space opera

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

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, Tucker, "Bob", Le Zombie‎, 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.

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

• fantasy
• speculative fiction

• ópera espacial

Unadapted borrowing from English.

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

space opera f (plural space operas)

1. space opera

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.