Looking for Recomendation

[Dukewacoan]

I'm stuck in a rut looking for a recommendation in SciFi, and I'm thinking in the Space Opera theme.

I keep starting and stopping various Sci Fi books, and can't seem to get into any of them. Recently I've read about the first 100 pages of Foundation, Revelation Space, Hyperion, Iliad, Forever War, Fire Upon the Deep and the Virkosigan series. Didn't get over 100 pages into any. Wondering whether I should try one again or look for something else. I have stopped and started books before and they turned out good, just didn't get into the first time. So maybe a restart of one of them?

Maybe something by Banks or Pohl? Never tried one. Other ideas?

Of SciFi that I have liked lately -
Altered Carbon - A+
Old Man's War, etc - B-
Dune, etc (1st three) - A+
Chindi - B
Enders Game - B-
Starship Troopers - B+

[David Sven]

Leviathan Wakes - space opera lite
Pandora's Star - long book but good characterisation and very much space opera

[Mike]

I'm a big fan of Timothy Zahn for Space Opera. Icarus Hunt or Angelmass would be a good place to start. Manta's Gift is also excellent, but probably not what you're looking for at the moment.

[Janny]

My favorite space opera for great action and superb characters and a dash of quirky lampooning humor is the Merrimack series, starting with The Myriad by R.M. Meluch. Don't be put off that it's not extremely well known - most of the author's other works take a more serious approach, this one is a bit of a departure.

[Maggie, space cruisin' for a bruisin']

hmmm...I have a copy of a R.M. Meluch novel here...I shall have to move it up the list!

I recommend Iain M. Banks Culture series---great sci-fi, world building and characters

[Dukewacoan]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm going to give Reynoldsonemore try then move to Banks if Revelation doesn't work for me.

[Barry]

You could try Deepsix by Jack McDevitt, or The Eden Paradox & Eden's Trial (a bit of shameless self-promotion there, sorry, but they are 'new' space opera). Banks & Reynolds are ace though. If you liked Altered Carbon, you could try Neal Asher (Polity series) or Greg Egan (e.g. Quarantine)

[Francesca]

What about something by Samuel Delany (Nova or Babel-17)?

[Lane]

Thread revival (I was bored at work thumbing through the group). I would highly recomend Gregory Benford's Galactic Center series. Very hard sci-fi to take you from today to the heat-death of the universe!

[Kevin]

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge or Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh

[Dukewacoan]

I ended up starting Revelation Space. Putting it down about 1/2 way through. I might pick it back up in a month.

[Dylan]

I would recommend two books that I think fit in more with the books you finished and enjoyed than the ones you didn't:

Dauntless by Jack Campbell
Armor by John Steakley

[Dan]

Downbelow Staion, by C.J. Cherryh
Trading in Danger, by Elizabeth Moon
Talent for War, by Jack McDevitt

[Budd]

Kevin wrote: "A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge or Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh"

seconded!

[Budd]

Dukewacoan wrote: "Fire upon the Deep..."

This one takes some time to get into. Once you figure things out the story picks up and goes much faster. Deepness in the Sky might be the best Vinge book to start on.

[Marcie]

The Risen Empire and The Killing Of Worlds by Scott Westerfeld were surprising likes for me. His Evolution's Darling book is good (and risqué) but it's not everyone's cup of tea. Let me know if you try! Good luck!

[Mary]

Going by that list, I would recommend Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet series starting with The Lost Fleet: Dauntless

[Rob]

Engines of God - Jack McDevitt
Leviathan Wakes
House of Suns - Reynolds

[Robert]

Would any of the works of Greg Bear be considered part of a space opera theme?

[mark, personal space invader]

I wouldn't consider them space opera, at least not from my understanding of the genre. but I've really loved what I've read, whatever the so-called genre. a triloy of sorts: Eon, Eternity, and Legacy. they expand on (and move well beyond) the BDO concept originally developed by Clarke in Rendezvous with Rama.

[Rob]

And David Brin's Uplift series.

[Mary]

Michael Flynn's Spiral Arm series is space opera: The January Dancer, Up Jim River, In the Lion's Mouth, and On the Razor's Edge.

[spikeINflorida]

I'm currently reading the Spinward Fringe series. Definitely solid space opera.

[Kirsten]

Mike wrote: "I'm a big fan of Timothy Zahn for Space Opera. Icarus Hunt or Angelmass would be a good place to start. Manta's Gift is also excellent, but probably not what you're looking for at th..."

I think his YA Dragon series is very good.

[Kirsten]

Rob wrote: "Engines of God - Jack McDevitt
Leviathan Wakes
House of Suns - Reynolds"

McDevitt is one of those authors my dad "forced" on me. It's so sad those days are over.

[Kirsten]

Francesca wrote: "What about something by Samuel Delany (Nova or Babel-17)?"

I loved Nova!

[Kirsten]

Bob wrote: "Would any of the works of Greg Bear be considered part of a space opera theme?"

I consider him "hard" sci-fi since he spends so much time on the sci-tech and less on the characters.

[Alex]

Hello all,

All chapters are free - Sector Eight!



Reccomends for all Space Opera funs!