I Read A Bad Space Opera

[@SoundEngraver]

Going forward, I will not be reviewing bad fiction. If a story doesn't keep me interested after the beginning, I will put it down. Good fiction will be reviewed. And if a story is 5 out of 5 stars, I'll provide an in-depth analysis. Thanks always for watching!

[@Rodrigo_Vega]

First time watching your channel and I think there's things to be learned from bad fiction as much as there is from good. Although I understand not wanting to turn into a "rant channel".

[@SoundEngraver]

@@Rodrigo_Vega, thank you! Actually, I've learned the more I read good fiction, the more I don't need to bother with bad fiction. We actually can unlearn good things by constantly watching and reading the bad things. It's best to spend time with quality. I do try to avoid unnecessary ranting. ☺

[@aragmarverilian8238]

Instead of one single, overpowered character, he could've split and integrated all of these different capabilities into at least five characters.

[@SoundEngraver]

You're right. It would have worked better as a team dynamic.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

@@SoundEngraver I imagine you might like the Starshatter space opera series.

[@SoundEngraver]

@@aragmarverilian8238 I'll definitely give it a go.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

@@SoundEngraver There is one book with short stories set in the same universe, A Mandate Of Sword And Railgun.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

The problem with most indies having a proper editor is that the bulk of them have barely enough money to put food on the table.

[@SoundEngraver]

While I understand that, it's worth investing. Since releasing my music, I've had to spend money on a mastering engineer. I accept that I won't see a return on investment until years from now.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

@@SoundEngraver I agree, the investment is totally worth it. For most indies and especially those who live in the third world countries, hiring a pro is just a dream.

[@kerasimeonov8213]

@@SoundEngraver It's not possible if you have to make the choice between food and editing. I mean a paid editor. Everyone should have some type of editor, even if it's just your pals.

[@SoundEngraver]

@@kerasimeonov8213 I believe it is possible.

[@TreyStation64]

I'm an indie writer, and I know full well the pain of trying to scrounge up money to get a proper editor. Beta readers could've helped him out-actual beta readers, not people who just say "It's good" without giving you actionable feedback.

[@sirstone4545]

To be defined by your enemy is to be nothing at all.

[@SoundEngraver]

Great point!

[@kikodekliko1209]

Wait no title? I want to know which book to avoid!

[@georgetherat3345]

As a long-time reader of space operas, I've yet to come across any story better than " Legend of Galactic Heroes." Synopsis- which is better a benevolent dictatorship or corruptible democracy. It is an anime that is over 100+ episodes in length. Unfortunately, the books have never been translated into English. The characters are multi dimensional and complex.

[@SoundEngraver]

Thanks for the mention! The premise sounds interesting.

[@georgetherat3345]

My error. You can now get the books in English .

[@SoundEngraver]

@@georgetherat3345 nice to know!

[@AmandaFessler]

Seconding this. Amazing story.

[@kerasimeonov8213]

You really should check out Starshatter based on the books you said you liked. You seem to have good taste in Sci-fi at least according to my tastes. Starshatter got me out of my doldrums. I hadn't read any good sci-fi in a while and this reawakened it.

[@SoundEngraver]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@genesys6167]

congratulations on your engagement!

[@SoundEngraver]

Thank you!

[@foundationcomics3949]

If you haven't already, check out Lois M Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga. Plenty of what you're looking for in there (and it has a memorable torture scene to boot)!

[@aragmarverilian8238]

I liked it too.

[@SoundEngraver]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@AceLM92]

Excellent review. I like how you point out that the pendulum of virtue signaling swings both ways, something the reactionaries seem to overlook when they hear the term

[@vgmaster9]

You could have a very competent hero while they're dealing with incredibly powerful antagonists.

[@SoundEngraver]

Competence needs to be convincing.

[@vgmaster9]

@@SoundEngraver The show Invincible is a good example. Mark is pretty competent, but he's gotten his ass beat alot.

[@robburgess4556]

If you want a space opera, check out books by JS Dewes: The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet

[@SoundEngraver]

Thank you! I'll refer to this. Appreciate it.

[@krraika1847]

It is good to keep an eye out for potential stories and to see what works and what does not. It was interesting to hear your thoughts on the story because it reminded me of looking at different snippets of manuscripts from other amateur writers on discord. And yes, I agree you should have a good story in the first place for it to work (something which SW has been lacking even before Disney bought it). Still, I'd like to see what else this author has in store. Hopefully, he can learn from it and improve, as we all should from our own work.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

Greetings! I wonder if you heard about the Starshatter space opera series yet?

[@krraika1847]

​@@aragmarverilian8238 Hey there. Afraid I haven't. To be honest, I usually don't read much outside of whatever I can find online or whatever's already in my house (I'm somewhat cheap in that regard), but hey I'm willing to look at it.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

@@krraika1847 If you like old school stuff, especially sword&planet and space opera, you will enjoy the Starshatter books. There is one anthology, a collection of short stories, titled "A Mandate Of Sword And Railgun" and a novella "The Rifle's Song".

[@AmandaFessler]

It's ironic. In trying to defeat Rey, he became Rey.

[@SoundEngraver]

😄

[@kerasimeonov8213]

Sounds like really bad writing in the story you're describing. They missed the point of character development and sounds like they missed the point of storytelling.

[@SoundEngraver]

It did give it a star for a coherent story. That alone is important.

[@danielherrin]

Hire Rian Johnson, not a good idea.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

Ah, the special Rian Johnson person. Truly a genius level intellect this one :D

[@dson978]

Sounds like you're describing the story of spaceballs 😅

[@SoundEngraver]

@@dson978 Only difference is Spaceballs made me laugh.

[@ThatAutisticGuy2005]

Why is him being a 30 year old virgin a problem? Good video though. I am working on a space opra too

[@SoundEngraver]

@@ThatAutisticGuy2005 He's 40 years old and is supposed to be the rogue Han Solo before meeting Leia. If he has no religious reason to remain celibate and is, then it can be socially off putting for a woman. (There are many psychological reasons why this is.)

[@ThatAutisticGuy2005]

@@SoundEngraver so it's off putting that he wants to wait for the right person to do it with. This isn't even about the character anymore that's just a horrible thing to think. Edit: not saying your horrible just the types of woman that believe that. That's like saying a woman is not worth it cause she slept with a lot of guys. Once again not saying that's you

[@SoundEngraver]

@@ThatAutisticGuy2005 I'm Christian and believe everyone should wait until marriage. I'm saying the woman likes the bad boy in fiction. It's an archetypal part of the woman's psychology. So, if you have in your story a chaste man who is also rogue and ruggedly handsome, then you have to make it believable. This story didn't have a believable hero.

[@ThatAutisticGuy2005]

@@SoundEngraver that makes sense. I get that. The hot guy breaking hearts left and right trope.

[@toddgregory8080]

From your review, it seems this author broke not only every rule of writing, but every rule of the hero's journey. He didn't read anything first? My deeper point is that he admitted that it was in defiance of Disney. Fair point, but a huge part of Disney's problem was with the hero's journey. Sure, people may be a little tired of the strong female character, or the diversity pushed on everything, but no one inherently hated Rey because she was a girl. We hated her because she was a Mary Sue. She has more force powers than Yoda. She knows, and flies, the Millennium Falcon better than Han. Her first battle with Kylo Ren is a victory, even though he has dedicated his entire existence to being a stronger Jedi/sith than his grandfather. This author's true middle finger to Disney would have been to craft a better story, with more honest heroes, than Disney has in years. Well, we can try harder.

[@SoundEngraver]

💯

[@SoundEngraver]

I believe a story shouldn't exclusively be a reaction against another thing.

[@KhristianG64573]

😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@jfranklins]

Sounds like a story I might like. I like "old heroics" and my heroes to be good. If the character was an elite soldier of course he's going to be good at just about everything he does. That's a given. How many bad guys in stories( and history) have been presumptuous which led to their downfall. Just because you're a king or an advisor to a king doesn't mean your brilliant. I can give you countless examples of incompetent kings and advisers in books and history. I've read several books where the main character had such a brutal upbringing he never had a relationship with women. And just because there is no empire doesn't mean there aren't smugglers, each planet must have its own law enforcement battling smugglers and pirates etc. It just seems to me you're nitpicking a lot of these issues. Maybe the book just wasn't your cup of tea, or maybe it really was a bad book. Wish I knew the series you were talking about.

[@SoundEngraver]

The book is Galen's Way, by Richard Paolinelli, if you want to read it.

[@jfranklins]

@@SoundEngraver Thank you!

[@joannkirk-il3mo]

When I saw your title, my first thaught: L Ron Hubbard. A true master of crap

[@SoundEngraver]

Never read his works. Knowing his background in other things, I wonder how much of that went into his writing.