Space opera is one of the oldest and dearest subgenres of science fiction. From Flash Gordon, to Dune, to Star Wars, and lately, The Expanse, these epics, cast across interstellar settings, have thrilled us for generations. But writing one might seem daunting, given the scope and scale of space opera narratives. You’re not only telling the story of one world, but many, and thus all of the characters, cultures, technology, and history the audience has come to expect.
I’ve written several space opera novels, key among them my Redshift Runners trilogy. I also have two more trilogies slated for release that take place in the Runners universe, and at least two more I’d like to write (I’m struggling to come up with a good umbrella term for my series, but that’s another essay). I’ll share how I crafted a space opera setting that is easily expandable, while maintaining an overall theme.
This isn’t an effort to plug my work; if I’m going to offer advice, I want it to be informed advice.
Granted, every author is different, and so are the needs for their story. Some writers might put far less detail into their space operas, whereas others may opt for a more ‘hard’ SF approach where every parsec and planetoid is enumerated. Either of these methods are fine; neither are determiners of what makes a good story. Whatever your needs, however, you need a…
