Space Opera

This week on the note of space operas and science fiction, I read through "The Star" by Arthur C Clarke. This short story was very fascinating to dive into, it took on different elements than what I was expecting due to usual sci-fi stories. "The Star" is told almost as a journal entry, told from the point of view from a man of the cloth. This struck me as an unusual element within the genre of sci-fi, however the story does proceed to hit many of the key markers in space opera. The narrator speaks of the dynamics in space and on this voyage, there is not much action that takes place but more of the explanation of events or occurrences. But after every nebula or star burst explained, the narrator seems to reside back to the theme of questioning his faith and his god. To my knowledge, this overall theme Clarke produces of the clergy man in question is a bit out of character for the sci-fi genre. Although, with this story being published in the late 50's, when the space program was being developed and there was talk of going to the stars. This era might have inspired Clarke to step outside the box and turn our focus inward to the psychological conflicts. There is a certain drama that this story holds, other than sounding very factual and less fantastical. The narrator laments on their new discovery, wondering if this will take away all belief systems that they have known for thousands of years, also comparing the religious symbols he has in his quarters to what they see everyday in space.

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