Leviathan Wakes
question
Suggestions of similar books that deliver on the promise of Leviathan Wakes?
Jon
May 21, 2014 04:26PM
I grew up obsessed with Star Wars, but I haven't read much space opera. I saw this book on the shelf and nearly bought it based off the cover alone. I did some research, saw that it had good reviews, and picked it up. Then dropped it entirely 100 pages from the end. I just didn't enjoy the characters, the plot was convoluted, yet followed a rather derivative, expected direction.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm curious if anyone can suggest a good book along these lines. Some good, believable-ish sci fi, with captains and their spaceships and dudes in bulky spacesuits. And maybe aliens and laser swords. I'm not picky.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm curious if anyone can suggest a good book along these lines. Some good, believable-ish sci fi, with captains and their spaceships and dudes in bulky spacesuits. And maybe aliens and laser swords. I'm not picky.
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I might be the minority here, but I actually quite liked Leviathan Wakes. It didn't blow me away, and it did feel a little long, but I liked the universe it had set up. It felt a lot like the universe of the game series Elite. However, I certainly understand your frustration, it isn't quite the space opera experience we get in other media.
For Star Wars like experiences, have you tried Simon Green's Deathstalker books? Or maybe Doc Smith's Lensman series (very pulpy and reminded me of a Green Lantern sort of vibe). The UltraMarines Trilogy by Graham McNeill (if you aren't looking for high literature).
A few others I like:
Uplift Saga by David Brin
Species Imperative trilogy by Julie E Czerneda
The Retrieval Artist series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
nearly anything by Timothy Zahn
My biggest problem with a lot of space opera stuff is it either gets too bogged down by the sheer scale of the story. So epic and all encompassing that the world building takes ages. Or it relies far too heavily on military storylines. It makes sense that the military would make up most of the adventures into other parts of space and the dealings with other cultures, but I have found little interest in military scifi.
For Star Wars like experiences, have you tried Simon Green's Deathstalker books? Or maybe Doc Smith's Lensman series (very pulpy and reminded me of a Green Lantern sort of vibe). The UltraMarines Trilogy by Graham McNeill (if you aren't looking for high literature).
A few others I like:
Uplift Saga by David Brin
Species Imperative trilogy by Julie E Czerneda
The Retrieval Artist series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
nearly anything by Timothy Zahn
My biggest problem with a lot of space opera stuff is it either gets too bogged down by the sheer scale of the story. So epic and all encompassing that the world building takes ages. Or it relies far too heavily on military storylines. It makes sense that the military would make up most of the adventures into other parts of space and the dealings with other cultures, but I have found little interest in military scifi.
yeah the chars do seem to require more thank a mild suspension of disbelief in the Leviathan series. Try the Lost Fleet series its a space story that i found differed from the usual derivative
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Lost Fleet, seriously? That's about as flat and formulaic as Space Opera can get.
I had pretty much the same reaction to Leviathan Wakes. I kept thinking the book was about to be over and then realized I still had 40% to go and gave up.
I'm not a space opera expert, but I'd unequivocally recommend the entire Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold - the best book to start with would be The Warrior's Apprentice. These books follow a smaller number of characters than in Leviathan Wakes, and tend to be a little more light-hearted. There are many books in the series - the early ones have more military action in them, while the later ones have more of a political/mystery bent.
I also liked The Phoenix in Flight and some of the sequels in the Exordium series. I'd call it character-driven sci-fi (including a band of Firefly-esque space pirates), but it has its fair share of space battles and the like. There is a pretty huge cast of characters and an equally huge galactic empire. But you really have to be patient for the first hundred or so pages of the first book because there is a lot of name dropping and all of the names are long, hyphenated, and impossible to pronounce.
I'm not a space opera expert, but I'd unequivocally recommend the entire Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold - the best book to start with would be The Warrior's Apprentice. These books follow a smaller number of characters than in Leviathan Wakes, and tend to be a little more light-hearted. There are many books in the series - the early ones have more military action in them, while the later ones have more of a political/mystery bent.
I also liked The Phoenix in Flight and some of the sequels in the Exordium series. I'd call it character-driven sci-fi (including a band of Firefly-esque space pirates), but it has its fair share of space battles and the like. There is a pretty huge cast of characters and an equally huge galactic empire. But you really have to be patient for the first hundred or so pages of the first book because there is a lot of name dropping and all of the names are long, hyphenated, and impossible to pronounce.
Peter F Hamilton and the Commonwealth series, Alistair reynolds "Gap" series, "Stealing Light" by Gary Gibson and "Take back Plenty" by Colin Greenland.
Try Neal Asher.
His Polity universe has some serious kick ass elements to it.
Prador Moon would make a good start, IMHO
His Polity universe has some serious kick ass elements to it.
Prador Moon would make a good start, IMHO
Anything by Peter F Hamilton. Can give Fallen Dragon a trial run since its a stand-alone. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Most of his other books are Trilogies, at least.
Most of his other books are Trilogies, at least.
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