And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock. 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. A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and. Valente’s science fiction spectacle, where sentient races compete for glory in a galactic musical contest and the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth. That’s one of the main themes in Space Opera by Catherynne Valente, a glittering tribute to Eurovision that, despite the title, isn’t really a space opera.

The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets the joy and glamour of Eurovision in bestselling author Catherynne M. 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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