Well, I know I'm not very regular here, but after thinking a bit today and doing a little research, I thought this is a place worth sharing my findings.
I've begun to consider a gothich space opera setting. While no specifics are in place as of yet, I've been just checking out ideas for inspiration and reading about both genres in general. The first thing that struck me is that neither one precludes the other in any way, and in fact, actually shares some elements. I shall discuss this more:
Gothic literature is marked primarily by Byronic heroes, a sense of terror and suspence, a morbid atmosphere often enhanced through metonymy and colorful language, a setting suffused with decay and corruption, ancient prophecies and omens, women in distress - often because of particularly vile and tyrannical men, strong melodrama, and many romantic elements such as unrequited love and such. Similarly, space operas are marked by their Byronic heroes (who can forget James T Kirk or Han Solo?), are rife with melodrama, women in distress, and often include ancient prophecies and even the supernatural in the form of the paranormal. Space operas are also easily described as epic and romantic, and they often bare marked similarities to old maritime adventures like those by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Thus, I can best describe a gothic space opera as a story set in a decaying galaxy where byronic heroes strive against unassailable odds to survive in a decaying universe rife with turmoil and decadance. The heroes often spend time on or use starships, although the action may just take place on an exotic locale (such is often the case in gothic horror).
Now, using this lense, let us examine an example of classic science fiction, Dune. A galaxy of declining noble houses rule a scattered and oppressed humanity where chicanary is a way of life among debauched barons and emperors. Here, there are at least two women who fidn themselves in various forms of distress, although they are far from helpless. There is also the ancient prophecy that Paul fulfills, and an epicly-scaled conflict in which Paul and the Fremen must defeat the empire itself. Paul definitely fits the bill as a Byronic hero, although more darkly so than most space opera protagonists.
I find, interestingly, that with little extrapolation, cyberpunk easily begins to fall within this category on a more planetary scale. Also, I find that the supernatural can easily be substituted with technology, where technology provides the mysteries and forbidden fruits that the supernatural once did for the likes of Horace Walpole, Anne Radcliff, and Charles Robert Maturin.
I'd love any thoughts any one might have or any other examples of what they might consider "gothic space opera". A setting will surely come of this eventually, but for now, I"m content to merely explore the possibilities of the genre.
Sounds interesting. Have you seen Steerpikes' Sixguns and Cosmic Horrors setting? It's in the homebrew section here.
I don't really see cyberpunk in that territory. Cyberpunk is more about a reaction against society -- doesn't really have much in the way of individuals or heroes since everyone is just a cog. In your description of Gothic literature, the people have an opportunity to affect the world for the better.
In real Cyberpunk, I don't think the actors can really affect the world, and even then they are often disaffected anti-heroes at best.
I would like to see what you come up with a setting...
Quote from: Raven BloodmoonThus, I can best describe a gothic space opera as a story set in a decaying galaxy where byronic heroes strive against unassailable odds to survive in a decaying universe rife with turmoil and decadance. The heroes often spend time on or use starships, although the action may just take place on an exotic locale (such is often the case in gothic horror).
I would recommend reading the works of Edger Allen Poe. I think that his work best personifies Victorian Gothic, which to me, seems like what you are trying to build here.
I am very interested in seeing what you come with.
Warhammer 40 000, in places, could be the definition of Gothic (http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs28/f/2008/136/9/6/Hive_City_Ink_by_Striogi.jpg) Space (http://www.upseros.com/wallpapers/act2/artfantasy/gw_necromunda/gw_necromunda_003.jpg) Opera (http://api.ning.com/files/xmEbxs76tlXb8OEjUUJcmKuh850CdefdSZAj1ox96dv9NJZmSswg4Jb654NBZiq9QiG5vi4*8KwOzxVLKlR6EF7xPhM*KFis/gloryindeath_1_7.jpg) - the decaying galaxy, the hellish horrors, the vast, brooding cities, the religious awe, the sense of dread, the enormous scale.
The supernatural pervades a lot of Gothic - do you envision it playing any part in your envisioned setting? 40K has Chaos and psykers, but I'm sure there are other ways of implementing the supernatural.
Quote from: Light DragonI don't really see cyberpunk in that territory. Cyberpunk is more about a reaction against society -- doesn't really have much in the way of individuals or heroes since everyone is just a cog. In your description of Gothic literature, the people have an opportunity to affect the world for the better.
In real Cyberpunk, I don't think the actors can really affect the world, and even then they are often disaffected anti-heroes at best.
One thing here: "heros" in gothic literature do little to affect their world, and the very few times that they do, it is hardly for the good. Truly, characters in gothic literature are helpless victims of the world who may or may not be striving to merely find a place within it, and maybe, if they're lucky, surivive with their soul in tact.
Some excellen gothic reading would include
The Castle Ontrato by Horace Walpole,
The Mysteries of Uldolpho and
The Italian by Anne Radcliffe,
Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin and
The Monk by an author whose name escapes me at present. These are the works that founded and defined the genre. While EA Poe has many gothic elements, he rarely ever makes use of the supernatural, which is a key element in gothic literature. He, still, is considered a Victorian gothic author, though.
Quote from: SteerpikeWarhammer 40 000, in places, could be the definition of Gothic (http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs28/f/2008/136/9/6/Hive_City_Ink_by_Striogi.jpg) Space (http://www.upseros.com/wallpapers/act2/artfantasy/gw_necromunda/gw_necromunda_003.jpg) Opera (http://api.ning.com/files/xmEbxs76tlXb8OEjUUJcmKuh850CdefdSZAj1ox96dv9NJZmSswg4Jb654NBZiq9QiG5vi4*8KwOzxVLKlR6EF7xPhM*KFis/gloryindeath_1_7.jpg) - the decaying galaxy, the hellish horrors, the vast, brooding cities, the religious awe, the sense of dread, the enormous scale.
The supernatural pervades a lot of Gothic - do you envision it playing any part in your envisioned setting? 40K has Chaos and psykers, but I'm sure there are other ways of implementing the supernatural.
Yeah, WH40K is pretty gothic, though not for the baroque architecture that dominates much of the artwork. I'm actually hoping to avoid remaking WH40K, since it is so well known and loved.
As for the supernatural, I was considering taking a page from Anne Radcliffe, sort of. I'm thinking that technology may fill in nicely for the supernatural, so long as most people do not understand just how it works. Thus, while the supernatural can still exist in the sense of strange and ancient technologies, it can still be explained with a simple handwave.
Allow me to further explain my current train of thought. At present, I am thinking that for some reason humanity is experiencing a dark age in which science has suffered greatly. A great deal of technology has been lost and now cults of holy mechanics maintain what few bits of technology still survive and strive to rediscover the secrets of their machine-god (much to be modeled after Zoroastrionism and the medieval Catholic Church). In fact, this machine-worship will form the most prominant religion (others have yet to be decided). Through sufficient mystification, I believe technology can fill the roll that the supernatural often played in gothic novels. Technology is not currently understood, and thus is a source of wonder, awe, and seemingly paranormal.
>>Allow me to further explain my current train of thought. At present, I am thinking that for some reason humanity is experiencing a dark age in which science has suffered greatly
Sort of like a technological version of Canticle for Leibowitz?
Or the Jawas in Star Wars?
Hmm, so what would the actual tech level be? What level of technology do they still understand?
I think you could have a pretty high level of technology and still have a few powerful pieces of arcane machinery fill out the "preternatural tech" slot.
Quote from: Cataclysmic CrowHmm, so what would the actual tech level be? What level of technology do they still understand?
Wandering Jew[/url]).
Another idea that came to mind is that perhaps any aliens humanity thinks it has encountered are actually genetically altered humans from ages past that have taken root and propogated in other systems that became isolated during the fall of humanity. This could serve to allow the classic humanoid aliens that are so common in space operas while still explaining their inexplicable similarities to humans (why is Spok just a human with pointy ears? Because his great great great great great grandfather was made that way from human stock). Again, just a random thought, but who knows. Maybe the real aliens sitll lurk out thre somewhere and humans just haven't encountered them yet. Maybe they already have met real aliens. Who knows just yet.