a stranger here myself

Mitchell and Webb, live:

"It is a science fiction series, but we were much more interested in writing the fiction than in knowing anything about the science, really.  I mean you can literally study science for weeks before you're really on top of it."


I think we've all learnt a lot about tolerance and space!

John Crowley is interviewed in The Believer:

"IT'S PROBABLY CENTRAL TO THE NATURE OF FICTION ALTOGETHER, TO TRY TO ENTER INTO LOST WORLDS OR ENTER INTO 'THE LOST' IN SOME WAY."

Reasons to get involved with the science-fiction crowd: They speak Latin They respond promptly to blogs Their untamed romantic impulse

* I do not speak Latin

My review of the Battlestar Galactica finale is up in a two-parter at Strange Horizons, wherein the estimable Roz Kaveney and I approach the same show from different angles, and come away with nearly opposite conclusions about how well it worked. 

Dear friends who know stuff about books,

My dear friend Jennie is in the mood for "some AWESOME and WELL WRITTEN SPACE OPERA", and she would like your recommendations. 

I'm tempted to put in some qualifiers about elements she might especially enjoy (philosophy! good sex! the queerness!), but how about I just open the floor to your suggestions?  Anything and everything good that even vaguely qualifies as space opera, please.

When I think of space opera, here's a few I come up with off the top of my head:

- The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold, beginning with _Shards of Honor_.
- The Culture books by Iain Banks, beginning with _Consider Phlebas_.
- John Scalzi's _Old Man's War_ series
- Dune series
- Hyperion series (I know Jennie loved these)

Thank you in advance!  Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.