SPACE OPERA by Catherynne M. Valente

AGENDA:

1. Short introductions (name, pronouns, one thing you liked about the book)
2. Discussion of SPACE OPERA
3. Deciding on April title*

SPACE OPERA was nominated for a Hugo Award, a Locus Award, and a John W. Campbell Memorial Award in 2019. John Scalzi described it as being "as if Ziggy Stardust went on a blind date with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then they got smashed and sang karaoke all night long."

"IN SPACE EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SING

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 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 the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock."

SPACE OPERA is available for purchase through WritersBlockBookstore.com (USPS ship-to-home, curbside pickup, or audiobook download through Libro.fm). You can also borrow it from the Orange County Public Library System as a physical book via grab-and-go or home delivery, as an ebook download through the Overdrive and Libby apps, or as a digital audiobook download through the Hoopla app. If you have any questions about how to obtain the book through these means, please comment on the event or DM host Shelby Bouck.

*Feel free to suggest a book from any genre for April! It should be published for an adult or young adult audience and be one continuous work, i.e. not a collection of short stories, essays, or poems.