Space Opera Fans discussion

Mine would be Dune but I want to know what your is?

If you feel like it tell me why you like that particular series or book.

Honorverse. Sentient cats. Kick ass heroine. A very complex and realistic universe. Plots complex enough to both frustrate me and keep me interested throughout.

I like lots of 'classic' space opera series, but more recently the Merkiaari Wars series by Mark E. Cooper has captured my fancy. Oh ... and I looked on Amazon to pull up the name (since I can never spell Merkiaari) and the first book in the series is free on kindle!




I also enjoy the Fuzzy series, written by various authors starting with Fuzzy Bones, including a title by John Scalzi (who will be at ARISIA as guest-of-honor this year ... SQUEE!).

Quite partial to Robert Buettner's "Orphanage" series.

Reaching back a few years to add the Four Lords of the Diamond series by Jack Chalker

Ronnie wrote: "Quite partial to Robert Buettner's "Orphanage" series."

Ooh! I've read that and enjoyed it :-)

Anna wrote: Ooh! I've read that and enjoyed it :-)"

Have you read the three sequel novels?
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Ronnie wrote: "Anna wrote: Ooh! I've read that and enjoyed it :-)"

Have you read the three sequel novels?"

I believe I read Undercurrents, but not the other two. My local public library has a pathetically dwindling sci-fi section with lots of incomplete, sporadic and random books-in-series, so most of my space opera readings are out of sequence.

My local library is much the same. I'll pick up a book that looks interesting, only to find it's the third or fourth in a series, and they don't have book one.

I like the Expanse series by James S.A. Corey. Still need to read Cibola Burn.

The Culture series by Iain M. Banks is another obvious choice.

Do I have to pick one?

Love...


currently re-reading Dune with an eye toward finishing the entire expanded series, in order... if I live that long.


Frederick Pohil IS hard SF to me!


started reading as a kid, worked through the later books in college. May not hold up well now, but a pivotal series in the history of the genre.


LOVED these books as a middle schooler, now collecting them again for a nostalgia re-read. If you haven't read these, the Lucky Starr series IS space opera in its purest, most delightful form.

Also collecting all the Berserker books by Saberhagen for a full in-order read-through, likewise Iain Banks's Culture novels. I've read almost everything else by Banks but those, and the time has come!

Larry Niven's Known Space series

Does the series have to be finished or can it be ongoing? Because the Man of War series Starting with To Honor You Call Us is shaping up to be very good. BTW this series is by H. Paul Honsinger Currently there's only two books in the series with a third novel coming soon. Can't wait.

David Brin's Uplift Saga Sundiver , Startide Rising, The Uplift War , Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore, Heaven's Reach. Also Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama series including the Gentry Lee offshoots

Dean wrote: "Didn't the "Fuzzy" series originate with Beam's "Little Fuzzy," from which Scalzi's work was intended as a literary reboot? I enjoyed both versions of the story...."

Yes. But I couldn't find the book cover in a quick search :-) John Scalzi's reboot was a lot more edgy than the original books, which are being billed as 'middle grade readers' today. I read them as an adult, though, and still enjoyed them, albeit a long time ago. Murder of a sapient, child-like being really isn't kid-lit.

Robin wrote: "Does the series have to be finished or can it be ongoing? Because the Man of War series Starting with To Honor You Call Us is shaping up to be very good. BTW this series is by [aut..."

My vote is for whatever series you're reading (old or new, finished or still evolving) that is your favorite. I mean, some series never end (Honorverse, anyone :-).

Well, if I can list more than one, in addition to the Honorverse, and if I can include Sci-Fi and not just SO, then:

The Faded Sun by C.J. Cherryh

Golden Age of the Solar Clipper by Nathan Lowell

Catteni by Anne McCaffrey

Vatta's War by Elizabeth Moon

Saga of the Well World by Jack L. Chalker

All of which I've read multiple times.

Ahh .. the Well of Souls ... forgot that one :-) Been so long since I read it. Centaurs and Space Captains ... how could I forget?

Honorverse and Vorkosigan. I feel like most of the good sci-fi is more of a one shot book instead of a long series, in some ways this is preferable to fantasy where every plot needs at least 3000 pages.

Aaron wrote: "Honorverse and Vorkosigan. I feel like most of the good sci-fi is more of a one shot book instead of a long series, in some ways this is preferable to fantasy where every plot needs at least 3000 pages..."

Like A Canticle for Leibowitz? I believe that's the author's one and only book he ever wrote.

Canticle actually has a sequel though it was finished from previous notes by another author after Miller committed suicide.

Wow, I can't believe no one has mentioned Cherryh's Foreigner series. Maybe not exactly space opera, but this ongoing saga has the depth of the original Dune novels (the ones written by Frank Herbert.)

A Canticle for Leibowitz was amazing; I didn't know there was a sequal. Thanks!

Dune
Hyperion - Simmons some elements of space opera
Night's Dawn (Hamilton)
Revelation Space - Reynolds
Gap - Donaldson
Foundation (the expanded 14 books)dated but great reads.
Rama Clarke

I better stop now

Halo Trilogy
Stargate series
Theirs Not to Reason Why trilogy

More to read later.

Frank wrote: "Dune
Hyperion - Simmons some elements of space opera
Night's Dawn (Hamilton)
Revelation Space - Reynolds
Gap - Donaldson
Foundation (the expanded 14 books)dated but great reads.
Rama Clarke

I be..."

I love the same things as you! Especially the Dune, Revelation Space and Hyperion series. My current favorite is The Expance by James SA Corey. I do think the first three Foundation books by Asimov and The Night's Dawn series by Peter F. Hamilton are great.

I tried to read the Gap novels and couldn't get past the rampant sexism of the first book.

Mad wrote: "...I do think the first three Foundation books by Asimov and The Night's Dawn series by Peter F. Hamilton are great...."

If you like Peter F. Hamilton, have you read our Space Opera Fans author interview with him on the first book in the Night's Dawn series?

HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It's an awesome interview and he is one heck of a gracious guy :-)

Thanks!That was pretty cool. Sad to hear that he is going to not write any more books in the Commonwealth after the sequel to his current book.

When I was an adolescent, I really enjoyed E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensmen Series.



It was a major catalyst in making me a life-long scifi fan ...

To be honest, I haven't finished many series because I tend to get distracted with other books. But definitely the Robot Series by Asimov are top notch.

I just started the Xeelee Sequence as well since I'm craving some far future stuff.

Anna wrote: "I like lots of 'classic' space opera series, but more recently the Merkiaari Wars series by Mark E. Cooper has captured my fancy. Oh ... and I looked on Amazon to pull up the name (..."


Hi Anna, any new updates about the author Mark. E. Cooper?

Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

NOT the ones her son wrote.

I like The Expanse books.
And I like the Perry Rhodan series.

If we’re talking general Sci-Fi, then my favorites include:

The Well World Saga by Jack L. Chalker - Midnight at the Well of Souls is the first one.

The Murderbot Diaries, no question. First one is All Systems Red.

The Earthseed duology by Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower & Parable of the Talents.


More Space Opera:

I echo Adam’s call-out of Larry Niven’s Known Space. But specifically the pre-1990s stuff.

The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. First one is Shards of Honor, although I read The Warrior's Apprentice first.

The Sten series by Cole & Bunch. Sten.

Old Man's War series by John Scalzi.

Thanks for all of the ones listed so far. I love many of those, and will be checking out some others!

My faves:

The Pride of ChanurThe Chanur series by CJ Cherryh. Wonderful alien first contact space opera where the aliens are us!

Singularity Sky The Eschaton series by Charlie Stross. Great author who can write multi-dimensional characters in a hard SF setting.

Berserker This is an old series, but very good. Unusual premise that I won't spoil.

I'll echo the recommendations for Murderbot, the Vorkosigan books, and Cherryh's Foreigner and Faded Sun books.

Surprised no one has mentioned Startide rising. While the first book, Sundiver is just OK, Startide Rising is amazing and the uplift war is a romp. The second trilogy I was not that enamored with but the strength of those two books makes it a nominee.
Niven’s early known space is delightful but a little dated, and of course the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy should be on anyone’s list. Murderbot is certainly the current champion.

I can’t narrow it down to favorites, but I’ll instantly buy any space opera books by these authors, without even reading the blurb:
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Liaden Universe)
Nathan Lowell (Solar Clipper)
Jerry Boyd (Bob and Nikki)
Mackey Chandler (April, Family Law)

Hands down, Empire Rising by D J Holmes. I haven't come across a series that comes anywhere near it.

bob wrote: "Surprised no one has mentioned Startide rising. While the first book, Sundiver is just OK, Startide Rising is amazing and the uplift war is a romp. The second trilogy I was not that enamored with b..."

I agree. _Startide Rising_ is excellent and _The Uplift War_ is quite good.

Is it cliché if I say The Expanse series?

Rotuma wrote: "When I was an adolescent, I really enjoyed E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensmen Series.



It was a major catalyst in making me a life-long scifi fan ..."

I agree. The Lensman Series is still better than most of the modern SF, including modern adult SF.

I wish Smith had lived to finish the Skylark Series. Steven Goldin also did a respectable job of fleshing out the Family d'Alembert series, from Smith's notes.

I would be proud if my own work turns out to be half as good as Smith's work.

My understanding from what I have read was that Skylark DuQuesne was the conclusion of the series. Seaton and DuQuesne reach a mutual understanding and go their separate ways, with the latter heading off into space to find a place he can call his own and not come into contact with Seaton or his friends ever again.

The Culture - Iain M. Banks

Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton is my favorite.

David wrote: "Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton is my favorite."

The whole series, not just the first book. Also his Void trilogy was great, though a bit more supernatural than I would prefer.

I recently figured out I have a visual processing disorder, so I’m new to books because they were too painful to read before I found ways to cope with my condition.

That being said, I love transformers. I love the comics and I love (most of) the cartoons. I especially love the worldbuilding in the comics!

I am going to presume you are only familiar with the US Transformer comics. You might like to know that some of the UK comics featured material not found in the US comics.

I am also a huge Peter Hamilton fanboy. I still think his first big series “The Night’s Dawn” is his best but Pandora Star/Judas Unchained is a close second!!

And don’t sleep on his latest series, the SALVATION trilogy.

I don't like to play favourites but it's getting harder all the time to say any other series than RED RISING...

My favourite series is definitely the culture series, by Iain M. Banks.

Hyperion is my fave! Just finished book #1 and it’s shot to the top of my favorites list, can’t wait to read book #2