This list features the best space opera books out there.
1

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4.28 avg rating — 302,266 ratings
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2

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4.29 avg rating — 1,641,283 ratings
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3

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4.31 avg rating — 1,479,425 ratings
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4

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4.17 avg rating — 600,116 ratings
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5

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4.31 avg rating — 322,676 ratings
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6

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4.23 avg rating — 226,375 ratings
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7

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4.24 avg rating — 149,724 ratings
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8

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4.01 avg rating — 247,512 ratings
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9

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3.71 avg rating — 437 ratings
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10

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4.23 avg rating — 54,101 ratings
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11

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4.30 avg rating — 32,522 ratings
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12

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3.99 avg rating — 62,129 ratings
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13

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4.13 avg rating — 67,035 ratings
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14

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4.16 avg rating — 37,550 ratings
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15

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4.10 avg rating — 240 ratings
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16

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4.77 avg rating — 107,782 ratings
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17

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4.14 avg rating — 181,349 ratings
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18

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4.18 avg rating — 1,002 ratings
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19

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4.31 avg rating — 18,915 ratings
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20

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4.28 avg rating — 17,645 ratings
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21

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3.85 avg rating — 101,320 ratings
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22

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4.15 avg rating — 1,711 ratings
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23

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4.33 avg rating — 137,380 ratings
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24

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4.28 avg rating — 81,292 ratings
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25

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4.38 avg rating — 339,189 ratings
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26

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3.88 avg rating — 30,310 ratings
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27

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4.07 avg rating — 73,225 ratings
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28

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4.14 avg rating — 49,027 ratings
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29

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4.26 avg rating — 18,722 ratings
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30

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4.21 avg rating — 190,128 ratings
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31

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4.13 avg rating — 38,214 ratings
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32

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3.94 avg rating — 129,350 ratings
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32

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4.04 avg rating — 20,420 ratings
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34

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4.19 avg rating — 71,280 ratings
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35

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4.22 avg rating — 227,924 ratings
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36

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4.12 avg rating — 185,393 ratings
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37

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3.99 avg rating — 119,751 ratings
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38

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4.35 avg rating — 6,022 ratings
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39

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4.05 avg rating — 19,830 ratings
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40

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4.57 avg rating — 82,717 ratings
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41

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4.30 avg rating — 178,272 ratings
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42

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4.13 avg rating — 156,510 ratings
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43

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4.28 avg rating — 204,076 ratings
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44

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4.30 avg rating — 40,645 ratings
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45

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4.17 avg rating — 2,838 ratings
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46

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3.98 avg rating — 15,567 ratings
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47

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3.98 avg rating — 19,525 ratings
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48

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4.17 avg rating — 187,305 ratings
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49

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3.60 avg rating — 2,244 ratings
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50

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4.15 avg rating — 52,851 ratings
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51

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4.27 avg rating — 30,489 ratings
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52

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3.57 avg rating — 11,717 ratings
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53

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4.05 avg rating — 63,220 ratings
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54

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3.78 avg rating — 49,428 ratings
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55

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4.08 avg rating — 501,930 ratings
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56

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3.56 avg rating — 6,957 ratings
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57

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4.22 avg rating — 2,027,492 ratings
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58

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4.26 avg rating — 127,494 ratings
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59

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4.35 avg rating — 86,450 ratings
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60

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3.77 avg rating — 13,851 ratings
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61

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4.03 avg rating — 19,766 ratings
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62

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4.07 avg rating — 12,379 ratings
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63

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3.96 avg rating — 8,797 ratings
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64

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3.53 avg rating — 3,187 ratings
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65

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4.18 avg rating — 337,673 ratings
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66

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3.83 avg rating — 20,898 ratings
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67

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4.11 avg rating — 73,007 ratings
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68

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4.24 avg rating — 32,940 ratings
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69

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4.23 avg rating — 3,645 ratings
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70

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4.14 avg rating — 33,261 ratings
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71

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4.18 avg rating — 103,671 ratings
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72

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4.10 avg rating — 223,840 ratings
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73

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4.32 avg rating — 16,756 ratings
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74

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4.16 avg rating — 52,983 ratings
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75

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4.23 avg rating — 3,092 ratings
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76

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4.17 avg rating — 65,558 ratings
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77

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4.31 avg rating — 3,662 ratings
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78

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4.15 avg rating — 139,470 ratings
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79

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4.04 avg rating — 3,453 ratings
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80

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4.09 avg rating — 9,178 ratings
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81

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4.31 avg rating — 10,483 ratings
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82

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4.11 avg rating — 98,059 ratings
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83

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4.12 avg rating — 197,077 ratings
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84

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4.34 avg rating — 109,461 ratings
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85

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3.97 avg rating — 33,992 ratings
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86

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4.38 avg rating — 88,039 ratings
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87

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 901 ratings
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88

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3.62 avg rating — 206,470 ratings
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89

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4.05 avg rating — 47,704 ratings
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90

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4.08 avg rating — 17,904 ratings
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91

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3.84 avg rating — 11,548 ratings
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92

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3.99 avg rating — 6,127 ratings
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93

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4.25 avg rating — 33,858 ratings
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94

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,241 ratings
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95

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4.46 avg rating — 35,687 ratings
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96

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4.05 avg rating — 326,176 ratings
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97

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3.90 avg rating — 125,714 ratings
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98

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4.04 avg rating — 25,593 ratings
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99

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4.16 avg rating — 495,769 ratings
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100

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3.73 avg rating — 4,485 ratings
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1,122 books · 1,879 voters · list created July 24th, 2009 by Kevis Hendrickson (votes) .
234 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


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Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Great list of wonderful books.

Melanie


message 2: by Andre (new)

Andre Added Io Deceneus Journal of a time traveller. A brand new author but quite good in creating new worlds and conflicts between civilizations.


message 3: by David (new)

David I was surprised The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester was not included in the list. If you've never read it, I highly recommend it, it's probably the best singular Science Fiction novel I've read thusly


message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

Saga does not forget to be awesome!


message 5: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Could someone define the difference between "space opera" and "sci-fi that happens to take place in space"?


message 6: by Kevis (last edited Dec 06, 2013 11:00AM) (new)

Kevis Hendrickson Jamie wrote: "Could someone define the difference between "space opera" and "sci-fi that happens to take place in space"?"

Space opera is a branch of science fiction where the story generally takes place in outer space. Its focus is usually on interplanetary adventure on a grand, epic scale, rather than the technical aspects of space exploration which you might associate with Hard Science Fiction which places the focus on the science, rather than the humanistic elements found in space opera.

When you say Space Opera, think Star Wars or Dune. Science Fiction in space is more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey.


message 7: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Kevis wrote: "Space opera is a branch of science fiction where the story generally takes place in outer space. Its focus is usually on adventure on a grand, epic scale, rather than the technical aspects of space exploration which you might associate with Hard Science Fiction which places the focus on the science, rather than the humanistic elements found in space opera.."

Kevis.

I like your descripion of space opera vs science fiction. It's clear and concise.


message 8: by Kevis (last edited Dec 06, 2013 10:59AM) (new)

Kevis Hendrickson Thomas wrote: "Kevis wrote: "Space opera is a branch of science fiction where the story generally takes place in outer space. Its focus is usually on adventure on a grand, epic scale, rather than the technical as..."

Glad you like it, Thomas!


message 9: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Kevis wrote: "When you say Space Opera, think Star Wars or Dune. Science Fiction in space is more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey. ..."

Thank you. I was confused because 2001 is on this list (so I must not be the only one...) :-)


message 10: by Kevis (new)

Kevis Hendrickson Jamie wrote: "Kevis wrote: "When you say Space Opera, think Star Wars or Dune. Science Fiction in space is more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey. ..."

Thank you. I was confused because 2001 is on this list (so I ..."


No problem, Jamie. There's a lot of confusion about what's space opera and what isn't and it leads to some interesting book choices for this list.


message 11: by Jon (new)

Jon Graci How is the saga of seven suns not on here


message 12: by Dan (new)

Dan I've read quite a few on this list but I think I will go through and read or re-read as many as possible, looks like a great list!


message 13: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Xantha wrote: "Awful lot of hard science fiction here."

See my question (above) about space opera vs. sci-fi.


message 14: by Marcus (new)

Marcus Steffanci dystopia does not equal space opera


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