302. How Does Space Opera Sing of New Worlds? | Firebreak with Kathy Tyers
Fantastical Truth
Space is a dangerous place. Even recently we learned that the entire Artemis program has been rebooted, adding more rockets and risks! In other worlds and other galaxies, “space” is full of human life, music, adventure, romance, and fantastical new worlds. Just in time for Firebreak, book 1 of the Firebird Interlude Trilogy, we’re joined by longtime science fiction novelist Kathy Tyers to explore how the best space operas sing through this teeming expanse.
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Backstory: Kathy (Tyers) Gillin
Kathy Tyers sold her first novel, Firebird, to Bantam Spectra in 1986. Since its initial 1987 publication, it has been rereleased by Bethany House Publishers, Marcher Lord Press, and Enclave Publishing, and was followed by further Firebird-universe novels Fusion Fire and Crown of Fire. Kathy finished the Firebird series in 2011 and 2012 with Wind and Shadow and the messiah tale Daystar. Enclave Publishing has also re-released her early novels One Mind’s Eye, Shivering World (Christy Award winner, 2019), and Crystal Witness. Now she’s returning to the Firebird whorl for a new series of novels. The Firebird Interlude trilogy begins March 10 with the release of Firebreak. Kathy is also known for her Star Wars Expanded Universe novels—The Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point. She lives in Montana with her husband William T. Gillin.
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1. What are the origin stories of space opera?
1818: Mary Shelley’s first sci-fi-ish/horror novel Frankenstein
1830: British author Percy Greg’s poetical Across the Zodiac
Late 19th century: the prolific Jules Verne, across Earth and space
Late 19th/early 20th century: H. G. Wells brings the humanism
Early 20th century: Edgar Rice Burroughs shares pulp adventure
Other written tales and film serials helped create early space opera
This tradition focused not just on big ideas, but big human stories
Without these tales, we might not have stories like Star Wars
And that’s one way that today’s guest learned she liked sci-fi
2. Why do today’s fans love space opera?
Kathy Tyers has written harder science fiction, like Shivering World.
Spaceships are cool, but many fans like human drama even more.
For example, the Firebird Series is set in a far future galactic Whorl.
Readers resonate with Lady Firebird and her husband Brennan.
This, by the way, marks a rare example of married-couple heroes.
Similarly, Star Wars has spaceships, but focuses on human heroes.
Christians also see cool ideas and tech as means to human ends.
Without our humanity, we become “minds of metal and wheels.”
Even the best Star Trek episodes well understood this reality.
3. What might be the future of space opera?
More about the Firebird Interlude series—titles, dates, speculation.
Coming this June, Kathy Tyers gives a keynote at Realm Makers.
Meanwhile, we may expect to March onward into big space opera.
Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s novel, gets early plaudits.
Next up, actor Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy’s Starfighter movie (set in the Star Wars universe) is receiving a new hope from fans.
People do want futuristic, human-centric science-accented drama.
And yet Christians see this not as simply “hope in the human spirit” but hope of redemption, for grace-filled humans and a future age.
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Top question for listeners
What space opera stories help you sing in joyful gratitude?
Next on Fantastical Truth
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