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Our Favorite Starships in Science Fiction

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Science fiction is known for many things: robots, aliens, distant planets, and high-tech gadgets. But perhaps more than anything, starships define the genre. Countless starships have flown in sci-fi movies, shows, and books. Here are some of our favorites. What are yours?

Millennium Falcon (Star Wars)

The Millennium Falcon, an iconic starship from the Star Wars universe, is a legendary vessel renowned for its distinctive appearance and storied history. The Falcon is a highly modified Corellian YT-1300 light freighter, expertly piloted by the charismatic Han Solo and his loyal Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca. With its battered exterior and seemingly haphazard modifications, the Falcon may not appear impressive at first glance. However, it boasts remarkable speed and maneuverability, making it a formidable force in the galaxy. This legendary starship has played a crucial role in numerous daring escapades and epic battles, solidifying its status as a beloved symbol of adventure and rebellion in a galaxy far, far away.

USS Enterprise (Star Trek)

The USS Enterprise, a legendary starship from the Star Trek franchise, stands as a symbol of exploration, diplomacy, and the boundless potential of humanity. As the flagship of Starfleet, the Enterprise represents the pinnacle of human achievement and collaboration. Its sleek design and iconic saucer-shaped primary hull have become instantly recognizable, while its advanced technology, including warp drive and a wide array of scientific instruments, enables the crew to boldly go where no one has gone before. Captained by remarkable leaders like James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard, the Enterprise embarks on daring missions, encountering new civilizations, and embodying the optimistic vision of a future where humanity strives for knowledge, understanding, and peaceful coexistence throughout the vastness of space.

TARDIS (Doctor Who)

The TARDIS, a remarkable time machine and spacecraft from the beloved Doctor Who series, is an enigmatic and captivating vessel. Disguised as a humble blue British police box on the outside, the TARDIS defies expectations with its vast interior that transcends the boundaries of space and time. With its ability to traverse the universe, the TARDIS allows the Doctor, a Time Lord, and their companions to embark on thrilling adventures across different eras and worlds. It possesses a sentient nature, adapting to the Doctor's needs and occasionally having a mind of its own. The TARDIS remains an iconic symbol of the Doctor's eternal wanderlust and their mission to protect the fabric of time while imparting wisdom and compassion to those they encounter along the way.

Serenity (Firefly)

The Serenity, a captivating starship featured in the science fiction series Firefly, is a vessel that embodies resilience and the spirit of freedom. A Firefly-class spaceship, the Serenity serves as a home and sanctuary for a diverse group of renegades and misfits, led by the resourceful Captain Malcolm Reynolds. With its weathered exterior and versatile design, the Serenity navigates the ragged edges of space, engaging in smuggling and mercenary work to survive in a universe plagued by political unrest. Beyond its physical attributes, the ship fosters a sense of camaraderie and loyalty among its crew as they navigate their way through the complexities of the 'Verse. The Serenity stands as a symbol of independence and hope, carrying its crew on daring escapades while showcasing the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.

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Nostromo (Alien)

The Nostromo, a colossal commercial towing vehicle from the science fiction film Alien, is an imposing and atmospheric vessel that serves as the backdrop for a terrifying cosmic encounter. A utilitarian and functional spacecraft, the Nostromo exudes an industrial aesthetic with its sprawling corridors, dimly lit interiors, and labyrinthine design. Crewed by a diverse group of individuals, the ship embarks on a routine mission that takes a harrowing turn when they unwittingly stumble upon a deadly extraterrestrial life form. The Nostromo becomes a claustrophobic and eerie setting, intensifying the sense of isolation and vulnerability as the crew battles for survival against an insidious and relentless adversary. With its haunting ambiance and hauntingly realistic portrayal, the Nostromo adds a palpable sense of dread and suspense to the iconic Alien franchise.

Battlestar Galactica (Battlestar Galactica)

The Battlestar Galactica, a formidable starship from the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series, stands as a symbol of resilience and hope in the face of devastation. As the last surviving warship of the Twelve Colonies, the Battlestar Galactica leads a fleet of human survivors in a desperate search for a new home. Its weathered and battle-scarred exterior reflects the immense trials it has endured throughout the war with the Cylons, a race of sentient robots. Manned by a diverse crew, including skilled pilots and resourceful leaders, the Galactica represents humanity's tenacity and determination in the fight against extinction. Operating on aging technology and armed with both conventional and unconventional weaponry, the ship becomes a beacon of resistance and a sanctuary for those seeking solace in an unforgiving universe. The Battlestar Galactica serves as a testament to the unshakeable soul of humanity and the will to survive against overwhelming odds.

Heart of Gold (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

The Heart of Gold, a whimsical starship from Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is a vessel that defies the conventional laws of space and time. Acquired by the eccentric Zaphod Beeblebrox, The Heart of Gold is equipped with the extraordinary Infinite Improbability Drive, allowing it to traverse the universe in the most improbable and absurd ways imaginable. Its sleek and gleaming exterior, adorned with sleek lines and a striking design, belies the ship's outlandish capabilities. Inside, the Heart of Gold boasts lavish and luxurious interiors, complete with mind-boggling amenities and advanced technology. As it journeys through the cosmos, the ship serves as a source of wonder and humor, encapsulating the offbeat and whimsical nature of the universe in which it resides. The Heart of Gold stands as a delightful symbol of unpredictability, adventure, and the absurdity that permeates the world of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The Razor Crest (The Mandalorian)

The Razor Crest, a rugged and versatile starship from the television series The Mandalorian, is the epitome of resourcefulness and resilience in the Star Wars galaxy. Piloted by the enigmatic bounty hunter known as Din Djarin, or "The Mandalorian," the Razor Crest is a modified gunship that exudes a worn yet formidable charm. Its weathered exterior, marked by battle scars and the wear of countless missions, reflects the harsh life of a lone warrior. Equipped with a range of advanced weaponry and a hidden cargo hold, the Razor Crest serves as a reliable sanctuary and means of transport for the Mandalorian and his precious charge, Grogu. With its ability to endure perilous journeys through treacherous terrain and dangerous encounters, the Razor Crest embodies the indomitable spirit of its pilot, standing as a symbol of resilience in the unforgiving Star Wars universe.

Moya (Farscape)

Moya, a magnificent Leviathan bio-mechanical spacecraft from the science fiction series Farscape, is a vessel that personifies both beauty and compassion in a vast and chaotic universe. Unlike traditional starships, Moya is a living creature capable of independent thought and emotion. She serves as a sanctuary and home to a diverse group of escaped prisoners who form an unlikely family. With her awe-inspiring size and graceful movements, Moya navigates through space, guided by her symbiotic relationship with her crew. She possesses a gentle and nurturing nature, offering refuge and support while navigating the perils of uncharted territories. Moya's unique abilities, such as starburst propulsion and her ability to birth other Leviathans, make her an extraordinary and revered presence in the Farscape universe. As the crew's protector and companion, Moya represents the enduring power of unity, trust, and compassion amidst a cosmos filled with uncertainty and danger.

The Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series of All Time!

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Five years ago, we asked the Discover Sci-Fi community to vote for the Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series of all Time. Since then, thousands more readers have joined our community and simultaneously, countless new space opera titles have been released. With all these changes, we decided it was high time to re-evaluate and see how the favorites have shifted over the past five years.

And so, over the past two weeks, we conducted another poll, gathering thousands of votes from sci-fi aficionado both here on the blog and in our Discover Sci-Fi Facebook group. As a side note, this poll sparked some great discussion about what constitutes a space opera, and whether some of the reader nominated books actually met the criteria. If you're not in the group, we encourage you to get in there and throw your two cents in on this conversation, and those like it!

Now... on with the show...

Today, we’re thrilled to reveal the Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series as chosen by you, our discerning and passionate readers, ranked below from 10 to 1. Voting was tight on this one, seeing a tie for first place, and other spots on the list decided by a single vote.  Compared to our list from 2019, there have been a couple notable changes with two wildly popular entries being ousted in favor of something different. 

Scroll on to dive in and please don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below or in our Facebook group. We’re eager to hear whether you agree with the rankings and if not, what you'd change. 

10. Blood on the Stars by Jay Allan

Read the first book in Jay Allan’s blockbuster Blood on the Stars series.

A duel, in the deepest darks, a savage fight between two veteran warriors, two captains, two heroes.

An epic battle that only one can survive. A fight to determine if there is peace, or a bloody war where billions will die.

The Confederation battleship Dauntless has spent ten months patrolling the border, alone, watching for an attack from the enemy Union. The crew is exhausted, and the aging vessel needs repairs.

The fleet is mobilized, ready for the war it knows is coming. The forward bases are overloaded beyond capacity, and Dauntless is sent clear across the Confederation, to a base along the peaceful and sleepy sector known as the Far Rim.

But the quiet frontier isn’t quite what it seems, and a distress call from a mining colony at the edge of Confederation space, sends Captain Tyler Barron and his ship forward into the unknown.

Barron and his crew have their ship—and each other—but they can expect no reinforcements. His superiors believe that Union deceit is at play, that the attack is merely a diversion, intended to draw Confederation forces from the disputed border. Their orders are clear: no ships will be transferred from the main front. Stopping whatever is happening on the Far Rim is Barron’s responsibility, and his alone.

Barron is the grandson of the Confederation’s greatest hero, and his name has always carried great privilege, along with crushing responsibility. Now he must prove that he has inherited more than just a name from his famous ancestor.

He must face the enemy, and win the victory.

Before the Confederation is caught between two enemies and destroyed.

Read Duel in the Dark here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

9. Hyperion by Dan Simmons 

A stunning tour de force filled with transcendent awe and wonder, Hyperion is a masterwork of science fiction that resonates with excitement and invention, the first volume in a remarkable epic by the multiple-award-winning author of The Hollow Man.

On the world called Hyperion, beyond the reach of galactic law, waits a creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all.

On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope—and

Grab Hyperion here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

8. Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds 

This highly acclaimed first novel in the Revelation Space universe has redefined the space opera with a staggering journey across vast gulfs of time and space to confront the very nature of reality itself . . .

Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just as it was on the verge of discovering space flight. Now one scientist, Dan Sylveste, will stop at nothing to solve the Amarantin riddle before ancient history repeats itself. With no other resources at his disposal, Sylveste forges a dangerous alliance with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity. But as he closes in on the secret, a killer closes in on him. Because the Amarantin were destroyed for a reason, and if that reason is uncovered, the universe and reality itself could be irrevocably altered . . .

Get your copy of Revelation Space here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

7. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

When Cordelia Naismith and her survey crew are attacked by a renegade group from Barrayar, she is taken prisoner by Aral Vorkosigan, commander of the Barrayan ship that has been taken over by an ambitious and ruthless crew member. Aral and Cordelia survive countless mishaps while their mutual admiration and even stronger feelings emerge. A science fiction romance by a Hugo and Nebula Award winning master. Bujold's SHARDS OF HONOR is the first book in her SF universe to feature the Vorkosigan clan, followed by the Hugo award-winning BARRAYAR. The Nebula award-winning FALLING FREE precedes it by internal chronology in the same future history.

Read Shards of Honor on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

6. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks

The first book in Iain M. Banks's seminal science fiction series, The Culture. Consider Phlebas introduces readers to the utopian conglomeration of human and alien races that explores the nature of war, morality, and the limitless bounds of mankind's imagination.

The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.

Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction.

 Grab Culture here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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5. The Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton

The year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars, contains more than six hundred worlds interconnected by a web of transport “tunnels” known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: over one thousand light-years away, a star . . . disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, the Second Chance, a faster-than-light starship commanded by Wilson Kime, a five-times-rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat.

Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, led by Bradley Johansson. Shortly after the journey begins, Kime wonders if the crew of the Second Chance has been infiltrated. But soon enough he will have other worries. Halfway across the galaxy, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth . . . and humanity itself.

Get your copy of Pandora's Star here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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If you're enjoying this list of the top 10 space opera books and series, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

4. Triplanetary by E.E. "Doc" Smith 

Triplanetary was first serialized in Amazing Stories in 1934 and it later on formed the first of the Lensman series, where it set the stage for what is one of the greatest space-opera sagas ever written. This original publication brings us to a distant planet inhabited by a highly developed aquatic race called the Nevians. They have managed to harness the atomic power of iron and have an enormous need for the metal to generate energy, but their planet has virtually no iron reserves. They build a spaceship to venture into the universe and find iron. Eventually they discover that Earth has huge amounts of iron and the Nevians start to extract all the iron out of Pittsburgh with a special ray. This ray shoots into the city and immediately vaporizes and removes any iron from the buildings, machines, earth, and even from human blood. It is up to Conway Costigan, a mercilessly competent, two-fisted whiz agent of the military Triplanetary Service, and his colleagues to save the planet.

Grab Triplanetary here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

3. Old Man's War by John Scalzi

Perfect for an entry-level sci-fi reader and the ideal addition to a veteran fan’s collection, John Scalzi's Old Man’s War will take audiences on a heart-stopping adventure into the far corners of the universe.

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and aliens willing to fight for them are common. The universe, it turns out, is a hostile place.

So: we fight. To defend Earth (a target for our new enemies, should we let them get close enough) and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has gone on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force, which shields the home planet from too much knowledge of the situation. What's known to everybody is that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve your time at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine-and what he will become is far stranger.

Dive into Old Man's War here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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2. The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey

From a New York Times bestselling and Hugo award-winning author comes a modern masterwork of science fiction, introducing a captain, his crew, and a detective as they unravel a horrifying solar system wide conspiracy that begins with a single missing girl. Now a Prime Original series.

Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.

Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations—and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.

"Interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written." —George R. R. Martin

Get your copy of Leviathan Wakes, here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

1A. The Foundation Series by Issac Asimov

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future—to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save humankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire—both scientists and scholars—and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.

The Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are among the most influential in the history of science fiction, celebrated for their unique blend of breathtaking action, daring ideas, and extensive worldbuilding. In Foundation, Asimov has written a timely and timeless novel of the best—and worst—that lies in humanity, and the power of even a few courageous souls to shine a light in a universe of darkness.

Get your copy of Foundation
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

1B. Honor Harrington Saga by David Weber

Having made him look a fool, she's been exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by a superior who hates her.

Her demoralized crew blames her for their ship's humiliating posting to an out-of-the-way picket station.

The aborigines of the system's only habitable planet are smoking homicide-inducing hallucinogens.

Parliament isn't sure it wants to keep the place; the major local industry is smuggling; the merchant cartels want her head; the star-conquering, so-called "Republic" of Haven is Up To Something; and Honor Harrington has a single, over-age light cruiser with an armament that doesn't work to police the entire star system.

But the people out to get her have made one mistake. They've made her mad.

Get your copy of On Basilisk Station
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.


Time to sound off! Do you agree with the ranking here, or do you feel as though a well deserving space opera book or series was overlooked or didn't place as high as you think it should have? Feel free to let us know in the comments here, or join us in our Discover Sci-Fi Facebook Group to chime in on this matter and on everything else sci-fi related! 

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

2021 Space Opera Novels That Will Transport You To Another Galaxy!

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Want a BIG story with heaps of action and larger than life characters? Space opera is the genre for you! This sci-fi sub-genre has become wildly popular in the last few years and as interest has grown, so has the number of series available. If you've been on the hunt for a new one to dive into, look no further than this round-up featuring some of the best space opera books released this year!

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book 2: Greater Good) by Timothy Zahn

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Thrawn’s latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. He has led the Chiss to victory and brought glory to the House of Mitth, but the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, do not mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: Gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally.

Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the plot, they discover a chilling truth: Rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage resources, their enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters most to them: the security of their family or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.

Read Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy, Book 2 here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Foresight by M. R. Forbes

Release Date: July 27, 2021

As a development platform for desperately needed advanced technology, the experimental starship Foresight is the greatest hope humankind has to flee the alien hordes. For test pilot Captain Nicholas Shepherd, the success of the program is even more personal. Successful completion means delivering his wife and son safely off-world and leaving the war behind for good. But when Foresight suffers a critical malfunction during her final scheduled flight, what should have been a minor setback becomes a major fight for survival.

With his family caught in the crossfire, Nicholas realizes that the flawed starship offers the best chance to escape. It isn’t long before even the frantic evacuation turns sideways, and he discovers that not only is the war harder to get away from than he thought, but Foresight is more than just a prototype.

Much, much more.

Joined by an unintended crew of survivors, Nicholas is about to embark on an impossible mission that will take them far beyond the outer reaches of space. If he fails, humankind won’t just be lost.

We’ll be completely erased.

Read Foresight here on Amazon.

Hold Fast Through the Fire by K. B. Wagers

Release Date: July 27th, 2021

Zuma’s Ghost has won the Boarding Games for the second straight year. The crew—led by the unparalleled ability of Jenks in the cage, the brilliant pairing of Ma and Max in the pilot seats, the technical savvy of Sapphi, and the sword skills of Tamago and Rosa—has all come together to form an unstoppable team. Until it all comes apart.

Their commander and Master Chief are both retiring. Which means Jenks is getting promoted, a new commander is joining them, and a fresh-faced spacer is arriving to shake up their perfect dynamics. And while not being able to threepeat is on their minds, the more important thing is how they’re going to fulfill their mission in the black.

After a plea deal transforms a twenty-year ore-mining sentence into NeoG service, Spacer Chae Ho-ki earns a spot on the team. But there’s more to Chae that the crew doesn’t know, and they must hide a secret that could endanger everyone they love—as well as their new teammates—if it got out. At the same time, a seemingly untouchable coalition is attempting to take over trade with the Trappist colonies and start a war with the NeoG. When the crew of Zuma’s Ghost gets involved, they end up as targets of this ruthless enemy.

With new members aboard, will the team grow stronger this time around? Will they be able to win the games? And, more important, will they be able to surmount threats from both without and within? 

Get your copy of Hold Fast Through the Fire here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Release Date: August 3rd, 2021

The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . . Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity's heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers. After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared—and Idris and his kind became obsolete. Now, fifty years later, Idris and his crew have discovered something strange abandoned in space. It's clearly the work of the Architects—but are they returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy hunting for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, that many would kill to obtain.

Read Shards of Earth here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Exiled Fleet by J. S. Dewes

Release Date: August 17th, 2021

The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide.

They have mustered a few other surviving Sentinels, but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve.

Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

To do that they're going to need new allies and evade a ruthless enemy. Some of them will not survive.

Grab The Exiled Fleet here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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If you're enjoying this Spring Reading list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

The Scavenger Door by Suzanne Palmer

Release Date: August 17th, 2021

Fergus is back on Earth at last, trying to figure out how to live a normal life. However, it seems the universe has other plans for him. When his cousin sends him off to help out a friend, Fergus accidently
stumbles across a piece of an ancient alien artifact that some very powerful people seem to think means the entire solar system is in danger. And since he's the one who found it, they’re certain it’s also his problem to deal with.
 
With the help of his newfound sister, friends both old and new, and some enemies, too, Fergus needs to find the rest of the artifact and destroy the pieces before anyone can reassemble the original and open a multidimensional door between Earth and a vast, implacable, alien swarm. Problem is, the pieces could be anywhere on Earth, and he’s not the only one out searching.

Get your copy of The Scavenger Door here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Light Chaser by Peter F. Hamilton and Gareth L. Powell

Release Date: August 24th, 2021

Amahle is a Light Chaser – one of a number of explorers, who travel the universe alone (except for their onboard AI), trading trinkets for life stories.

But when she listens to the stories sent down through the ages she hears the same voice talking directly to her from different times and on different worlds. She comes to understand that something terrible is happening, and only she is in a position to do anything about it.

And it will cost everything to put it right.

Dive into Light Chaser here on Amazon.

Inhibitor Phase by Alastair Reynolds

Release Date: October 12, 2021

For thirty years a tiny band of humans has been sheltering in the caverns of an airless, crater-pocked world called Michaelmas. Beyond their solar system lie the ruins of human interstellar civilization, stalked by a ruthless, infinitely patient cybernetic entity determined to root out the last few bands of survivors. One man has guided the people of Michaelmas through the hardest of times, and given them hope against the wolves: Miguel de Ruyter.

When a lone human ship blunders into their system, and threatens to lead the wolves to Michaelmas, de Ruyter embarks on a desperate, near-suicide mission to prevent catastrophe. But an encounter with a refugee from the ship—the enigmatic woman who calls herself only Glass—leads to de Ruyter's world being turned upside down.

Get your copy of Inhibitor Phase here on Amazon.

Leviathan Falls by James S. A. Corey

Release Date: November 16th, 2021

The Laconian Empire has fallen, setting the thirteen hundred solar systems free from the rule of Winston Duarte. But the ancient enemy that killed the gate builders is awake, and the war against our universe has begun again.
 
In the dead system of Adro, Elvi Okoye leads a desperate scientific mission to understand what the gate builders were and what destroyed them, even if it means compromising herself and the half-alien children who bear the weight of her investigation. Through the wide-flung systems of humanity, Colonel Aliana Tanaka hunts for Duarte’s missing daughter. . . and the shattered emperor himself. And on the Rocinante, James Holden and his crew struggle to build a future for humanity out of the shards and ruins of all that has come before.
 
As nearly unimaginable forces prepare to annihilate all human life, Holden and a group of unlikely allies discover a last, desperate chance to unite all of humanity, with the promise of a vast galactic civilization free from wars, factions, lies, and secrets if they win.
 
But the price of victory may be worse than the cost of defeat.

Start reading Leviathan Falls here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Discordia by Kristyn Merbeth

Release Date: December 7th, 2021

Scorpia is finally back among the stars, far away from the memories of the war she and her family started – and ended – on Nibiru. Her first order as captain of the Memoria is to keep her crew safe, and she is all too happy not to get involved in dangerous political games for once.

Corvus is haunted by what he experienced at the hands of the Titan attack, and he’s just as eager for a new beginning. He knows that not all Titans are built for war, and that the system can find peace, even as Deva and Pax begin to rattle their sabers.

Though the Kaisers may be responsible for diverting a multi-planet war, the planetary leaders are wary of the knowledge they hold. Better to lock them up and keep their dark secrets hidden. But the Kaisers are the only ones who know the truth about the threat of the ancient world-ending alien weapons rooted in each planet – and they may be the only ones who can save the system from total annihilation. 

Grab Discordia here on Amazon.


Which of these space operas will make their way into your (e)bookshelf? Which ones are you most excited for? Let us know here in the comments, or over in the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook group! 

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 10 Space Opera books or series of all time

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Well, we did it, folks. Together with votes on this blog and on the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook group you nominated, discussed, and voted for the top Space Opera books (or series). This poll had some heated debate over on the Facebook group about what books should count as Space Opera!

Now, ordered from 10th to the very top Space Opera book, we present the top 10 selections for the best Space Opera books and series of all time.

Click on the links to check out the books featuring these favorites to add to your collection, and then add your comments at the bottom of this post (or in our Facebook group) to let us know if you agree (or not!).

Want to see who didn't make the cut? Click here to view the original poll that inspired this list.

*The results were decided by you based on votes tallied up between our Facebook group and on our blog.

10. Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons

The title of this series comes from the first two books, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion. It now refers to the 4 book series, and some short stories. Several of the books have won awards, including the Hugo, Locus, and British Science Fiction Association Awards, and the series has been nominated for various science fiction awards.

The story arc of the series at first follows the stories of travelers on a pilgrimage to the Time Tombs on Hyperion to a creature called Shrike. Some worship it, some want to destroy it. It is Armageddon, and the entire galaxy is at war.

The first two books are influenced by The Canterbury Tales and the poetry of John Keats (in the form of dreams of John Keats), respectively. Later, in the third and then fourth book, the story jumps forward in time and deals more focusedly on a few characters as they encounter various futuristic religious complications.

Click here to find Hyperion on Amazon.

9. Old Mans War by John Scalzi

Old Man's War is a six-book, military space opera series and an extra short fiction. Each book is set in the same world, but follows a different main character.

It starts with John Perry, a 75-year old whose wife has just passed and he has become a volunteer recruit for the Colonial Defense Forces who protect human interplanetary colonists. He joins other retirees who all obtain souped-up bio-tech younger bodies to fight the war. The story follows Perry's tale from recruit through battles and challenges to his eventual promotion as captain.

Although each book is unique, the world-building links the tales together and is really phenomenal at developing a vivid world out there.

Click here to find the first book in the series, Old Man's War, on Amazon.

8. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks

The Culture series gets its name from an extremely advanced, post-scarcity society called The Culture comprised of various humanoid races and AIs. There is little need for laws or enforcement since there are no dramatic needs such as food, or work. The members live in spaceships and other off-planet constructs. However, The Culture is just one of several “Involved” civilizations that take an active part in galactic affairs. And the differences between these civilizations has landed them in inter-galactic warfare.

The first book in the series, Consider Phlebas introduces readers to the utopian conglomeration of human and alien races that explores the nature of war, morality, and the limitless bounds of mankind's imagination. The book follows the story of a shapechanging agent of the Iridans during the Culture-Iridan war, who undertakes a clandestine mission to a forbidden planet in search of an intelligent, fugitive machine whose actions could alter the course of the conflict.

Click here to find the first book in the series, Consider Phlebas, on Amazon.

7. The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of 30-publications and counting, including novels and a few shorter stories. While it is a series, each book is written intended to be a stand-alone piece, so a reader could theoretically jump in anywhere. Works in the series have received numerous awards and nominations, including five Hugo award wins including one for Best Series. The order of recommended reading is a bit up for debate since the chronology of publication does not follow the internal chronology of the Vorkosigan world. The author recommends reading the books in order of the internal chronology. So that's probably the best place to start!

The stories feature different planetary systems in the “Vorkosiverse,” a galaxy colonized by humans. The stories feature several planetary systems, each with its own political organization, including government by corporate democracy, rule by criminal corporations, monarchies, empires and direct democracies. The main character viewpoints include a diverse set of characters including several women, a gay man, a pair of brothers, one of whom is physically handicapped and the other a clone, and others.

According to the internal chronology, the first book is Falling Free. It has about four to five character points of view, but mainly follows Leo, a teaching engineer, and his students, the Quaddies (who have an extra set of arms instead of legs), a genetically modified species of humans designed to function in zero gravity environments. The students are not treated as full humans, and have been raised as such. When the company that owns the Quaddies abandons them, Leo has to decide how, and whether to, save them.

For the first book in the internal chronology of the Vorkosigan Saga, Falling Free, click here.

6. The Expanse series, by James S.A. Corey

The Expanse is a series of (so far…) eight science fiction novels (and related novellas and short stories) by James S. A. Corey, the joint pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The first novel, Leviathan Wakes, was nominated for a Hugo Award and Locus Award and the series as a whole was nominated for the Best Series Hugo Award in 2017.

Leviathan Wakes introduces Captain James Holden, his crew, and Detective Miller. When they are confronted with a case of a single missing girl they realize it leads to a solar-system-wide conspiracy. With fantastic character development and truly Space Opera-tic levels of adventure, it seems almost cinematic. And indeed, the book was turned into an Amazon Prime Original series!

Click here to find the first book in the Expanse series, Leviathan Wakes on Amazon.

5. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game is the first book in a quartet, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. It actually originated as a short story by the same name, in 1977, and became a book in 1985, updated again in 1991 to reflect contemporary political events. It has won the Hugo and Nebula awards and has been developed into a somewhat controversial film, as well as into two comic book series.

The first book, Ender's Game, follows the story of a boy, Ender, who is selected to go up into space for a the training program, Battle School. He, and other boys, are put through a variety of technically challenging “games” during which Ender's prowess as an analyzing and creative leader is revealed. Battle School prepares them to fight the war against the “Buggers,” an undergoing war which they might be close to losing…

Click here to find Ender's Game on Amazon.

4. Lensman series by E.E. “Doc” Smith

The Lensman series, written by Edward Elmer “Doc” Smith, is a six-book series (plus sequel) that was a runner-up for the 1966 Hugo award for Best All-Time Series.

E.E. “Doc” Smith is sometimes referred to as “the father of space opera” because of this series. It is a truly remarkable world-building saga. It opens with the book Tripleplanetary in which a inhabitants of the planet Nevia descend on earth to loot it of iron. After destroying the city of Pittsburgh the Nevians head home with with three human specimens in its hold. Among them is Conway Costigan, an undercover intelligence operative for the Triplanetary Patrol. From deep within the bowels of the enemy ship, Costigan must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the Nevians before every man, woman, and child on Earth is annihilated.

Find Tripleplanetary, and the rest of the Lensman series here on Amazon.

3. Dune by Frank Herbert

The Hugo and Nebula award-winning book Dune is the first of many Dune books (you can find the full list and order here). It started in 1965, and after the original author, Frank Herbert, died in in 1986, his son, Brian Herbert, and science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson published a number of prequel novels, as well as two which complete the original Dune series. It has been adapted to film and TV multiple times, and is currently under development as a film by Warner Bros. which will be released in November 2020.

In the first novel, Dune, noble families of the distant future control fiefs of an inhopsitable planet, Arrakis, covered in sand dunes. A drug called “spice melange” is the only substance of value and is coveted across the universe. Through sabotage and treachery some nobles cast young Duke Paul Atreides out into the planet's harsh environment to die. He doesn't die, however, and grows up with a tribe of desert dwellers who become the basis of the army with which he will reclaim what's rightfully his. As he grows up, he realizes he has unique powers, and appears to be the end product of a very long-term genetic experiment designed to breed a super human. He might even be a messiah…

You can find the start of the Dune saga on Amazon here.

2. Blood on the Stars series by Jay Allan

The most recent Blood on the Stars book, The Colossus, was just released in April 2019, and the next one, The Others is coming out this month!

One of the best things about this series is that the cast of characters is so well developed that even some of the “bad guys” are characters you want to root for. The series opens with Duel in the Dark which introduces the leaders of opposing captains of space battleships. It is a heavy, gritty, emotional read. When the exhausted crew of the Confederation battleship Dauntless are sent to the Far Rim as the sole assistance to a distress call out there, captain Barron knows it is his sole responsibility to stop the attack at the disputed border and to win victory to prove his worth as the lineage of a family of heroes.

You can find book one of the Blood on the Stars book Duel in the Dark on Amazon here, or the first three books in a three box set, here.

1. Honor Harrington series by David Weber

And the number one, all time best space opera as selected by DiscoverSciFi readers is the Honor Harrington series! Otherwise known as The Honorverse, most of the more than 20 novels and anthology collections cover events between 4000 and 4022 AD. Much of the series' political drama follows that of Europe's political scene from the 1500's to 2000's.

The first book, On Basilisk Station, follows Commander Honor Harrington and Her Majesty’s light cruiser Fearless during their assignment to the Basilisk system. Actually, Honor Harrington has been essentially exiled to the Basilisk, her crew is annoyed with her, and her ship is aged and can hardly be expected to police an entire star system. As much as the Basilisk system was supposed to be a less-than-interesting punishment assignment, it turns out to be a bit of a linch pin in a the aggressive plans of the Haven Republic. And the only one in position to stop them is Honor Harrington and her crew.

You can find book one of the Honor Harrington series, On Basilisk Station on Amazon here.

The space opera genre is full of great, mainly military series, and not everyone agrees on what exactly fits into the category. What do you think? Did you agree with all of the books chosen on this list? Join us here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? You can share your views in the comments below.

*Some book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon & Wikipedia.