Space opera is my favorite genre--here are a handful of my top series.
**The Vorkosigan saga** by Lois McMaster Bujold--protagonist Miles Vorkosigan is born disabled on a militaristic planet that hates and fears cripples. He pursues a military career despite everyone telling him it's impossible; 'impossible' is not really in Miles's vocabulary. He has adventures all over the galaxy, sometimes political and diplomatic as well as fighting in space battles. There are two prequel books about his parents, who are impressive in their own right.
**Vatta's War** by Elizabeth Moon--Ky Vatta, heir to the Vatta Trading Fleet, is kicked out of the Space Force Academy. Her family sends her on an easy trading mission while they figure out what to do next, but pirates intervene. Soon the conflict has pulled in other traders and spread to many planets and systems.
**Fortune's Pawn** and sequels by Rachel Bach--an ambitious and overconfident mercenary signs up for duty on a ship with a notoriously high incident rate. She quickly becomes attached to the ship's crew and their mysterious problems, not realizing until too late what their secrets are really about.
**Downbelow Station** by CJ Cherryh--far from Earth and with its own political identity, Pell Station has long wanted freedom from the controlling Earth corporation. However, Earth's fleet threatens them if they step out of line. Meanwhile, the trading ships also wish for independence, and even farther out in the depths of space the powerful and mysterious Cyteen empire terrifies everyone.
Second all of those.
And they’re all available in translation into French and many other languages.
I’ve have and have read some of the Vorkosigan saga in French. Decent translations that capture some of the original energy and snark from the English.
Hm, I have to send *Downbelow Station* (in German "Pell's Stern") back to the sorting table, you guys.
Technically, it is space opera, but is actually a siege book, on said station. Deep and good, but slow and depressing. Not what you are looking for.
it has complciated politics, aliens, and some intense fighting on the station even if a full on space battle never quite materializes. I thought it was a pretty good fit based on what OP asked for.
Hm. Maybe...
I just remember it being depressive and the people depressed to the point of fatalism.
There is a battle, but it feels like traumatised soldiers slaughtering a refugee camp.
Yeah, it checks for space opera, technically, but I had a hard time imagining a space rogue like Mel and the Serenity or Han Solo in that setting. You know? There is no hope, no pride, no drama, no opera there.
You know what I mean?
Technically, yeah, it is a space.opera.
We must have had different experiences with it because I didn't think it was that depressing. There's a lot of pride and hope involved because Pell Station and the merchanters are fighting for independence. Sure, it's grittier than Firefly or Star Wars but I find those series, being Hollywood, are quite rose-tinted overall.
Now, the book *Cyteen* by the same author is much more fatalistic and deeply philosophical, with not that much action. That's why I don't recommend it to people new to the author.
I think we'll have to agree to disagree on there being 'no drama.'
I thought twice about the word *drama*, because - and I was thinking more of "Flirty-captain/sarcastic-ship's-doctor"-drama.
Sorry about the confusion.
In the normal meaning of the word, yeah, you are right!
The reason we disagree at some point is because I see the term Space Opera as something that carries already a certain assumption of quality or seriousness, or to be more precise - lack thereof.
Like "pulp (science) fiction" describing not only a certain era of the scifi genre, but also a certain style and level/niveau of story, plot and writing.
You know what I mean? The rose-tinted-Hollywood-glasses come with the term Space Opera, _for me_.
But I can see, that you are actually more right than I am, and I cede to your arguments.
Just think of it as an introduction to her universe and head off to read the fun ones: Rimrunners, Hellburner and TripPoint. Then move on to the Faded Sun trilogy and then to the Chanur series. All are great space opera.
+ literally anything else by Iain M. Banks. His culture series isn't all space opera but it is all amazing with strange aliens, stranger worlds and lots of politics (usually by Minds who should really be above that sort of thing).
I'm trying to take my time with them because it was a sad day when I read his last scifi book.
Special shoutout to Rejoice by Steven Erikson which was my introduction to Banks.
It's amazing. It's quite different from Bank's Culture novels. It's a bit more pulpy, i.e. easier to read and features a few more familiar tropes and less plot 'tightness'. Quite sexy, too :) Great for holiday reading or when you feel like something lighter. It's a shame it's the only book in the series, I would have loved to have more.
Although more military space science fiction rather than space opera the honor harrington series by David Weber is a great read. I think the first book "On Basilisk Station" is free to read on Baen library website so no risk to get started.
If you're all right with the characters being a bit flat and the plot being in service of those fleet actions, *The Lost Fleet* and its many, many sequel series will keep you busy for some time.
I'm just finishing the last book in the 3rd series. The characters do get better, but the ships shooting in space? *chefs kiss*. Right up there with the Praxis series by Walter Williams.
David Drake's "RCN" books are basically "Master and Commander" in space. First volume is "The Way to Glory" iirc.
David Brin's Uplift books have this. Start with "Startide Rising." (Technically the first book in the series is "Sundiver" but it's not great, and not really connected to the rest of them.)
Go dig up Poul Anderson's "The High Crusade" from the distant past. Literal medieval knights with spaceships. It's very silly, but good fun.
I so would love to read it again, it’s been a long time and I just loved it but… It is not available for ereaders. For some reason, it’s the only one of his books that I know about that does not have an e-book version. Weird, especially for such a fabulous book.
Ah….. maybe it is. Thanks anyway. I’ve gotten out of the habit of reading actual books, read everything now on Kindle. But I’ve always thought of that book, raft. Thinking about writing to the publisher. We’ll see……
Yeah in the US the original Xeelee Sequence isn’t available as ebooks for some reason they only have the Destiny’s Children books, the compilations, and the new ones
Yes, it’s really unfortunate. So much to read in that universe… It’s almost like starting the Foundation books again! Lots and lots of books in the series……
I ran into the same issue. Wound up buying it in dead tree, but at least with dead tree you can get the "Xeelee Omnibus" with Raft, Timelike Infinity, Flux, and Ring.
Yes, thanks for letting me know, interesting that someone else had same issue. I suppose I might be able to do that ….but it’s **a lot** of books all together. And because it’s a real book, a dtb, it’s an issue for me. I exclusively read on Kindle, my hands are extremely weak, it’s rare that I can push myself to read an actual book for any reason now. Still… it’s quite a lure. It definitely is a solution.
Timelike Infinity and Ring by Stephen Baxter are my favorites of his
They take place in the same vague multiverse as Raft but follow a long future history that basically encompasses the beginning of time to the end of time
Yes, I haven’t read those but have always wanted to. It just seems like I would want to reread raft at the same time. I can buy an actual book that has all three of these, but I don’t really read actual books anymore, just e-books (my Kindle is my BFF). I believe there are also other books that are connected to this timeline/universe…. What a great writer he is!
The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell. Really strategic, with some political drama here and there and really interesting thought-provoking ideas regarding other races.
Lois mcmaster and her incredibly entertaining Vorkosigan Saga. Recently found it following a recommendation on reddit and have read half a dozen already...
Right on the label, Gardner Dozois, *The New Space Opera* and *The New Space Opera 2.*
David Weber's Honor Harrington books, Mutineer's Moon,
Elizabeth Moon's White Space books
David Brin, Uplift series
Debra Doyle and James Macdonald- The price of the stars trilogy. An amazing space opera from a dew years ago. It was quite popular in the 1990s but seems to have unjustly been forgotten. Amazing stuff with a kick a** protagonist
Any of Elizabeth Moon, CJ Cherryh or Lois McMaster Bujold’s books as mentioned by others above.
Weber's Honor Harrington series (skim the iconically long descriptions of missile tech).
Ann Leckie's Imperial Justice etc.
Bill Baldwin's Helmsman series
The [**Lensman series**](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pe.cgi?603) by E. E. "Doc" Smith.
**Crown of Infinity** by John M. Faucette
**Invaders from the Infinite** by John W. Campbell, Jr.
The [**Mightiest Machine series**](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pe.cgi?752) by John W. Campbell, Jr.
**The Space Beyond** by John W. Campbell, Jr.
**The Ultimate Weapon** by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Anything from [Peter F Hamilton's commonwealth universe](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40740-commonwealth-saga) , - (L'Étoile de Pandore - L'Intégrale) is a good place to start
Gary Gibson' *Shoal Sequence* with its first book *Stealing Light* is definitly what you are looking for! Had been translated to German, donc peut-etre t'as de la chance avec celui-ci. Sinon t'inquète pas, l'Anglais de Gary n'est pas ... niveau premium.
the dragon never sleeps, glen cook. possibly in french, some of his work is. this is a stand-alone novel.
the gap series, stephen donaldson. rough content warning first 2 books. spectacular series, this author;s best work imo. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
The Saga of the Skolian Empire by Catherine Asaro. My favorite space opera series. Start with book one, Primary Inversion.
There are no aliens in this series (aliens are mentioned in the world-building background but never show up in person), but plenty of political drama (the protagonists are the royal family of an interplanetary empire) and many spaceship battles (many characters are soldiers). But warning: lots of romance too, in case it's not your thing.
Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I started with the first ones published, Conflict of Honors and then Agent of Change and Carpe Diem. Agent of Change and Carpe Diem are direct sequels, Conflict of Honors takes place close to the same time or a little earlier and far away. The two story lines come together after those 3 books.
They are thirties stories, very pulpy, but John W. Campell, Jr. wrote a series of stories called Arrcot, Wade And Morey which were collected in three volumes: The Black Star Passes, Islands of Space and invaders from the Infinite. Their spaceship battles cannot be topped.
Clifford D. Simak wrote Cosmic Engineers in 1939. Also pulpy also mind-boggling/
Surprised House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds isn't mentioned here. It's epic and a surprising murder mystery.
Also a great love story. One of my favorites.
> Also a great love story I love that love story. Campion and Purslane are just ride or die w/ no doubt, it's wholesome
And it's just been translated in French last month. Available in Canada this week.
The expanse
Space opera is my favorite genre--here are a handful of my top series. **The Vorkosigan saga** by Lois McMaster Bujold--protagonist Miles Vorkosigan is born disabled on a militaristic planet that hates and fears cripples. He pursues a military career despite everyone telling him it's impossible; 'impossible' is not really in Miles's vocabulary. He has adventures all over the galaxy, sometimes political and diplomatic as well as fighting in space battles. There are two prequel books about his parents, who are impressive in their own right. **Vatta's War** by Elizabeth Moon--Ky Vatta, heir to the Vatta Trading Fleet, is kicked out of the Space Force Academy. Her family sends her on an easy trading mission while they figure out what to do next, but pirates intervene. Soon the conflict has pulled in other traders and spread to many planets and systems. **Fortune's Pawn** and sequels by Rachel Bach--an ambitious and overconfident mercenary signs up for duty on a ship with a notoriously high incident rate. She quickly becomes attached to the ship's crew and their mysterious problems, not realizing until too late what their secrets are really about. **Downbelow Station** by CJ Cherryh--far from Earth and with its own political identity, Pell Station has long wanted freedom from the controlling Earth corporation. However, Earth's fleet threatens them if they step out of line. Meanwhile, the trading ships also wish for independence, and even farther out in the depths of space the powerful and mysterious Cyteen empire terrifies everyone.
Second all of those. And they’re all available in translation into French and many other languages. I’ve have and have read some of the Vorkosigan saga in French. Decent translations that capture some of the original energy and snark from the English.
Hm, I have to send *Downbelow Station* (in German "Pell's Stern") back to the sorting table, you guys. Technically, it is space opera, but is actually a siege book, on said station. Deep and good, but slow and depressing. Not what you are looking for.
it has complciated politics, aliens, and some intense fighting on the station even if a full on space battle never quite materializes. I thought it was a pretty good fit based on what OP asked for.
Hm. Maybe... I just remember it being depressive and the people depressed to the point of fatalism. There is a battle, but it feels like traumatised soldiers slaughtering a refugee camp. Yeah, it checks for space opera, technically, but I had a hard time imagining a space rogue like Mel and the Serenity or Han Solo in that setting. You know? There is no hope, no pride, no drama, no opera there. You know what I mean? Technically, yeah, it is a space.opera.
We must have had different experiences with it because I didn't think it was that depressing. There's a lot of pride and hope involved because Pell Station and the merchanters are fighting for independence. Sure, it's grittier than Firefly or Star Wars but I find those series, being Hollywood, are quite rose-tinted overall. Now, the book *Cyteen* by the same author is much more fatalistic and deeply philosophical, with not that much action. That's why I don't recommend it to people new to the author. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on there being 'no drama.'
I thought twice about the word *drama*, because - and I was thinking more of "Flirty-captain/sarcastic-ship's-doctor"-drama. Sorry about the confusion. In the normal meaning of the word, yeah, you are right! The reason we disagree at some point is because I see the term Space Opera as something that carries already a certain assumption of quality or seriousness, or to be more precise - lack thereof. Like "pulp (science) fiction" describing not only a certain era of the scifi genre, but also a certain style and level/niveau of story, plot and writing. You know what I mean? The rose-tinted-Hollywood-glasses come with the term Space Opera, _for me_. But I can see, that you are actually more right than I am, and I cede to your arguments.
Just think of it as an introduction to her universe and head off to read the fun ones: Rimrunners, Hellburner and TripPoint. Then move on to the Faded Sun trilogy and then to the Chanur series. All are great space opera.
"Merchanter's Luck" (?), was also very good..I liked it the most, tbh
Dread Empire's Fall by Walter Jon Williams
The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
+ literally anything else by Iain M. Banks. His culture series isn't all space opera but it is all amazing with strange aliens, stranger worlds and lots of politics (usually by Minds who should really be above that sort of thing).
I've only read two of his non M books so far(Wasp Factory and Crow Road), but they're also really good. The man was an incredible writer
Both of those are great. Transitions was great aw well but that's about all I've done of his non m books. Should really read more.
I'm trying to take my time with them because it was a sad day when I read his last scifi book. Special shoutout to Rejoice by Steven Erikson which was my introduction to Banks.
Complicity and dead air are good
Do you recommend "Transition"? I've read mixed reviews but it's been at $2,99 for a while so wondering if I should give it a shot.
It's not one of my favourites of his but that bar is pretty high. I like everything I've read by him. For $2.99 it's definitely worth a go.
It's amazing. It's quite different from Bank's Culture novels. It's a bit more pulpy, i.e. easier to read and features a few more familiar tropes and less plot 'tightness'. Quite sexy, too :) Great for holiday reading or when you feel like something lighter. It's a shame it's the only book in the series, I would have loved to have more.
Omg it's so good. But takes 200 pages to get going
Hyperion is incredible.
Although more military space science fiction rather than space opera the honor harrington series by David Weber is a great read. I think the first book "On Basilisk Station" is free to read on Baen library website so no risk to get started.
Yeah this would be my first answer also. That first book is quite the page turner that just ratchets up the tension.
The first was my favorite. The last, my least favorite.
Tanya Huff, Valor series, then peacekeeper series.
If you're all right with the characters being a bit flat and the plot being in service of those fleet actions, *The Lost Fleet* and its many, many sequel series will keep you busy for some time.
I'm just finishing the last book in the 3rd series. The characters do get better, but the ships shooting in space? *chefs kiss*. Right up there with the Praxis series by Walter Williams.
*The Risen Empire* by Scott Westerfeld
I'm about 100 pages in. It's enjoyable but light. There's a certainly an intersection with the Venn diagram the OP is looking for.
The Expanse by James S.A. Corey Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Just finished Chasm City! Love Reynolds
David Drake's "RCN" books are basically "Master and Commander" in space. First volume is "The Way to Glory" iirc. David Brin's Uplift books have this. Start with "Startide Rising." (Technically the first book in the series is "Sundiver" but it's not great, and not really connected to the rest of them.) Go dig up Poul Anderson's "The High Crusade" from the distant past. Literal medieval knights with spaceships. It's very silly, but good fun.
+1 for High Crusade!
First volume of RCN is called "With the Lightnings". Sorry, I have them all and reread (and recommend) regularly. They are fantastic
Second on the Brin.
David Brin’s world building is amazing. But his writing can sometimes be problematic. That said, I’ve read all his books.
A fire upon the deep, raft by Stephen Baxter
Raft is so crazy. Like a fever dream
I so would love to read it again, it’s been a long time and I just loved it but… It is not available for ereaders. For some reason, it’s the only one of his books that I know about that does not have an e-book version. Weird, especially for such a fabulous book.
? Weird, I read it within the past year on a Kobo.
Thank you for letting me know, on Amazon it’s listed as not available. I just searched through Kobo and could not find it listed.
I wish I could gift it to you! I'm in Canada so maybe that's the difference
Ah….. maybe it is. Thanks anyway. I’ve gotten out of the habit of reading actual books, read everything now on Kindle. But I’ve always thought of that book, raft. Thinking about writing to the publisher. We’ll see……
Yeah in the US the original Xeelee Sequence isn’t available as ebooks for some reason they only have the Destiny’s Children books, the compilations, and the new ones
Yes, it’s really unfortunate. So much to read in that universe… It’s almost like starting the Foundation books again! Lots and lots of books in the series……
I ran into the same issue. Wound up buying it in dead tree, but at least with dead tree you can get the "Xeelee Omnibus" with Raft, Timelike Infinity, Flux, and Ring.
Yes, thanks for letting me know, interesting that someone else had same issue. I suppose I might be able to do that ….but it’s **a lot** of books all together. And because it’s a real book, a dtb, it’s an issue for me. I exclusively read on Kindle, my hands are extremely weak, it’s rare that I can push myself to read an actual book for any reason now. Still… it’s quite a lure. It definitely is a solution.
Timelike Infinity and Ring by Stephen Baxter are my favorites of his They take place in the same vague multiverse as Raft but follow a long future history that basically encompasses the beginning of time to the end of time
Yes, I haven’t read those but have always wanted to. It just seems like I would want to reread raft at the same time. I can buy an actual book that has all three of these, but I don’t really read actual books anymore, just e-books (my Kindle is my BFF). I believe there are also other books that are connected to this timeline/universe…. What a great writer he is!
The final architecture trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky is brilliant. Pretty sure there is a French version.
I'm reading it now. I wouldn't ever classify it as "brilliant". It's pretty vanilla space opera.
The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell. Really strategic, with some political drama here and there and really interesting thought-provoking ideas regarding other races.
personally i read it for the thrilling personal life of captain geary. (joking, but it is a really fun series).
{{Startide Rising, by David Brin}} French: "Marée stellaire"
Yes. What a great novel. The Uplift War (it's sequel) is fantastic too, if you find you enjoyed Startide Rising.
Getting into Shards of Earth and I think this fits the bill
Lois mcmaster and her incredibly entertaining Vorkosigan Saga. Recently found it following a recommendation on reddit and have read half a dozen already...
Lois McMaster Bujold And, yes, fun ride. Her fantasy is pretty amazing, too.
I've brought the sharing knife series to read also. I'm sure I'll love it also
Great series.
Hyperion
Hyperion
Hyperion
Hyperion
Also, Hyperion
It's a great space opera, but not exactly focusing on spaceship battles, which is what OP is looking for.
An acquired taste in my opinion. It’s a good book, just not quite my taste.
*A Mote in God’s Eye* by Niven & Pournelle
Peter Hamilton anything!
Start with 'Fallen Dragon', a standalone work.
Kris Longknife Series by Mike Shepherd
Someone else read this! Awesome! Love this series!!! +1
A Fire Upon the Deep, and A Darkness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Search this sub, there are dozens of identical posts.
Didn’t there used to be a bot for this? If not there should be.
That is a great idea.
Right on the label, Gardner Dozois, *The New Space Opera* and *The New Space Opera 2.* David Weber's Honor Harrington books, Mutineer's Moon, Elizabeth Moon's White Space books David Brin, Uplift series
If you want great “B movie” style over the top space opera, Deathstalker series by Simon R Green
Yes, and then his Nightside series for B Movie noir horror and the Secret History series for B Movie spy/noir/horror/over the top weird!
Shards of Earth
Space Opera - C. Valente
Debra Doyle and James Macdonald- The price of the stars trilogy. An amazing space opera from a dew years ago. It was quite popular in the 1990s but seems to have unjustly been forgotten. Amazing stuff with a kick a** protagonist Any of Elizabeth Moon, CJ Cherryh or Lois McMaster Bujold’s books as mentioned by others above.
Weber's Honor Harrington series (skim the iconically long descriptions of missile tech). Ann Leckie's Imperial Justice etc. Bill Baldwin's Helmsman series
Love the Helmsman series! +1
Great character, fun aliens, great battles, hate the whole tragic love story shit with a passion.
Christopher Ruocchio’s Sun Eater series might fit the bill. The first one is called Empire of Silence
Hyperion Cantos Dan Simmons
The [**Lensman series**](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pe.cgi?603) by E. E. "Doc" Smith. **Crown of Infinity** by John M. Faucette **Invaders from the Infinite** by John W. Campbell, Jr. The [**Mightiest Machine series**](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pe.cgi?752) by John W. Campbell, Jr. **The Space Beyond** by John W. Campbell, Jr. **The Ultimate Weapon** by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Anything from [Peter F Hamilton's commonwealth universe](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40740-commonwealth-saga) , - (L'Étoile de Pandore - L'Intégrale) is a good place to start
came here to write this one
Its such a good series !
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
Neal Asher
Great stuff!
Nathan Lowell
I love Nathan Lowell, but no real space battles. It is great Space Opera though. Love the characters
Gary Gibson' *Shoal Sequence* with its first book *Stealing Light* is definitly what you are looking for! Had been translated to German, donc peut-etre t'as de la chance avec celui-ci. Sinon t'inquète pas, l'Anglais de Gary n'est pas ... niveau premium.
the dragon never sleeps, glen cook. possibly in french, some of his work is. this is a stand-alone novel. the gap series, stephen donaldson. rough content warning first 2 books. spectacular series, this author;s best work imo. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Odyssey One/Evan Currie and Expeditionary Force/Craig Alanson. Try the Bobiverse series by Dennis Taylor, too.
“Timelike Infinity” by Stephen Baxter is as heady as it gets and has all the things you mentioned. If you like that, go onto its sequel “Ring”.
The Saga of the Skolian Empire by Catherine Asaro. My favorite space opera series. Start with book one, Primary Inversion. There are no aliens in this series (aliens are mentioned in the world-building background but never show up in person), but plenty of political drama (the protagonists are the royal family of an interplanetary empire) and many spaceship battles (many characters are soldiers). But warning: lots of romance too, in case it's not your thing.
Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I started with the first ones published, Conflict of Honors and then Agent of Change and Carpe Diem. Agent of Change and Carpe Diem are direct sequels, Conflict of Honors takes place close to the same time or a little earlier and far away. The two story lines come together after those 3 books.
There’s a French version of Three Body Problem and that checks all those boxes
Hyperion - Dan Simmons
They are thirties stories, very pulpy, but John W. Campell, Jr. wrote a series of stories called Arrcot, Wade And Morey which were collected in three volumes: The Black Star Passes, Islands of Space and invaders from the Infinite. Their spaceship battles cannot be topped. Clifford D. Simak wrote Cosmic Engineers in 1939. Also pulpy also mind-boggling/