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Space Opera Audiobook
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Publisher Description
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Eurovision in an over-the-top galactic science fiction spectacle from bestselling author Catherynne Valente where sentient races compete for glory in a universe-wide musical contest—where the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth.
A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. 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.
Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. 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. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.
This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. 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. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny—they must sing.
A band of human musicians, dancers, and roadies have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.
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"If Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury sat down to play poker with a bottle of absinthe they would have the love child known as Catherynne M. Valente and in honor of her quad-parentage she would write Space Opera. She did. And it is perfect. "
— Top Cat (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A wildly comical and cheerfully absurd galactic adventure.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“Miller shines as the sarcastic and sardonic narrator who guides listeners through the byzantine galactic history…He also does an outstanding job creating a range of convincing alien personas, as well as bringing the human characters to life…Those who enjoy intelligent satire will be richly rewarded. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
“Channeling the giants of sci-fi satire and glam rock into a brilliantly over-the-top burlesque.”
— B&N SciFi & Fantasy Blog -
“Valente offers up a universe in which the only thing of true value is rhythm. Not guns, not bombs, not money, not power, but sex and love and pop songs.”
— NPR -
“The funniest science fiction novel I’ve read since Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy."
— Verge -
“Another spectacular feat of world building (it’s worth reading just for the descriptions of previous performances) and a story which is uproariously funny, sweet, and hopeful.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Awards
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel of 2018
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A BookRiot Pick of the Best Audiobooks
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About Catherynne M. Valente
Catherynne M. Valente is the author of over two dozen works of fiction and poetry, including Palimpsest, the Orphan’s Tales series, Deathless, Radiance, and the crowdfunded phenomenon The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, and the four books that followed it. She is the winner of the Andre Norton, Tiptree, Sturgeon, Eugie Foster Memorial, Mythopoeic, Rhysling, Lambda, Locus, and Hugo awards, as well as the Prix Imaginales. Her works have also been a finalist for the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards.
About Heath Miller
Heath Miller is a voice talent and Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator.