So, I've read somewhere that it was among the first, defining works of the Space Opera genre. I got curious. All I've go to say after reading it is thank God it's not 1937. I have never read a fanfic, not on FFN, not even intentionally bad fanfic, that was this horrible. I can hardly call it a proper novel. The very outdated technology and nomenclature was bad enough ("ray guns", "ether"? WTF!), but the over-the-top depiction of absolutely everything, the non-existent characterization, and Gary Stu hero, a notable lack of morals and disregard for human life really made it hard to believe it was a published work (a bestseller?), not something scribbled in a bored 4th grader's note book. The worst parts were the blatant racism and sexism: worship of classical idealized Arian God-like build and features (a seven foot tall blue-eyed blonde male whose body is described by a male narrator, in a male leading character's words, speaking to an obviously intended male reader, as "beautiful") and the stated as truism belief of the narrator that women are inherently feeble minded and are only good for treating the wounded, recreation and procreation. I've wanted to stop reading so many times, but I've kept on to try and see if it got any worse. I was unpleasantly surprised to discover that it had, indeed, got worse.
Of purely historical interest nowadays. Avoid if possible, read with caution.
1 comment:
I read it ages ago, then had to re-read when I was told it's a space opera (I was a kid).
The best (read: stupidest) bit is that "there is no goog nor evil" blah blah blah....
Yeah right!
and don't you know, the goodies look like wise old men and the baddies are ugly or whatever.
Read it so you can understand the parodies properly (Harry Harrison parodies space operas in Star Smashers Of The Galaxy Rangers.I loved it)
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