Widescreen baroque explained

Widescreen baroque is a style of science fiction writing "characterized by larger-than-life characters, violence, intrigue, extravagant settings or actions, and fast-paced plotting".^[1] It is closely aligned with, and an outgrowth of, space opera fiction.

The term widescreen baroque was coined by Brian Aldiss (as "wide-screen baroque") in his 1973 work The Billion Year Spree in reference to works by E.E. Smith and A.E. van Vogt.^[2]

Authors associated with widescreen baroque include:

• Stephen Baxter
• Barrington Bayley
• Alfred Bester
• Samuel Delany
• Charles L. Harness
• Stanislaw Lem
• Mariko Ohara
• Alastair Reynolds
• E.E. Smith
• A.E. van Vogt

Notes and References

1. "Widescreen baroque". Jeff Prucher, ed. The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction. Oxford University Press, 2006. (paywall link)
2. https://www.uwp.co.uk/wide-screen-baroque-revisited/ Wide-screen Baroque Revisited