302. How Does Space Opera Sing of New Worlds? | Firebreak with Kathy Tyers
Space is a dangerous place. Even recently we learned that the entire Artemis program has been rebooted, adding more rockets and risks! In other worlds and other galaxies, “space” is full of human life, music, adventure, romance, and fantastical new worlds. Just in time for Firebreak, book 1 of the Firebird Interlude Trilogy, we’re joined by longtime science fiction novelist Kathy Tyers to explore how the best space operas sing through this teeming expanse.
Episode sponsors
- Firebreak by Kathy Tyers
- Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo
- The Hole-Man by Dan Dietz
- The Lorehaven Authorship
Mission update
- New at Lorehaven: Andromache review, weekly reviews
- Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild
- You’ll get notified of monthly events, like last week’s livestream.
Backstory: Kathy (Tyers) Gillin
Kathy Tyers sold her first novel, Firebird, to Bantam Spectra in 1986. Since its initial 1987 publication, it has been rereleased by Bethany House Publishers, Marcher Lord Press, and Enclave Publishing, and was followed by further Firebird-universe novels Fusion Fire and Crown of Fire. Kathy finished the Firebird series in 2011 and 2012 with Wind and Shadow and the messiah tale Daystar. Enclave Publishing has also re-released her early novels One Mind’s Eye, Shivering World (Christy Award winner, 2019), and Crystal Witness. Now she’s returning to the Firebird whorl for a new series of novels. The Firebird Interlude trilogy begins March 10 with the release of Firebreak. Kathy is also known for her Star Wars Expanded Universe novels—The Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point. She lives in Montana with her husband William T. Gillin.
1. What are the origin stories of space opera?
- 1818: Mary Shelley’s first sci-fi-ish/horror novel Frankenstein
- 1830: British author Percy Greg’s poetical Across the Zodiac
- Late 19th century: the prolific Jules Verne, across Earth and space
- Late
