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[…] 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 […]
[…] their favorite space opera series at that time. And after a similarly fierce round of voting this top 10 list of titles […]
[…] top 10 polls. His books have previously placed in over 4 of our previous top 10 lists, including best Space Opera and best Starship Captains. And coming in at #4 today is the relationship between Tyler Barron and […]
[…] Discover Sci Fi comments, “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 lynch pin in the aggressive plans of the Haven Republic. And the only one in position to stop them is Honor Harrington and her crew.” […]
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Well, I looked at the list and I agree with a couple of them, but, on the whole? I don’t agree with the list. I guess everybody has there own, but no one list speaks for everybody. I know this list does not speak for me. Good luck…..
This is a pretty awful list. The Culture should be much higher, and where is the Zones of Thought?
And what about Dragon Pearl
The Lensman series is on here so that’s good enough for me.
I agree with you, Ron! I read the Lensman series as a teenager/young man in the late ’60s and ’70s.
Happy to see Dune, Hyperion, Culture and Vorkosigan series all on there I loved them all. However the write ups lead me to believe that whoever wrote them didn’t actually read them especially the Vorkosigan Saga. The blurb was awful and would put many people off what is a very character driven romp through an amazing universe. I laughed cried and every emotion in between with Miles Vorkosigan. Will definitely be picking up Old Mans War series and Blood on the Stars as I have been thinking about them anyway so now I know for sure to get started with them 👍👍👍
Isaac Asimov, the galactic empire: I, robot + empire series + foundation series (15 books if I am not mistaken). I am not sure if they are considered space operas, but they are my favorites.
I too am puzzled at how the Foundation series missed this list.
It is not space opera.
I agree.
I feel foundation series and the interweaving with the robot series are among the best sci Fi of all time. But maybe they are not space operas.
Mostly military space operas made the list. The Solar Clipper series by Nathan Lowell is currently at 12 books and would qualify as well.
I can’t speak for some of these, having only read books from three of the series featured here—Dune; Vorkosigan Saga,; and Honor Harrington. I was not as enthused about any of the Dune books as I know many are, but I heartily endorse the #1 position for the Honor Harrington Series! I agree with those who say that Asimov’s Foundation series deserved a place on the list, either as a smaller unit or together with the other series that he merged with them to make up the full Future History opus.
Foundation is awesome but it’s not space opera
It wouold be helpful for understanding if those of you who say “Foundation is not space opera” would clarify your reasons rather than make a blanket statement. How do you define “space opera” and what part of that definition is not met?
Why is it not a space opera…. The main topics are not really travelling, fighting, surviving is space. These series are much deeper than that
Same happens with Dune ehi h is here. I’m afraid is not the right interpretation
The write up on the first Dune Book is in correct.
Only 1 family controls the Planet Arrakis at a time, there are no other control fiefs on Arrakis.
House Harkonnen has a plan to defeat and kill their rival House Arteides with the help of the House Corrino, which controls the Empire. The Emperor is the leader of House Corrino.
Paul Arteides is heir to the Dukedom of House Arteides.
Paul survives the plan to defeat and kill House Arteides. He makes his way to the harsh desert to survive the Harkonnen plan. He is not cast out.
Paul joins the Fremen, who live in the deep desert, and becomes their leader and brings them to power, while getting his revenge against House Harkonnen and the Emperor and House Corrino.
The write up on the first Dune Book is incorrect.
Only 1 family controls the Planet Arrakis at a time, there are no other control fiefs on Arrakis.
House Harkonnen has a plan to defeat and kill their rival House Arteides with the help of the House Corrino, which controls the Empire. The Emperor is the leader of House Corrino.
Paul Arteides is heir to the Dukedom of House Arteides.
Paul survives the plan to defeat and kill House Arteides. He makes his way to the harsh desert to survive the Harkonnen plan. He is not cast out.
Paul joins the Fremen, who live in the deep desert, and becomes their leader and brings them to power, while getting his revenge against House Harkonnen and the Emperor and House Corrino.
What. A. Horrible. Terrible. No Good. Awful. List. There are MUCH better offerings out there.
Man oh man oh man. Really? Still?
Interesting list, but I’m surprised that the various sagas by Peter F. Hamilton are not included, especially the Commonwealth saga and the Void trilogy.
I gave a nod to a few, but I’d replace others with Asimov’s Foundation series, including the Robot and Galactic Empire novels. Also, Al Reynolds Revelation Space, and probably the Nights Dawn series by Peter F Hamilton.
The question of what is a “space opera” seems to be a problem. I don’t remember if the original item requesting votes on this specified what the blogger meant – I’m not sure I participated in that poll, for various reasons. There are some truly wonderful series out there, among which I include Herbert’s Dune and Asimov’s Foundation, for starters. But I do not consider them “space opera”.
I think of space opera as being primarily melodrama and action. There are a lot of drama (and action) in Dune and Foundation, of course, but think more along the lines of (in movies, here) Star Wars and Raiders. I would definitely classify the Lensmen and Burroughs’s Barsoom series as “space opera”, for instance. I’d like to hear if anyone has a better description.
I have never seen M.K. Wren’s The Phoenix Legacy mentioned anywhere, but I have read it re-read it. Couldn’t it be here?
I think 3 on the list are worthy, 5, 4, and 3, but not necessarily in that order. Want all time, the Commodore Grimes/Rim Worlds Series is missing, Ring World, 2001 and sequels, Stranger in a Strange Land….. Def Asimov’s Foundation series. The rest of the list shown, barely if ever heard of.
I am shocked and dismayed that Donaldson’s ‘Gap Series’ is not here. It is a space opera based on an actual opera (Wagner’s Ring Cycle). One of the best action/melodrama combinations I’ve ever read.
The Galactic Milieu series by Julian May.
Heinlein series.
Lazarus Long
and Star Craft
I I was glad to see EE Smith on here–I would put it at number one, as I think Doc invented space opera. Dune does not belong on the list, as his novels are primarily planetary, and not space-based. I have read all Frank Herbert’s books, and he certainly deserves an award for the most carefully and intricately conceived world view, but it’s not space opera.
You do have some nice choices listed; I just don’t think that they are all necessarily GREAT ones. Many possibilities from the “Space Opera” genre are missing. Space Opera should also include these authors: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s, “Liaden,” series ; Anne McCaffrey ‘s, “Pern,” series; Heinlein ‘s and many, many others. I think that perhaps you should have included the definition of Space Opera in the discussion before you released your request for submissions.
The Culture series should be much farther up the list — at the very least, it’s just far better prose that. 98 percent of space operas.
The worst oversight has to be the absence of the Zones of Thought novels (at least 1 and 2) by Vernor Vinge. A Deepness in Sky and A Fire Upon the Deep … come on.
Another notable omission is Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space novels.
You left orf Joshua Dalzelle!!!! Omega Force series is fantastic… how could you possibly leave that off!!!🥴🥴🥴
Rebecca M. Meluch, The Tour of the Merrimack series.
The top choice “Honor Harrington” series is probably the most popular or highest sold soace opera series in last 20 or more years.
Then again, it has many books in it. Same can be said for the “Vorkosigan Saga”, but as a plus McMaster Bujold is a critically acclaimed writer with enough awards to show for it. Both of these are extremely popular and highly sold series. Yet by the same metric, Peter F. Hamilton’s works should’ve been included in this list.
If we were listing based one the literary values or these works, the “culture series” or “Hyperion Saga” would’ve ranked higher. One notable mention would be Alistair Reynolds for his “revelation space series”, may not have sold that many, but probably the most influential space opera series in past 2 decades.
Let me recommend David Feintuch’s Seafort saga!