Book Display Idea - Subgenre: Space Operas

 The Portalist recently curated a list of 25 Must Read Space Operas. Diving into a subgenre like this is another way to showcase your collections' backlist in a book display or book list. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction defines a space opera as: "colorful action-adventure stories of interplanetary or interstellar conflict." (This page also includes the names of many of the authors who have worked in the subgenre.) These are not books with hard science throughout and may instead include more fanciful ideas of technology. These sprawling, epic adventures can be humorous or have romantic subplots. Goodreads has lists of titles as well a definition and related subgenres. Reactor has tagged their related articles and lists with space opera as well. 

There are a lot of series that would fit into this sort of display or list. There is also ample opportunities to promote diverse books and authors within this subgenre. 

You can include a definition on signage as well as links to online resources on your display. 

Add audiobooks and DVDs of movies from your collection that fit the theme as well. If you have local or library based book displays that focus on science fiction, promote them as well on the display. 

Here are some lists to get you started on your own space adventure!

Book Riot has a list of 25 of the Best Space Opera Books of All Time and 10 Space Opera Series to Get You Through The Winter

Bookish Brews - 20 Best Diverse Space Opera Books You Need to Read

The Fantasy Review  - 7 Modern Space Opera Novels That Will Take You On Epic Adventures

Publishers Weekly  - 10 Authors Shaking Up Space Opera

If you want to explore sci-fi subgenres further, The Portalist has a guide to get you started: Powerful Sci-Fi Subgenres That Every Geek Needs to Explore. 

Ideas from publisher marketing emails -Anti-New Year's Resolution Reads

 I've mentioned before that you can use ideas from the emails publishers and other vendors send you to create your own book displays or lists. Simon and Schuster recently sent me an email with a link to the following list: Anti-New Year's Resolution Reads. The idea behind the list is to promote books  "if you’re done with setting life goals, check out these books filled with excess, desire, and obsession." This is such a fun idea. 

I am not a fan of New Year, New You displays. This would be a fun alternative. The publisher clearly is promoting their own titles but you can look at the backlist in your library's collection and curate a display from what you own that could use a little more attention and promotion. 

There are links to some lists below to get you started. Don't forget to look at your non-fiction especially cookbooks and biographies of those who lived with "excess, desire, and obsession." Also remember that people can become obsessed or passionate about many things so expand your search into your collection!

Goodreads - Excess Books

Crime Reads - 8 Books abut Dark Desires That Will Crush You

Goodreads - Listopia Desire Book Lists

The Rumpus - What to Read When You’re Looking for Desire

The Independent - Nine Books That Get Women's Desire Right

The Guardian - Top 10 Stories of Obsession

Pan MacMillian - Books About Obsession That will Have You Hooked

Novel Suspects - Obsession in Psychological Thrillers

Crime Reads - 7 Novels about Wealthy People Behaving Badly

Ideas from publisher marketing emails

You don't have to come up with new ideas every time you change out a book display or create a book list. Use the headlines from all of the marketing emails publishers send you as a jumping off point. Just take the basic idea and use what you have in your collection that is not moving and go from there. 

As an example, Off the Shelf from Simon & Schuster offered these list ideas: 

• 12 Addictive Reads You Can Finish in a Single Flight: 
• 6 Upcoming Releases Everyone Will Be Talking About This Year
• 11 Books That Are Guaranteed Page Turners

For the first one, you can add audiobooks or links to your eAudiobook collection. The theme could be a car trip or a single evening/weekend. If you decide to go with upcoming releases, the library's holds/reserve list can be promoted. Add cover images from those titles you want to promote and include a QR code to your catalog where patrons can place a hold. Upcoming titles does not mean those titles that are guaranteed to be a bestseller. Work with your acquisitions librarians to find titles that could use a little more promotion. As always, readalikes from your backlist can be added. The concept of a page turner is very loose so add any and all genres. Get other library staff involved and dig into your backlist. Don't worry about if a book is perfectly described as a page turner. The idea is to market your collection by using face outs. No one will grade your display. 

Every major publisher sends out promotional emails with lists of their backlist and new titles grouped in thematic lists. Borrow the idea, customize it to your collection and your community, and then go promote your collection!