THE POWER OF BLACKNESS - 1974 - JACK WILLIAMSON

The loosely linked adventures of Blacklantern, A BLACK POWER KIND OF CIVILIZATION   native of the blazing desert planet Nggongga, whose black denizens CULTIVATE MUSKWEED TO MAKE CHANEL NUMBER FIVE PARFUMS  live in sullen friction between their own harsh folkways and the unwelcome attentions of more technologically advanced worlds.

As ""XYR Benefactor  (members of an intergalactic troubleshooting organization THAT PREVENTS TERRORISM METAL WORMS AND LINK WORLDS WITH PORTALS THAT SHIPS TRANSPORT TO LINK POINTS BETWEEN LIGHT YEARS OF VOID... ), Blacklantern and the beauteous Snowfire probe a syndicate war, confront an inconceivable planetary strip-mining operation, try to prevent the imminent capture of Old Earth by a black hole. .

The Power of SPACE OPERA

 NEARMEN SUB-HOMENS UNTERMENSCH ANIMAIS VOADORES COM FERRÕES E VENENOS MORTÍFEROS

BIG JUG GIRLS

RITUAL HUNTS

METAL WORMS THAT MINE WORLDS

 

SPACE OPERA: AN EPIC HISTORY

By G. W. Thomas

The term "Space Opera", used to define a certain branch of Science Fiction, was coined by Wilson Tucker in 1941. It was not meant to be a compliment. The term "Soap Opera" has found its way into the larger public domain of common phrases, but it too came from this sort of labeling as did the "Horse Opera" Western. The Soap Opera was a romantic radio melodrama in which the sponsor was stereotypically a soap company or other product that would appeal to housewives. The Horse Opera was also considered the lowest form of the Western, filled with romantic interludes and other non-purist devices, just as the Space Opera was supposedly the lowest common denominator SF piece.

In the arena: the savage champion of space.
To win the right to a name he fought - without weapons - the dreaded beast. Only to be cheated of his prize.
Branded a criminal he sought refuge with a mysterious clan of intergalactic revolutionaries - and found his heritage at last.
As Blacklantern he was born again. And with his beloved Snowfire, set out to burn his vengeance on...more In the arena: the savage champion of space.
To win the right to a name he fought - without weapons - the dreaded beast. Only to be cheated of his prize.
Branded a criminal he sought refuge with a mysterious clan of intergalactic revolutionaries - and found his heritage at last.
As Blacklantern he was born again. And with his beloved Snowfire, set out to burn his vengeance on a universe of evil