associated with space opera . Science fiction, certainly. Thanks for the suggestion and for watching 👀 !

@TheMyrmo 10 месяцев назад

This is an interesting period in the history of science fiction, so much yet to be canonized. I would highly recommend the few published works from Stanley Weinbaum from this period, particularly "A Martian Odyssey" from 1934. It was really prescient in inventing an alien that, while sympathetic, was truly alien. Sadly Weibaum never lived to write a novel.

@capsjukebox 10 месяцев назад

New to the channel and it’s great! Have you thought of covering the John Carter of Mars books? For those not familiar it’s science fiction with high fantasy and even swashbuckling pirate exploits mixed in. Would like to hear what SciFi Scavenger thinks of it.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Planetary romance, I think, strictly speaking. I've not ready any, although I do have a few on my shelves now. I'll add to the list of potential future videos. Thanks for watching 👀!

@rumblehat4357 10 месяцев назад

I just finished “A Princess Of Mars,” and, I’m not sure, but could it be one of the first space opera novels? 1912.

@capsjukebox 10 месяцев назад

@@rumblehat4357 it definitely fits, if not defines, the category

@Insightfill 10 месяцев назад

Another vote for the Burroughs "John Carter" series!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

@@Insightfill the planetary romance novels (like Burroughs work), at least based on my research for this video, does not fit the admittedly fizzy definition of space opera, simply because it is nearly all planet-bound, little in the way of spaceship action, a defining feature of space opera. I think I'm right in saying that an early name for space opera was inter-planetary romance. However, I think I will do a video or two on planetary romance, let's call it an adjacent category, I don't know much about it so it will be fun to put together. Thanks for watching 👀!

@walterlyzohub8112 10 месяцев назад

When you get to the 1970s I hope you include “The Flying Sorcerers” by David Gerrold and Larry Niven. It’s one of my favorites.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I imagine Niven will get a mention! That's not a book I know, will check it out. Thanks for watching 👀!

@aquarius5719 10 месяцев назад

The board game ISS Vanguard is a retro scifi survival game with monsters living on planets. It is a long game and it has an app with the voice over for episodes in each planet. Basically an audio version of the story book that comes within the game. It is a complex game that will take you hours and you better love card bookeeping and lots of dice roll checks because there is a lot of that.

@neilreynolds3858 10 месяцев назад

"Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenghik Palace in Flames, Jon Westerley Dead" (1972) (Robert Sheckley). Where would space opera be without parodies? I don't know. Somehow I think of multiple books about vast empires and epic battles between the stars with weapons of unimaginable power and bad writing to be necessary for space opera. The bad writing increases its effectiveness. There was a lot of single books written but they didn't have the impact on the genre that the former did so you've pretty much covered the important books in the 1930s and 40s. Did Van Vogt write space opera? The Null-A series probably but that's later.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Duly noted, thanks Neil, thanks thanks for watching 👀! 🚀👽🤖

@SamCarter-stp 10 месяцев назад

One of my favorites from the next decade was Asimov's "Lucky Starr" series for younger readers, his publishing company convinced him to write. Also Schmitz' series of interconnected books in his Telzy Amberdon and Trigger Argee stories, as well as Norton's Traders and Forerunner books. These as well as Heinlein and Doc Smith books are what I grew-up on as a Sci-fi reader.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

That is a great shout! I have those on my shelves. I initially thought they were published pre 1950s but you're dead right. Thanks for watching 👀!

@patrickunderwood5662 10 месяцев назад

Lucky Starr? Hmm… thinking of Ripley nervously singing to herself as she prepares to battle the xenomorph in the last minutes of Alien. Is there a connection?

@wburris2007 10 месяцев назад

The Skylark and Lensmen books have been on my shelf for over 40 years, and I haven't read them yet.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Nope, me either, although I plan to change that shortly. I'm expecting them to be quite dated, but hope to enjoy the ride anyway. Thanks for watching 👀!

@OmnivorousReader 10 месяцев назад

Good list. I have to say that E. E. Doc Smith, while he was so influential in the day, has not aged well. I remember loving the Lensman series years ago, but when I tried to read it recently I didn't much enjoy it. Very sad.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes I can imagine they feel rather dated now, getting on for 100 years down the line. I'm planning to read a Lensman book in November so we shall see. Thanks for watching 👀!

@johnwright1447 10 месяцев назад

For what it's worth, my experience was the opposite. The Lensman series, on rereading, had more and deeper thoughts about the nature of civilization politics and warfare then practically any of its contemporaries, and a better insight than many books written today. Much we take for granted because it was built on ideas from the Lensman series such as the idea of a multiracial civilization, should not be overlooked. Moreover many of the ideas of the greater efficiency of democracy over tyranny were unpopular at the time.

@OmnivorousReader 10 месяцев назад

@@johnwright1447 wow, ok. I will bear that in mind if I come across a copy of The First Lensman, maybe give them another go. To me it dated worse than Heinlein, Vance, Clarke, Simak, Wyndham... actually worse than almost all of the contemporary writing but Ill try and keep an open mind.

@dug3569 10 месяцев назад

@@OmnivorousReaderstill love the lensman series but I understand-same thing happens to me if I hear planets of the solar system are inhabitable-so no Burroughs for me

@OmnivorousReader 10 месяцев назад

@@dug3569 Isn't it fascinating how we all experience re-reads so differently! I can still enjoy Burroughs (though a little goes a long way) and even Lewis (as long as he is not too confrontationally Cristian).

@lorefox201 10 месяцев назад

the purest Kino

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching 👀!

@angelhurtado55 10 месяцев назад

I wonder how much of this future tech and science holds to what we knw today?

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

It's funny. Some thing from old SF are with us. Ubiquitous Web, (more) advanced medical technologies. But we are still barely off the planet. Come on Musk, pull your finger out! Thanks for watching 👀!

@bfitzger2 10 месяцев назад

Having read all of these many years ago, and some re-read recently: Asimov's writing still stands up, George O. Smith's is even better, E.E. Doc's early Lensman novels are getting close to be unreadable (the poor writing can no longer prop up the rickety stories), and Williamson and Campbell are beyond dated, but still fun to read.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes, dated is a general challenge, it's a rare book from that era that gets off scott free when looked at with today's lens. I just read Legion of Space, it was fun! I have a Lensman book on my pile to read this month, so we'll see. Thanks for watching 👀!

@jordongrier2539 10 месяцев назад

As someone who read a bit of The John Campbell, Edmund Hamilton, E.E. Doc Smith, et al, back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, these are best read as period pieces, many modern readers sensibilities will be offended by much of these. Wasn't long before Asimov, Anderson, Clarke, Pohl, Ellison, Silverberg, Sheckley and many others became much preferred reading material. You gotta start that SF nerd journey somewhere when you're 12 years old though.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Hi Jordan. Yeah, mine was with asimov. I have some Smith next on my tbr, so we'll see how well it ages! Thanks for watching 👀.

@richcoyle4739 10 месяцев назад

I dropped out in the first review of the Skylark of Space where the reviewer got EVERY DETAIL of the Story WRONG, Richard discovered a Element X , Martin Crane was rich and supplied the MONEY to build the BALL space ship, (The drawing shown is wrong...) and how the villain stole the plans and some of Element X build his own ship, then kidnapped the men's girl friends and how our hero's had to follow thus began a thrilling adventure of the chase and battel between our heroes and the scrum of the universe.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

You dropped out of this video? I'm assuming that what you mean. Fair enough, sorry you didn't like it. The image of the spaceship was just an image of a spaceship, wasn't intended to be the skylark. Anyway, enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for watching a couple of minutes!

@martynvaughan7196 10 месяцев назад

The Japanese factotum Shiro appears in the early part of Skylark Of Valeron where Seaton probes his mind - without asking first. By the time the Americans are rotated into the 4th Dimension it is explicitly stated that there are only 4 individuals involved (the 2 heroes plus their airhead wives). Smith realised his mistake and reintroduced Shiro in Skylark Duquesne.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes, the famous forgotten character! Thanks for watching 👀.

@waynesworldofsci-tech 10 месяцев назад

I’d suggest Jack Vance’s Planet of Adventure series, and James H. Schmitz, a big favourite of mine.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Great, thanks for the suggestions, and thanks for watching 👀!

@waynesworldofsci-tech 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger I like your stuff. Old fan. First convention in 1976. Those classics are what made me who I am today. I’m not sure the writers would appreciate what they’re done!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

@@waynesworldofsci-tech 1950s episode coming on Sunday, stay tuned!

@andrewseary 10 месяцев назад

A ship designated for exploration, filled with scientists and aliens, visiting various planets: It could be "The Voyage of the Space Beagle" by A.E.Van Vogt (1940s, already mentioned) or: "Men, Martians and Machines: by Eric Frank Russel (1950s, Well worth a look.) Or it could be "Star Trek" (1960s) Also in the 60s "The Witches of Karres" by James Schmitz. Grand space opera! (or Space Grand Opera). Jack Vance wrote "Space Opera", which is about an opera company in space; while Phillip K. Dick wrote "The Zap Gun" about guess what? Two SF tropes. Both are funny. As for the 1970s: Wasn't Leigh Brackett involved in "The Empire Strikes Back"?

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Leigh Brackett was involved in an early draft of the script of Empire Strikes Back, but it was significantly revised after that. I think she died before it was released. Thanks for watching 👀!

@scottthomas3792 10 месяцев назад

Spacehounds Of IPC by E.E. " Doc" Smith....printed action film. Set in our our solar system ( every planet and their moons are inhabited, nearly), it's a " go big or go home" fun to read science fantasy space opera. Printed in 1930, I think....

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes, I have it on my shelves, haven't got to it yet. Thanks for watching 👀!

@rondemkiw4492 10 месяцев назад

Also THE COSMIC ENGINEERS by Clifford D. Simak

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Ok thanks, will check it out although Simak isn't usually considered to be space opera. I think. Thanks for watching 👀!

@aquarius5719 10 месяцев назад

Star Wars by George Lucas is clearly a space opera. What I did not expect is that the strategy board game Rebellion and its expansion Rise of the empire made me to rewrite the events of the original trilogy. My first defeat in the Imperial side took place in Naboo where Ackbar brought me a humiliating defeat. I sent Boba Fett to capture Luke Skywalker at Dagobah, but Han Solo rescued him. I also captured Mon Mothma and turned her to the dark side. I still have not destroyed entired planets but I already wiped out ground rebel forces using a single reactor ignition of the Death Star.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Sounds like fun! Another game you might enjoy is Terraforming Mars. You get to crash comets and even a moon into Mars. Thanks for watching 👀!

@rev.markcarrier1894 10 месяцев назад

Edmond Hamilton invented space opera before E.E. Smith with his Galactic Patrol stories in Weird Tales magazine in the 1920’s. Regarding your comments on Captain Future I think you should check again the number of novels - not as many as you mentioned. Also, there was no Martian emperor in the stories, but a couple of novels dealt with the Magician of Mars. I’m not sure I would include George Smith’s space station stories as space opera. There’s no swashbuckling going on there. Here’s who to read for space opera: Leigh Brackett, whose Martian tales blend poetry and epic drama; Poul Anderson; and Gardner Fox, perhaps most famous for his work in DC comics. Mention should also be made of Edgar Rice Burroughs whose earlier stories set on Mars and Venus has had an incalculable influence on science fiction to the present day.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Aha! A more serious student of the sub genre! I am a mere beginner and bow to your superior knowledge. Having said that (😀) I think Hamilton was Interstellar Patrol, and yes, predates Doc Smith, but it is Smith that gets the glory and plaudits. I guess his sales must have done the work for him! Thanks for this very helpful comment, much appreciated, and thanks for watching 👀! I will be doing more of these space opera videos and will try to fact check my script a little more rigorously. 🚀👽🤖👍

@Lord_RavnFar_Tannerwise 10 месяцев назад

I Loved the Skylark series! EE Doc Smith was a great writer and his Lensman series was even adapted into a japanese anime movie series in the 70's and 80's

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

I shall be reading my first Smith book next month. Looking forward to it, and hoping it isn't too dated. Thanks for watching 👀!

@quademasters249 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger Surprisingly Skylark isn't that dated. It's got a good bad guy. Better than the bad guy in "Lensmen". Lensmen though feels somewhat dated to me. I read it as a teen and didn't thing too hard. These days it gives me a vaguely "fascist" feel. You either toe the line the Patrol sets or you become an enemy. The Patrol wasn't above a little "Regime change" to get their way. I can read Skylark over and over, Lensmen is a bit of a slog. You should check out his "Subspace Explorers" too. It's kind of rare. A good story. As good as Skylark.

@jimsteele9261 10 месяцев назад

@@quademasters249 I've read the Skylark series a few times. If you look around (like on Gutenberg) you can find the original magazine serialized version, which is a little different from the book version. The tech does seem dated at times, but that's all part of the fun. One scene that always cracks me up is Seaton giving basically a lecture about how he's going to pump the air out of some gizmo. But he's sitting in a space ship and doesn't think to just put it in the airlock. :-)

@MarMotorbiker 10 месяцев назад

Leigh Brackett's the sword of Rhiannon

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks, Leigh Brackett will definitely feature in the 1950s video. She may even merit her own episode, being The Queen of Space Opera. Thanks for watching 👀!

@Sigurd-r5 10 месяцев назад

Edmund Hamilton wrote some great space opera.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

So i gather! Thanks for watching 👀.

@dug3569 10 месяцев назад

Recommend his star kings duology-recent hardcover released with Leigh brackett adding a short story to it

@arcadiaberger9204 10 месяцев назад

Maybe you should follow this up with an overview of 21st Century space opera like John Scalzi, Lois McMaster Bujold and Ann Leckie?

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Definitely! I'm going to work through the decades. 1950s next, in a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching 👀!

@DarkRaven4561 10 месяцев назад

EC Tubb is one of my firm favourites.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Watch this space (opera!). Thanks for watching 👀.

@dug3569 10 месяцев назад

His dumarest series also in my faves

@dickstryker 10 месяцев назад

That thumbnail is absolutely great!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks! I had a lot of fun playing around with the images in this video.

@Iskelderon 10 месяцев назад

I grew up with the dub of the Captain Future anime adaption, so that has always held a special place in my heart.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes someone else mentioned there was an anime. 👍 thanks for watching 👀!

@Iskelderon 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavengerYes, it's more well known in Europe, especially in Germany where the dub got a whole new soundtrack that elevated it to the point where even people who never watched an episode have become familiar with the theme song. The original has jazz music, which was fitting for the time the show was released in Japan, but is woefully out of place for a 1940s pulp sci-fi adventure.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Sounds interesting! I wonder if any of it is on RU-vid...

@Iskelderon 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger No idea, sine I have the DVDs. For the German theme just search for "Captain Future intro". For episodes you'd have to search for the show title and then set the filter to only show videos longer than 20 minutes, that should show them if there are any.

@bpora01 10 месяцев назад

Happy 1000 subscribers

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Thanks!

@johnplatt3704 9 месяцев назад

A. E. Van Vogt, Eric Frank Russrll (Men Martians and Machines and Sentinels From Space) Charles L. Harness and Henry Kuttner. Also Hamilton's wife Leigh Brackett.

@SciFiScavenger 9 месяцев назад

Hi John. Leigh Brackett gets a mention in the 1950s episode, van Vogt too maybe? I forget now. All great suggestions, thanks for watching 👀!

@ghw7192 10 месяцев назад

In the late 60s, I joined the Science Fiction Book Club. Back then, hardback books were something ridiculous like $2.99 with special selections higher. I have close to 100 hardback SF books, many of them from the club. I had about that many paperbacks, but they did not survive the divorce. I am 75 now and have been reading science fiction since not too long after I learned to read. I just discovered this channel while searching for older Sci Fi movies and serials. I am glad that I did!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Very nice! I see a few book club editions when I'm out and about, book scavenging. I don't usually get them but do have a few where I was sufficiently intrigued, or where I'm unlikely to find an original hardcover. Welcome to the channel, I hope you stick around! Plenty of videos from the last few months you might enjoy. Thanks for watching 👀!

@tj2745 9 месяцев назад

Wonderful graphics. Us this the artwork in the original releases or more recent publications?

@SciFiScavenger 9 месяцев назад

Quite a lot of it was AI generated, if i remember rightly. Some is original artwork from book covers or just generally from that era. Thanks for watching 👀!

@kevoblivion 10 месяцев назад

For the next episode: Heinlein!!!!!!!

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Good suggestion, although my gut reaction is that Heinlein isn't usually associated with space opera. But what do I know? Are there specific Heinlein books you think I should check out? Thanks for watching 👀!

@TheEricthefruitbat 10 месяцев назад

Love the Foundation trilogy, but I have never considered it Space Opera. Maybe I might put Foundation and Empire into the genre. I guess the series has a tinge of Space Opera throughout.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Galaxy spanning, epic baddies. These alone might qualify it I reckon. Certainly i agree it's space opera with brains. In any case the boundaries are a little fuzzy to say the least. The definition of space opera, in as much as there is one, has changed over time. It's true that foundation might not have met the earliest definition or the original category, but I think it counts. A quick Google of "is foundation space opera" will return affirmative responses in the main. Tbh It's a bit arbitrary. Thanks for watching 👀!

@ghostbeetle2950 10 месяцев назад

I'm sure someone must have already mentioned it, but "Captain Future" had a Japanese anime version that was released with a German dub and a beautiful electronic soundtrack in the late 80s here on German TV in the children's afternoon show block. It's an absolute cult classic among children of the 80s and early 90s. I sure hope there's an English version somewhere, too! You can find clips of the show and music on YT. Edit: Oh god, I just checked out the English intro. Looks cool but the music sucks major spherical objects in comparison to the German version, I'm sorry to say.

@SciFiScavenger 10 месяцев назад

Yes someone did mention it before, I had no idea. The 🇩🇪 version sounds great! Thanks for watching. Stick around, 1950s video should be up in 10 days or so. Thanks for watching 👀!

@ghostbeetle2950 10 месяцев назад

@@SciFiScavenger Cheers!