I’m finally done with “The New Space opera.” So here’s my impressions of “The New Space opera:” This was a massive book for me because I don’t read a lot of “short” fiction. I mean other then WOTF. I began this book about last December. I would have finished it a lot sooner but because I was ill January and February, it took me more time to read this then I wanted.

The Skinny: This is supposed to be a book about space opera. Edited by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan. To me, I didn’t see how this was connected to space opera. The canvas these stories were painted on were to small for space opera. To me, space opera is Lensman, Perry Rhodan, Star Wars, Piers Anthony. This was not space opera. I think about half of the authors know what space opera really is

Pros: I liked almost all the stories except 3 the First one: “Saving Timaat” by Gwyneth Jones, “Remembrance” by Stephan Baxter and the last one “Muse by fire:” Dan Simmons. I couldn’t even get through this story it was so boring and so dry. I had only 50 pages to go and if I read any more of this story I would have surrendered to lameness. I liked most of all the other stories. There were I think 6 that are real gems: “Maelstrom” by Kage Baker. “Blessed by an angel.” by Peter F Hamilton. “Minla’s Flowers” Alastair Reynolds, “Splinters of Glass” by Mary Rosenblum. “The Emperor and the Maula” by Robert Silverberg and I also liked “The Worm turns.” by Gregory Benford.

Cons: I thought most of the stories other then the ones mentioned above were rather lame. Still 6 solid stories, none of which I consider were “Space opera.” Would I recommend this book? No. Not for the cover price and the way the editors classify space opera. If your looking for Star Wars, Babylon 5, Perry Rhodan, you won’t find it here. There’s no space opera within these pages. At least none that I could find. Still 6/18 stories were really good.

Rating: (*) (*) (*) (*)/10

Anyway, that’s all for now

e. Jim