169) … otherwise known as the Zeros’ destination, Vlimeux, but almost as good a description of a little place called Waterloo. They reached this agreement in a peace treaty signed at “what was once an unassuming market town of no particular strategic or cultural importance … where the final battle screamed itself mute and the war finally ended” (p. Harder still, on their way to the venue-in a starship piloted by a giant space flamingo and a disorganised time-travelling engineer that looks very like a red panda-Dess and his bandmate, to whom he hasn’t spoken since the Zeros fell apart one dreadful night in Edinburgh, are actually going to have to write the song.Įver since the spacefaring species of the galaxy almost annihilated each other in the Sentience Wars, they’ve instead taken out their resentments against each other in song. Like a Hitchhiker’s Guide that’s woken up on a strange couch after a Eurovision party, clutching its head and wondering what microstate that super-strong schnapps with all the gold leaf inside came from, Space Opera is the story of washed-up glam rocker Decibel Jones and his band the Absolute Zeros, who have to save the Earth from destruction by representing the planet at this year’s Metagalactic Grand Prix. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.The only comic sci-fi pitch that would sell faster than “Eurovision in Space” is probably “Catherynne Valente Writes Eurovision in Space.” And that’s exactly how Space Opera, originally suggested as a dare on Twitter, glimmered into the world.
Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny - they must sing.Ī one-hit-wonder band of human musicians, dancers and roadies from London - Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes - have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick and electric guitars. This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for Galactivision - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented-something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding. A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life.
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