Leviathan Wakes is an interplanetary space opera reminiscent of Joss Whedon’s Firefly. Although its set entirely within the confines of our solar system — there’s no zipping between star systems — the book still manages to get in some great starship combat. Combined with fun, fast dialogue, the book reminded me strongly of Joss Wheadon’s excellent space western (but with out the horses).
The New Space Opera 2 is written by the current generation of SF writers, including Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi, John Barnes, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Mike Resnick. There are 19 stories in all.
The first volume read more like The New Transhumanism than the New Space Opera, focusing on how humanity morphs itself in the future, rather than tales of warring space empires. I’m four stories in, and so far this volume is hewing much closer to the space opera I’d expected while retaining a more modern edge.
