https://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Top-10-Space-Opera-Books.png9241640Discover Sci-Fihttps://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/discover-scifi.pngDiscover Sci-Fi2024-05-23 06:58:522024-11-22 08:20:04The Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series of All Time!
M.S. Harrington at #1? Really? That made me wince.
I suppose the series in itself is certainly “space opera”, in the sense of being downright soapy – that’s to say, when the author isn’t deciding to use it as his personal political mouthpiece for views that generally don’t align very well with his characters’ displayed behaviour and sensibilities. That gets boring.
In short, the series may be pretty readable, but at the same time, no series where one skips whole chapters on re-reads should be that high on a list of its peers. *smh*
At the same time, there are some authors I was surprised didn’t make it at all, and given Bujold’s deserved reputation I expected the Vorkosigan Saga to be higher in the list, but I can see why it might not be.
Liaden Universe. I am thinking perhaps marketing choices have kept Sharon Lee and Steve Miller – perfect partners- from exploding in popularity. I’ve even thought their series should be used in sociology classes but that is just me.
I’ve only read the Honor Harrington series. Some of the books were pretty good but others had me asking myself if I wanted to invest more of my time in seeing the series through. I did but now wish I had that time back.
Mostly what I remember about the books was Honor engaging in far too much introspective navel-gazing
I have read three of those series in their entireties – Foundation, Lensman, and Commonwealth. The rest I have either read some of the series or have the first books in the series, but haven’t read them yet.
Where are the women authors? Elizabeth Moon’s Serrano Legacy. Catherine Asaro’s Ruby Dynasty. As much as I love Asimov, I feel both of these series are better space operas than Foundation.
Thank you for saying this. An overwhelming male perspective. I will check out Ruby Dynasty and Serrano Legacy! If you haven’t read Becky Chambers series, I really enjoyed the personal relationships in those.
2 series I was really surprised to not see was Dune by Frank Herbert and the ender series by Orson Scott card. I’m really glad to see The Expanse take 2nd place, an amazing piece of work.
While I’ve read 5 or the 6 Dune books, I can’t help but think people say they like them because they think they have to. They’re not written well. They’re hardly interesting. They almost are, but just don’t cut it. The Expanse, on the other hand, is amazing. Loved every book and was sad when I reached the end. Looking for something similar to read.
As others have said, there are some great classics missing here, and one likely lesser known that are amazing. Card’s Ender Saga (including the Shadow series, and other side stories. Though the last book of the Ender series got weird.) Catherine Asaro’s Ruby Dynasty and Skolian Empire stories really create an amazing Space Opera, with the large range of characters, world building (well, cosmos building) rich histories for each group, and the fun implications that rebuilding a fallen galactic empire can create
Ditto comment about absence od female authors, also binary and other genders/identifications. “Ancillary Justice” and the rest of the tro by Ann Leckie.
Can’t believe Becky Chambers is not in this list! Sadly, what I can believe is that women writers (or should I say writer) represent only nine percent of this list. This is a disappointing list.
Not that I’d call it strictly space opera, but I see a lot of similar lists missing the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. Criminally underrated, needs an Amazon series. Just fantastic!
To be clear: to all the “why aren’t there more female/non-binary/non-gender” authors on this list” people who’ve posted, everyone please remember that this article is someone’s OPINION. It’s not FACT. This is not ACTUALLY the best books in this genre according to everyone who reads them. If you are lucky enough to be adjudged the sole arbiter of humanity as to which is the BEST SPACE OPERA series and you read every single possible sifi book, then you can maybe make this call. As far as I know, no-one has been afforded this privilege. As such, the opinions expressed in this list are not gender-exclusive, just the results of a poll of a number of people. If more female/non-binary/non-gender people wrote books that more people were interested in, then they would be in this list. Here’s an idea… how about all fiction is published anonymously and then it doesn’t matter what gender people are? “Oh no, then the females and non-binary and non-gender people don’t get the recognition they deserve”. Rubbish. If it’s good, it’s good. If not, it’s not in the list. Identity is meaningless.
Impossible to list only 10 in such a list. How abiut Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat, Philip Jose Farmer Riverworld, Andy Weir, Liu Cixin, etc. Most recently Martha Wells Murderbot Diaries?
Best LitRPG of 2023
Don’t know that I’d call the FOUNDATION series space opera, but what the hey.
Why does everyone forget The Legend of the Galactic Heroes novel series?
Dune!
How can there be a question like this without including Dune?
Jim
Because it’s very boring
Yup have to agree with Jim. Dune is noticeably absent. I think it’s a humdinger of space opera
I’ve read 5 of the 6. They’re not really that great. They’re more odd than interesting. Still haven’t gotten bored enough to read Chapter house.
M.S. Harrington at #1? Really? That made me wince.
I suppose the series in itself is certainly “space opera”, in the sense of being downright soapy – that’s to say, when the author isn’t deciding to use it as his personal political mouthpiece for views that generally don’t align very well with his characters’ displayed behaviour and sensibilities. That gets boring.
In short, the series may be pretty readable, but at the same time, no series where one skips whole chapters on re-reads should be that high on a list of its peers. *smh*
At the same time, there are some authors I was surprised didn’t make it at all, and given Bujold’s deserved reputation I expected the Vorkosigan Saga to be higher in the list, but I can see why it might not be.
blah blah blah jealous muchblah blah
Surely you can do better than that
Liaden Universe. I am thinking perhaps marketing choices have kept Sharon Lee and Steve Miller – perfect partners- from exploding in popularity. I’ve even thought their series should be used in sociology classes but that is just me.
Always puzzled by the lack of success of the Liaden saga. Wonderful books
Surely David Brin’s Uplift saga deserves a spot here? Looking forward to the next poll!
Thank you for saying it.
The whole list was overshadowed by its absence, for me.
Thank God that d. Webber doesn’t turn out books as prolific as asimov did! I would be broke
He has replaced Isaac as my favorite author!!@
I’ve only read the Honor Harrington series. Some of the books were pretty good but others had me asking myself if I wanted to invest more of my time in seeing the series through. I did but now wish I had that time back.
Mostly what I remember about the books was Honor engaging in far too much introspective navel-gazing
Zones of Thought? Enderverse?
I have read three of those series in their entireties – Foundation, Lensman, and Commonwealth. The rest I have either read some of the series or have the first books in the series, but haven’t read them yet.
Where are the women authors? Elizabeth Moon’s Serrano Legacy.
Catherine Asaro’s Ruby Dynasty.
As much as I love Asimov, I feel both of these series are better space operas than Foundation.
Thank you for saying this. An overwhelming male perspective. I will check out Ruby Dynasty and Serrano Legacy! If you haven’t read Becky Chambers series, I really enjoyed the personal relationships in those.
What does the gender of the author have to do with it? It’s either good or It’s not. Man or woman, it’s about quality.
2 series I was really surprised to not see was Dune by Frank Herbert and the ender series by Orson Scott card.
I’m really glad to see The Expanse take 2nd place, an amazing piece of work.
While I’ve read 5 or the 6 Dune books, I can’t help but think people say they like them because they think they have to. They’re not written well. They’re hardly interesting. They almost are, but just don’t cut it.
The Expanse, on the other hand, is amazing. Loved every book and was sad when I reached the end. Looking for something similar to read.
As others have said, there are some great classics missing here, and one likely lesser known that are amazing.
Card’s Ender Saga (including the Shadow series, and other side stories. Though the last book of the Ender series got weird.)
Catherine Asaro’s Ruby Dynasty and Skolian Empire stories really create an amazing Space Opera, with the large range of characters, world building (well, cosmos building) rich histories for each group, and the fun implications that rebuilding a fallen galactic empire can create
Alas, no Gene Wolfe. Urth of the New Sun.
Stephen Donaldson the Gap series is my all time favourite, loved Hyperion too.
Ditto comment about absence od female authors, also binary and other genders/identifications. “Ancillary Justice” and the rest of the tro by Ann Leckie.
A Fire Upon the Deep and Deepness in the Sky are the two greatest space operas of all time.
Can’t believe Becky Chambers is not in this list! Sadly, what I can believe is that women writers (or should I say writer) represent only nine percent of this list. This is a disappointing list.
Great list overall. You are missing Battlefield Earth though!
Nicholas Seafort saga by David Feintuch! Captivating, thrilling, well written and a page-turner for sure!
Love the Culture series!! But if you’re new to it, start with “Player of Games” not “Consider Phlebas.”
Not that I’d call it strictly space opera, but I see a lot of similar lists missing the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. Criminally underrated, needs an Amazon series. Just fantastic!
To be clear: to all the “why aren’t there more female/non-binary/non-gender” authors on this list” people who’ve posted, everyone please remember that this article is someone’s OPINION. It’s not FACT. This is not ACTUALLY the best books in this genre according to everyone who reads them. If you are lucky enough to be adjudged the sole arbiter of humanity as to which is the BEST SPACE OPERA series and you read every single possible sifi book, then you can maybe make this call. As far as I know, no-one has been afforded this privilege. As such, the opinions expressed in this list are not gender-exclusive, just the results of a poll of a number of people. If more female/non-binary/non-gender people wrote books that more people were interested in, then they would be in this list. Here’s an idea… how about all fiction is published anonymously and then it doesn’t matter what gender people are? “Oh no, then the females and non-binary and non-gender people don’t get the recognition they deserve”. Rubbish. If it’s good, it’s good. If not, it’s not in the list. Identity is meaningless.
Thank you!
Wow! Male privilege much?
David Weber’s Dahak series needs to be a part of this list.
I would swap The Foundation Series and The Vorkosigan series.
No Neil Asher Polity? Fail.
The Sun Eater series! Christopher Ruocchio
Just finished book 6. Incredible works of
Sci-fi, beautiful space opera.
No Red Rising or Sun Eater. Bold choice, tbh.
Impossible to list only 10 in such a list. How abiut Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat, Philip Jose Farmer Riverworld, Andy Weir, Liu Cixin, etc. Most recently Martha Wells Murderbot Diaries?
Ender saga should share the number 1 spot. For it to not be on the list, is a travesty to sci-fi space opera lists everywhere.
The Liaden series is wonderful. No one mentions it but it’s great.