Suggestions for some fun space operas

[Dale]

Try the "Lensman" series and the "Skylark of Space" series by E.E."Doc" Smith. They are old, but they hold up.

[Aaron]

Triplanetary is where you start Lensmen.

If you want StarWarsy space opera stuff read the Heir to the Empire

You also might want to try The Stainless Steel Rat


Not a book, but Yamato 2199 anime series is exactly what you are looking for, I mean it's literally a wet navy in space. It has a good bit of symbolism and deep stuff but it's pretty obvious and I found it more of a light hell yes series rather then a deep thing I needed to think about.

[Steph]

Aaron wrote: "...You also might want to try The Stainless Steel Rat..."

Or for another light-hearted Harry Harrison tome, Bill, the Galactic Hero.

[Leonie]

David Weber isn't dark, although there is much war and intrigue and lots of battles. And there are treecats. For a bit of fluff you could try Thomas DePrima. Not at all heavy, and an impossibly competent heroine, but definitely space opera :)

[Rob]

More 'solar' opera than space opera, but I really enjoy the expanse books starting with Leviathan Wakes

[Carolyn]

I would start with:
Elizabeth Moon
Tanya Huff
David Weber
Lois McMaster Bujold
C.J. Cherryh
John Scalzi
Mike Resnick
S.L. Viehl
David Feintuch

A good list to reference, here on GR in Listopia:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Richard]

One of the more obvious choices in this are are the Dune series by Frank Herbert. Of course, one should also follow the collaborative efforts of his son Brian Herbert

[Richard]

One of the more obvious choices in this area are the Dune series by Frank Herbert. Of course, one should also follow the collaborative efforts of his son Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. Their joint efforts have added depth and breadth to the Duniverse which can only be classified as rich, wonderful, true to the original in just about every way they can be.

Kevin Anderson's own "The Saga of the Seven Suns" starting with Hidden Empire is a space opera in its own right.

[Jim]

With Dune I don't think the sequels (or prequels) are as good as the original book.

Some reckon Dune Messiah is nearly as good, but the rest fall off

[Don]

the great north road

[J.J.]

I'd go with Cherryh and McMaster-Bujold for classic soace operas

[V.W.]

Try the "Bolo" novels:

Bolo Brigade

Bolo Rising

Bolo Strike

[Trike]

Definitely Old Man's War by Scalzi. Sequels are, in this order, The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony, Zoe's Tale and The Human Division.

R.M. Meluch's "Tour of the Merrimack" is a solid space opera. The Myriad is the first one, followed by Wolf Star, The Sagittarius Command, Strength and Honor and The Ninth Circle. I think they might be available in omnibus editions, despite only being a few years old.

Edit: yes they are.

[Don]

your not the only one taking notes

[Aaron]

Gotta second Bolo for being tons of fun.

[Richard]

One thing to note about Triplanetary by E.E. (Edward Elmer) "Doc" Smith, MD. There are liberties taken by many of the current renditions of this classic story. The issue is an editorial removal from several available versions of 5 chapters at the beginning of the book. The chapters provide the"back story" of the struggle between the forces of good (from Arista) and evil (the forces from Eddore). That conflict spilled over into Earth conflicts, namely the world wars of which there were more than the two with which we are familiar. These missing chapters are vital to the understanding about the philosophies and sources for the origin of the Lens and the users, the Lensmen. The only authoritative version with the five missing chapters was the two volume The Chronicles of the Lensmen published the The Science Fiction Book Club. It is still available from them in hardback form. Just an FYI from a serious fan of "Doc" Smith and his work. It is seriously old school and, in my opinion, truly part of The Golden Age in Science Fiction.

[Leif]

The Man-Kzin Wars series set in the universe of the classic Ringworld by Larry Niven offers fast paced action, fascinating aliens, and wars on a grand scale.
My other favorites of the gender are:
David Brin's Uplift universe.
Vernor Vinge's novels of the Zones of Thought: A Fire Upon the Deep / A Deepness in the Sky universe.
And the Trade pact and Webshifter universe by Julie E. Czerneda which offers very spectacular aliens. The best starting point may be Reap the Wild Wind of Stratification trilogy.

Edited to add: Star Trek The Motion Picture

[Mary]

Aaron wrote: "Triplanetary is where you start Lensmen."

I've heard recommendations to start with Galactic Patrol, and once through the original books, go back and read the others as prequels -- because that way, the first two don't spoil the revelations of the books, and you learn them as the main characters do

[Dan]

Leonie wrote: "And there are treecats."

Anything with treecats in it is great. :)

[Stephen]

Peter Hamilton's stuff is pretty good too. Start with Pandora's Star.

[Gianfranco]

Totally addicted to "The Horus Heresy" series. Space battles, aliens, demons and super-human space marines. Love it.

[V.W.]

Gianfranco wrote: "Totally addicted to "The Horus Heresy" series. Space battles, aliens, demons and super-human space marines. Love it.

[bookcover:F..."

A lot of the other WH40K books are very good too.

[Gianfranco]

V.W. wrote: "Gianfranco wrote: "Totally addicted to "The Horus Heresy" series. Space battles, aliens, demons and super-human space marines. Love it.

[bookcover:Galaxy in Flames|..."

[Mary JL]

Mary: Re message 24. I am a long time fan of E.E. Smith. Galactic Patrol, Lensmen #3, was written first. When the series became popular, Smith largely re-wrote Triplanetary to strengthen its coonection with the series and wrote an entirely new book--First Lensman to link the series together.

Actually it can be read either way---the only thing is I fear some reads may start Triplanetary--imho the weakest book ---and not continue the series. If you really like, as I do, you will read all six books anyway. I just like to warm people--if Triplantary does not grab you---stick with the series--it gets better!!!

[Mary]

For people who want to try Warhammer 40K, I would recommend initially, the Ciaphas Cain books by Sandy Mitchell, which are funny, or the Gaunt's Ghosts books by Dan Abnett, which are straight military SF.

However, I'm not sure whether they are disqualified when someone is tired of "really heavy, dark stuff." They were, after all, the setting for which the term GRIMDARK was invented. Not unnaturally for what is, after all, a war game -- and the books tend to be lighter for reasons relating to the change of media -- but still, they're not the first thing I think of as fun.

Lots of explosions and guns, though.

[Gianfranco]

Gaunt's Ghosts are awesome! I love Dan Abnett's
Eisenhornand Ravenor: The Omnibustrilogies too.

Mary wrote: "For people who want to try Warhammer 40K, I would recommend initially, the Ciaphas Cain books by Sandy Mitchell, which are funny, or the Gaunt's Ghosts books by [author:Dan Abnett|3..."

[Edwin]

What comes to my mind is the Human Chronicles series by T.R. Harris. The first book is The Fringe Worlds and although it is not fine literature by any stretch of the imagination, it does fit your criteria for a fun, romping space opera that won't strain your brain.

[Mary]

Gianfranco wrote: "Gaunt's Ghosts are awesome! I love Dan Abnett's
Eisenhornand Ravenor: The Omnibustrilogies too."

I read 'em but didn't find them as good. Brothers of the Snake, OTOH. . . .

[Aaron]

If you don't mind Satire
Redshirts

The The Excalibur Alternative is a fun book bit of a slow start but it's short and quick one off.

[Edward]

Mary JL wrote: "the only thing is I fear some reads may start Triplanetary---imho the weakest book---and not continue the series"

That was exactly what happened to me. Which book should I read now if I want to give the series another chance?

[Mary]

Galactic Patrol

[Gianfranco]

Thank you very much for the suggestion. Just started reading it and seems very good. Devoured first chapter in the subway this morning. :)

Mary wrote: "Gianfranco wrote: "Gaunt's Ghosts are awesome! I love Dan Abnett's
Eisenhornand Ravenor: The Omnibustrilogies too."

I read 'em but didn't find them as ..."