Space Oddity Audiobook By Catherynne M. Valente cover art

Space Oddity

The Space Opera, Book 2

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Space Oddity

By: Catherynne M. Valente
Narrated by: Heath Miller
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Return to the greatest contest in the galaxy in this “beguiling, bewitching” (Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of the October Daye series) sequel to the hilarious USA TODAY bestseller Space Opera from New York Times bestselling author and finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy and Ursula K. Le Guin awards, Catherynne M. Valente.

The Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past—returns, and the fate of the Earth is once again threatened. The civilizations opposed to humanity have been plotting and want to take down the upstarts. Can humanity rise again?

©2024 Catherynne M. Valente (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio First Contact Humorous Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Funny Witty Interstellar
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Catherynne M Valente’s Space Oddity is the sequel to her wildly successful Space Opera. Humanity has been contacted by alien intelligence and learns that there are a plethora of intelligent races that manage to co-exist peacefully. In the first book, humanity had to earn their right to join by competing in a galaxy-wide version of Eurovision and not coming in last. Humanity survived, but now the contest is coming around again and there are alien races gunning for Earth. At the same time, the origins of the contest are provided.

Valente’s first installment was a breath of fresh air in the sci-fi genre with a thoroughly entertaining parody of Eurovision, but with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance. The idea of a washed-up glam rocker saving the Earth in a the most entertaining and humorous way was sheer joy. Unfortunately, this sequel attempts to follow the same format and at this point, results are less than satisfactory.

The narration is as good as the original with excellent character distinction, along with timing necessary for the jokes.

More galactic level Eurovision

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I really liked this book and laughed out loud multiple people times. I will always recommend her books.

So good!

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Heath Miller did an outstanding job of giving voice to this story and to all the characters within it. Cathrynne Valente’s books are fundamentally about Love and this one is no exception. This is a world I wish truly existed because I would love to meet these aliens and hear Des sing.
Absolutely buy this book.

Mind bending characters and worlds

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compared to the first title, very little seems to happen. while the unkillable rules are delightful enough for their own story, things just "happen". this book is way too "the cricket wars" to be enjoyable as a print book. Aliens are made absurd simply to make them different, where by virtue of extraterrestrial life they are different in every way. no need for more weird just because. the voice actor gives the performance of a lifetime, however. very few high caliber sci Fi books have a performance of this level. engaging voices, voices well imagined from the descriptions of the author.

world is fun; plot left in the dust

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This is the first of my nearly 300 titles that I just gave up on. I enjoyed the original (though it rambled a bit) and was excited to see where it might go. But after three hours of listening I have no idea what the plot of this is supposed to be. There is a little bit about the band going on a PR Junket after the 10th place finish, but all I keep hearing about is little stories masquerading as world building.

Perhaps my problem is that I listen to books while walking my dog and that means that it comes in 30 minute stretches a few times a day. This book might not be one that you can take breaks like that. I've never had a problem before, but I'm open to this being the reason for my lack of care.

I get that the author is channeling Adams in their writing, but I still need some sort of plot. As it stood, after the three hours I felt like a kid in a classroom trying to decipher what bits of the teachers babble was going to be on the test. With so much being thrown at me, and all in the very same voice, I found myself drifting as a listener. I went back a few times because I thought maybe I had missed a plot point (I hadn't), and finally just moved on to another book.

Narration for the book was fine. Heath Miller is a good choice for the style of writing and makes an enjoyable listen. There were a few points where the editing doubled up some words - at least I think it did, I could be mistaking a writing choice.

I'm sure a story developed at some point, and maybe I will take another run at this title, but for now I have hit stop and started another book.

Gave up after three hours of no/little plot

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this book feels like a straight to DVD sequel to a cult classic that should never have worked in the first place. it's the restaurant at the end of the universe. Same joke, just not as funny this time around. I'll give it to Valente though, she stuck the landing. If you wade through the "eh" to get end, that big ol warm fuzzy blanket of emotional payoff is there, but it doesn't quite justify itself as a whole.

a tedious sequel to a brilliant book

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