Catherynne M. Valente describes her latest novel “Space Opera,” published by Saga Press on April 3, as “Eurovision IN SPACE!” The aliens have landed and humanity must prove their sentience to survive by entering an intergalactic singing competition and placing above dead last. Humanity’s representatives? Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeros, a washed-up British glam-rock duo who would rather be anywhere else.
Fans of Valente’s previous work may be surprised at the shift in tone from the serious dark fantasy of “Deathless” (2011) or “Palimpsest” (2009), but “Space Opera” is exactly the kind of optimistic, cheerful, over-the-top comedic romp the world needs right now.
The central theme of “Space Opera” is the idea of sentience and the value of human life. Intelligent life in the galaxy was nearly annihilated by the Sentience Wars a century ago, the Metagalactic Grand Prix was created as a competition to celebrate the end of the war. Are people sentient? Is humanity worth keeping around? Does all of the good stuff in our history make up for the bad?
Decibel Jones and Oort St. Ultraviolet must defend humanity using the power of rock ‘n’ roll, while the other competitors do their best to sabotage their efforts.
Valente’s prose is as well-crafted as ever, matching the high-octane glittery anticipation the story creates. It is reminiscent of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” a comedy science fiction book by Douglas Adams, but far more hopeful. Eurovision song lyrics and exposition about the various species and planets involved in the Grand Prix are woven through the narrative to create a rich, fascinatingly strange and imaginative tale. Valente cleverly uses the fantastical framework to tackle contemporary issues such as xenophobia, nationalism, gender and politics. The excitement and love she feels for her subject matter is infectious.
In “Space Opera,” Valente writes, “Life is beautiful and life is stupid. This is, in fact, widely regarded as a universal rule not less inviolable than the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the Uncertainty Principle and No Post on Sundays. As long as you keep that in mind, and never give more weight to one than the other, the history of the galaxy is a simple tune with lyrics flashed on-screen and a helpful, friendly bouncing disco ball of all-annihilating flames to help you follow along.”
Much like a disco ball, “Space Opera” is glittery and multifaceted, reflecting the world around it as much as it appears to be something else entirely. Unlike a disco ball, Valente has reached beyond the glitter and glam to create a story full of heart, painfully intimate and at its core, extremely human. It’s fun, silly, emotional and leaves the reader feeling whole and hopeful.
