5 must read space operas

[@Sci-FiOdyssey]

Hey everyone, I hope you enjoy reading through the books on this list. There are SO many great space operas out there so this list certainly isn't exhaustive. I'll be looking at more space opera must reads soon... of which there are plenty. Thanks for watching.

[@richmcgee434]

If you're seriously examining space opera as a subgenre then start with its foundational works. Granted, EE "Doc" Smith's Lensmen and Skylark of Space series are going to feel outdated and awkward to some modern readers. But skipping on them while claiming to be a fan of space opera is like expressing a love of cosmic horror & the Cthulhu Mythos without ever having read Lovecraft, or delving into epic fantasy while studiously avoiding Tolkein. You're missing the roots that (for better or worse) influenced everything that came afterward in those subgenres. Smith's writing is a particularly good example of the kind of sharp ramp-up in the scale of conflict involved from one book to the next, something that's very much a signature of space opera as a whole. Your suggestions in this video are also rather light on the military elements of space opera, the Expanse being the major exception. You could counterbalance that by highlighting works like Weber's Honor Harrington novels, Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series, Moon's Familias Regnant series, and Campbell's Lost Fleet books. Those are probably more palatable to folks these days than Smith or his contemporaries, but you can still see the influence of the earlier era of pulp space opera stamped on them.

[@FutureReverberations]

I came not expecting anything. But got one recommendation for a new book. Tau Zero. Not read any Poul Anderson in many years. :) Edit: you are looking for suggestions? Try the Heechee Saga by Frederick Pohl.

[@C_Beaty]

Great list! I've been meaning to re-read Foundation since I read the original trilogy as a teenager. I'll have to check out some of these others too. I would also recommend Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth/Void series as a must-read space opera series. Amazing, detailed world-building, great character-building that keeps you invested, and multiple complicated, interwoven plotlines make it fantastic to read.

[@garthhaver3513]

While not a "space opera" per se, s.m. Stirling's draka novels are great. Think watching a train wreck but not being able to turn away. Having been into hard core s.f. for over thirty yrs, it's hard to pin down any one book.

[@interstelar7396]

David Zindell's "Neverness" is worth checking out. It builds a fascinating world.

[@plamentd]

i think larry niven's "known space" and especially ringworld series are the very definition of the genre

[@ManuelDornbusch]

I would rather say that Lensmen is by definition the very definition of the series :-) but Niven's Known Space stories are of course fantastic

[@shayneoneill1506]

If I was going to pick a series that I'd consider "The Canonical Space Opera" , it'd still be the Foundation Series. Thats not to say its the *best* (Its good, but Asimov was brilliant for his ideas, not his writing IMHO) just that it really did set the template for so much of what came after.

[@roqsteady5290]

Niven needs Pournelle to rein in his weird, implausible technology and aliens (Broccoli anyone?). Writing together they have some excellent works of which "The Mote in God's eye" is probably the best.

[@alancoe1002]

Excellent bridge between the old classics and the new.

[@tomricketts7821]

Hell yes plus mote in godsceye

[@ranterofall]

Book List with timestamps: Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov 0:49 Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds 2:53 Tau Zero by Paul Anderson 4:17 Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey 6:14 Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks 8:04

[@Setebos]

The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold, and the Vatta's War series by Elizabeth Moon.

[@richmcgee434]

I'd put the Familias Regnant books on the list alongside Vatta's War, although they are a bit less overtly space opera - less over the top action, slower power scaling. And certainly Bujold, can't talk space opera without Miles Vorkosigan, it'd be like not inviting the Kinnison family to the party. :)

[@chrisvickers7928]

I was at a con with Bujold a couple of decades ago. I asked how she could write such believable male characters complete with their pissing contests. She said male characters are easy to write because we are so simple. Believable female characters were far harder to write including for her.

[@GavP75]

Old man’s war, John Scalzi, would be on my list.

[@robjones2408]

Peter F. Hamilton's "Night Dawn" trilogy remains unbeatable. Joshua Calvert and Quinn Dexter are the ultimate of Good versus Evil. Each book is 1500 pages long, but they are magnificent examples of superb writing and plotting. I read all three books in six weeks. 10/10. Get your loved ones to buy the books for your birthday or Xmas.

[@DavidWiles]

I always considered "Bill the Galactic Hero" by Harry Harrison (1965) to be the stuff that space operas are made of.

[@richmcgee434]

If you want an even more on-the-nose and generally hilarious send-up of space opera tropes, may I suggest the grossly underappreciated Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers novel by Harry Harrison? Arguably his best work, Deathworld and Stainless Steel Rat notwithstanding.

[@NomadShadow1]

My favorite Space Opera is David Weber's Honor Harrington series, the second book in the series "For The Honor Of The Queen" is fantastic and what got me hooked

[@hankyler4129]

The Safehold series is good as well.

[@matt_SurfaceOfTheSunPhx]

@@hankyler4129 Could not agree more...picked up the series on Audible also. Was really well narrated and fun to listen to on long drives to and from work.

[@peterbroom5067]

Lensman series by EE 'Doc' Smith, is I think the first sci fi story to describe inertialess flight, as well as hyperspace and a galactic civilisation. Real pageturners and great fun to read, the depictions of huge space battles and tactics are well thought through. Published in the 1930's !

[@awesomeink]

I am glade im not the only one to start with classics

[@grayscribe1342]

Agreed. While I'd be one of the first to agree that the writing style might be difficult for today's readers, one of, if not the father of space opera should be at least mentioned. Though I wouldn't say the space battles were huge. Even today they have been dwarfed by very few other stories. Weapon systems that make the Death Star look like a toy and fleets so huge, that a specially build command ship can only command flotillas as single ships are too numerous to do so and even the largest battleship is insignificant within a flotilla. By the way, according to the GURPS Lensman RPG Doc got a letter after WWII, telling him that the way he described how he solved the problem of too much information coming in, how that data is being sorted was used in the Command and Control Centers of flagships in the Pacific theatre of WWII. Before that this wasn't necessary.

[@machintelligence]

I have heard that E. E. Smith was the master of multi order waves and one dimensional characters. I read his books in my early teens, which was probably for the best.

[@lawrencewilson3652]

Doc Smith's Lensmen is the basis of so much of space sci-fi today that it should never be ignored. The story is too good vs evil for many modern readers who need soiled heros, but the scope of the story is a canvas many have drawn from (most notably Babylon 5). He really put science (for the 1940's) into science fiction.

[@johnl9677]

In addition to the Lensmen series, don't forget Smith's earlier series "The Skylark Series". It was his big hit before the Lensmen were born.

[@donaldc3884]

I really enjoyed the Hyperion series.

[@reluctantsocialist2670]

Agreed, but it’s a more literary sci-fi than any space opera, the first book is a riff on the Canterbury tales, the whole thing with poets (trying not to spoil it lol) etc, I’d put it with PKD or Le Guin

[@bikingdervish]

The Hyperion cantos is what’s up

[@modernwarriorsystems7347]

Just finished the four book Cantos. Loved it.

[@lobstrosity7163]

Fantastic series. I really Shrike it.

[@nettewilson5926]

Just read the first book

[@1Fracino]

Nights Dawn trilogy by Peter F Hamilton. The Forge of God and The Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear. A very scary idea taken right to the edge. All of Stephen Baxter's Books, or any of them that you can get your hands on, SPACE is the main one you want to find, truly epic in scope. Downbelow Station and the rest of the books in this series by C. J. Cherryh. Last but not least, The Dragonflight series by Anne McCaffery.

[@derrickstableford8152]

I have a signed copy of Nights Dawn. All of the books in this series have a Leicestershire town or locations as cameos in the books.

[@transient_]

Can the dragonflight series truly be considered Space Opera? They all take place on Pern, right?

[@deevnn]

Greg Bear is a fantastic writer...

[@1Fracino]

@@derrickstableford8152 Thanks very nice, you're lucky. I never made the Leicestershire connection when I read them :/

[@1Fracino]

@@transient_ I suppose you're right, I should not have included it. I really liked them a lot as it's different & think the younger gen would get a kick out of reading the original books.

[@paultheroman6637]

James Blish's "Cities in Flight" is space opera at its finest. Larry Niven's novels featuring Louis Wu would also be a good contender. Frederick Pohl wrote the Heechee saga using the gateway concept. Still, when it comes to sweeping space opera, grand concepts, and intriguing ideas, Frank Herbert's "Dune" and its many sequels wins hands down.

[@classicsciencefictionhorro1665]

Fantastic books. Love Blish's Cities in Flight. Really well-written.

[@thorr18BEM]

The Foundation trilogy began as short stories which were published starting in 1942, not 1950. They were compiled into the 3 books in 1951. It used to be common. Dune, eg, was first published in smaller pieces within magazines.

[@wades2132]

Yea especially since the sci-fi greats of the 40s 50s and 60s really grew up reading pulp fiction magazines so wrote their initial stories in the same manner.

[@darkcommission]

Wow! For once I have every book/series in this list. The Nights Dawn and Commonwealth series by Peter F. Hamilton. Anything by Iain M. Banks. But my own absolute favourites are the Humanx Commonwealth books of Alan Dean Foster and especially the Flinx Novels. Sku September being one of my favourite characters. After collecting just over 800 books over the last 40 years (mainly from car boots, charity shops, market stalls etc.) there are just so many to choose from and we all have our favourites. Happy (and thoughtful) reading everyone 😎 Edit: EVERYTHING by Neal Asher!!!

[@dennisboulais7905]

The best long running "space opera" is David Webers "Honor Harrington" series. He has enormous character and political develpoments with great space battles. I agree with Peter Broom that E.E.Smiths "The Lensman" series is the classic and one I read as a teenager.

[@jasondrane8749]

Let me say I adore Weber's Honor Harrington series. However the more recent books have lost a lot of punch. To much and to many angles of view.

[@richmcgee434]

@@jasondrane8749 The series drops off steadily as Weber's editors have shown less and less willingness (or ability) to reign him in. Too many massive exposition dumps and political theorizing masquerading poorly as natural dialog these days, and none of the excellent pacing we saw in On Basilisk Station and the earlier sequels. What was an incredibly strong series has become a victim of its own success, or possibly just rampant incompetence in traditional publishing as a whole. I will give it this, it's arguably the best modern interpretation of the way Smith's Lensmen and Skylark books ramped up both the scale and stakes at a crazy pace, going from humble beginnings to galaxy-shaking events inside a single lifetime.

[@MM22966]

@@jasondrane8749 Yeah, you could also tell he wanted to wrap it up. The whole Solarian thing just ended with a whimper rather the massive space battles we have come to expect.

[@thtiger1]

@@jasondrane8749 I think he got bored with that universe, but was contractually obligated to do so many more books. Only my speculation. But I have seen more than a few favorite series go totally into the garbage dump due to that. With the last few books looking like the author just tossed them together with no real plot or staying true to the character development for the first few books.

[@ronnycook3569]

@@jasondrane8749 They're good until roughly Honor Among Enemies, then start going downhill. Pretty much as soon as command grows beyond task force size. His Safehold books have much the same problem, but it starts much earlier in the series. The tactical battles are lost in a political morass. It's not his strong point. I did finish the HH series, but it says something that I haven't taken the time to finish the side novels published after the main series finished.

[@richdiddens4059]

Add to the list both Doc Smith series, Skylark and Lensman which led to the coinage of the term Space Opera. Piers Anthony's Space Tyrant books. For humorous space opera, Bond's The Remarkable Exploits of Lancelot Biggs, Spaceman. For younger readers Heinlein, A. E. Nourse, and Andre Norton had a bunch. Of course David Weber has at least 3 or 4 series that are space opera.

[@colinsearle1015]

The "Gap into" trilogy is a good read I keep going back to

[@BertGrink]

Trilogy? FYI There are actually FIVE books in this series.

[@colinsearle1015]

@@BertGrink correct my bad

[@BlackDiluvian]

One crazy rollercoaster ride! I still remember most of the story, not to mention the awesome names of some of the characters: Morn Hyland, Min Donner, Warden Dios and Angus Thermopylae of course.. pretty good for a book i read 25 to 30 years ago. :)

[@BertGrink]

​@@BlackDiluvian Pretty good? I think it´s amazing that you can remember those names after so much time. And yes, the names are very well thought out; I find the name Hashi Lebwohl (the DA Director) particularly amusing. In fact, I think that the entire oeuvre is very well written, with lots of subtle twists. :D

[@RobertoMaurizzi]

"Consider Phlebas" is written like a D&D adventure. Then you begin "Use of Weapons" and it's almost impossible to understand it without some preparatory studying...

[@rrsjr]

Neal Asher's Polity books, Dan Simmons' Hyperion/Endymion books and Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth, Confederation and Salvation books.

[@RobertoMaurizzi]

Confederation as in "Night's dawn trilogy"?

[@richmcgee434]

The Polity is a fascinating setting. Reminds me more than a bit Banks' in many ways, but I enjoy Asher's writing style more.

[@Ceyx1265]

Robert A Heinkein's : Lazarus Long books are my favourite space opera.

[@paultheroman6637]

Ideally, if R.A.H.'s Lazarus Long's stories could be stitched together to create the ultimate multi-episodic series, I could imagine the late John Wayne as Lazarus. Possibly Jeff Bridges as the titular character.

[@davidbonner4556]

Many of the Lazarus Long stories are gathered together in Time Enough for Love, and even these are just a subset of Heinlein's "Future History". Many of the latter books include an inset showing the timeline of the Future History and where each story fits into it.

[@ronw7667]

If Hyperion (cantos) isn't space opera, then I'll have to read them a third time. Surly top five imo, maybe top two, maybe top top.

[@earlofsked6991]

Top one series for me. Totally unique.

[@topfish1225]

I just completed my second read through of the first two books , even better the second time around .

[@ciprian6356]

Hyperion Cantos - No. 1 Sci-Fi Space Opera in my top.

[@Gol_D_Rog3r]

It's up there in my mind but many people categorize it as sci-fi horror

[@carlburke1625]

I've never gotten past the first volume, which I thought was stand-alone at the time. The side stories were good, but the whole trip down the river and the Shrike just annoyed the hell out of me. And then it just stopped with a complete nonsequitur.

[@Alorand]

I still wish I could get a couple more novels set in the Culture universe. Heck I would settle for well written fan-fics at this point.

[@RustyDust101]

"The Find" by Cliff Aleister (sorry, parts 2 and 3 still available only in German), the complete Honorverse setting by David Weber (including spin-offs and prequels), "We are Legion. We are Bob" by Dennis E. Taylor, are just my contributions to the must read-list. Many others have been listed below.

[@allanmiller8203]

These choices are great, but let me share my favorite juvenile space opera - Ben Bova's "Star Conquerors". The description of how "the Masters" had almost wiped out humanity in the solar system during the first human star empire fired my very young imagination and turned me into a lifelong science fiction reader. That book was part of the Winston Science Fiction Series, which had Alex Schomburg's endpaper art - an amazing and beautiful depiction of space opera.

[@richmcgee434]

Oh yeah, I'd nearly forgotten that one. Definitely juvenile, but that just makes it a nice light read. Probably only space opera-adjacent in the literary sense, but Jameson's Bullard of the Space Patrol short stories are similarly solid juvenile fiction and certainly evoke a nice retro style.

[@Ascarion47]

Space Opera list without Bujold's Vorkosigan? Huh.

[@lisawillis8227]

Exactly, Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series is outstanding.

[@cameragod1]

Was thinking the same thing. A lot of these "TOP 5" lists video just make me think the host needs to read a bit more.

[@liammurphy2725]

@@cameragod1We all need to read more. But sadly we are limited by life and it's expectations and realities. After six decades of a lot of reading I have learned that a top 5 list of anything at all will generate a comments section exactly the same as this one.

[@massivereader]

@@cameragod1 Or delve a bit into the history of the genre. Anyone who considerers "Foundation' to be space opera really doesn't understand what he's talking about.

[@richmcgee434]

@@massivereader Skipping on Doc Smith isn't great either - but this did seem to be a reading recommendations vid rather than an historical review, and I'll concede that his style won't suit many modern readers. That doesn't excuse categorizing Foundation as space opera or leaving Bujold off the list, though.

[@jamesdunn9609]

In the category of space opera comedy, the Retief series by Keith Laumer. Hilarious stuff!

[@matt_SurfaceOfTheSunPhx]

Truth! Part James Bond...with a touch of Inpector Clouseau always landing on his feet

[@roberthuron9160]

And Retief has a run in with thinking office machines! AI before AI! Laumer was an Air Attache and a lot of the plots,were taken from his experience! State Department shenanigans- Meddle and Muddle! Plus they do things like that for real! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@silafuyang8675]

"Revelation Space" is the best piece of science fiction literature I have ever read. The whole series is awesome. "The Expanse" is best sci-fi TV show I have watched. Must watch! Lexx is number two on the list.

[@ptr250]

B5 is #1 until we see how "The Expanse" wraps.

[@markpriest589]

Thanks! I'll give them all a try. I also enjoyed the Honor Harrington books by Weber and the everything by Lois McMaster Bujold.

[@slipoch6635]

EE 'doc' smith, Harry Harrison (particularly Stainless Steel Rat). But otherwise I like all your choices.

[@gregmchurch]

Slippery Jim is an "interesting" character, a nice blend of egomania and humour.

[@slipoch6635]

@@gregmchurch Yeah always loved the series, he gets a bit misogynistic sometimes but overall a great series. I even liked the last one where he realises he's too old for it all anymore.

[@gregmchurch]

@@slipoch6635 I fell in love with the series as a teenager. Then I discovered Make Room Make Room.

[@slipoch6635]

@@gregmchurch yeah otherwise known as solyent green. I like the deathworld series too.

[@gregmchurch]

@@slipoch6635 Have you tried H.Beam Piper?

[@michaelmills5972]

Ever see the "Gateway" series, by Frederick Pohl? Or "Dragonriders of Pern", by Anne & Tod McCaffrey?

[@richardwhitehead7458]

They're both very enjoyable, but I don't think they qualify as space opera.

[@curzon176]

Of those series you mentioned, i've read Expanse and a little bit of Foundation. I might check out the others on your list in the near future. I've also read Hyperion Cantos, Commonwealth Saga, Old Man's War, The Academy series and The Bobiverse, to name a few others. Those are all quite good. One Sci-Fi series that is true Space Opera in all it's original glorious lambasted definition ala Flash Gordon, was Simon R. Green's Deathstalker series. I quite enjoyed that too. It didn't take itself too seriously, science-wise, but it had some great ideas and imagination.

[@basdune9534]

Hyperion series, loved it. I also red the Old man's series bud it wasnt at the same level as Hyperion.

[@curzon176]

@@basdune9534 No, not even close.

[@greenconscious210]

+1 for The Bobiverse

[@Rorke993]

Walter J Williams Praxis series, all of them make for a fantastic read. Quite why the fellow doesn't get the recognition he deserves, baffles me.

[@reluctantsocialist2670]

While people could argue for other space operas to be in a top 5, this is the first top whatever of any kind of sci-fi I’ve seen on KZbin where the channel didn’t try to be a hipster and include books that clearly aren’t anywhere near any top list, but are obscure so make them look ‘cool’ or whatever. Problem is they keep choosing hack authors lol. Yours is a good solid list that can’t really be argued with except with personal taste, they’re objectively some of the best books by the best space opera authors ever

[@Naafun]

Thanks for the recommendation! Great to see Banks in there. Big fan.

[@mattheweppley]

Thanks for the list! I've added Consider Phlebas and The Culture series to my list. I've also read, and really enjoyed, the Star of the Guardians series by Margaret Weis. It may not be as popular, but I thought the scale of the universe was fairly epic.

[@113SciFi]

I love W. Michael Gear's Forbidden Borders series, it is the definition of a Space opera! I highly recommend this series.

[@macrumpton]

Not sure they qualify, but Martha Wells Murderbot series is an amazing read.

[@timwill9688]

I wish there was some book on this list that I haven’t read 😢 please do more!!!

[@mrfrosty3]

I love the Culture novels, I particularly like how they can be extremely funny without being flippant.

[@forestpunk9902]

I highly recommended Arkady Martine's "Teixcalaan" Series. Its starts with a Memory Called Empire and then continues into "A Desolation Called Peace". Some interesting high concepts and science, along with political intrigue and deep space warfare (and a little bit of AI in there too). Currently its only these 2 books in the series.

[@davestr7031]

Agreed. great stuff.

[@markosullivan6444]

I've read nearly all of these and agree with most of your comments. I was really pleased to see a copy of 'Darker than you think' on the bookshelf behind you. A book I really enjoyed.

[@marcomattano3705]

It's a shame, I already read them all! The Xeelee sequence (Stephen Baxter), Old Man's War (John Scalzi), The Forever War (Joe Haldeman), The Hyperion Cantos (Dan Simmons), The Quiet War series (Paul McAuley), Queendom of Sol series (Wil McCarthy), the original Dune Chronicles (F. Herbert), Peter F. Hamilton's both Nights Dawn trilogy and the Commonwealth Saga, Children of Time series (Adrian Tchaikovsky), The Three Body Problem (Liu Cixin ... to suggest some Honorable Mentions. Lovely list by the way,

[@calypsodream8059]

@Marco: Shoulda married ya!

[@InfernalRaven]

My favorite space opera is a book called Murphy’s Gambit by Syne Mitchell. It’s hard to find new in the USA but most used book stores and online stores get it regularly.

[@dococh62]

Iain M banks is one of my favorites. "Consider Phlebus" is an awesome book.

[@deanmarquis4325]

I enjoyed this because it also gave a narrative of the series and not just a "two thumbs up"

[@warshrike666]

Hi Book Odyssey 1st time viewer of your channel and i must say thank you. I am a Fantasy reader bigtime only sci-fi i have read is 30 odd Star Wars novels they were excellent. The only other sci-fi i had read was a book called Nightsword. It was years ago i knew it was a 2nd in a series and for the life of me could not remember the author or the proper title of the book i thought it was Star Shield. I found out a week ago the proper name of the book (Nightsword) and that it was written by Margret Weis and Tracey Hickman this made me laugh as i have read just about all of their fantasy titles including every book i could find written in th world of Dragonlance. I also found out the 1st book is called The Mantle of Kendis Dai and that it is a Storsheild novel. :) The 3rd book in the series unfortunately was never written. Nightsword was a captivating and unique story, in my limited view of sci-fi in print that i never forgot the story at least. I highly recommend you pick it up if you havnt already read the 2 books. I am currently tracking copies of both down so i can read the 1st 1 and re-read Nightsword. Oh and on your recommendation i am going to go get the Azimov books Foundation, reminded me of Warhammer which i love.

[@andreasxanthros5853]

Great vid Darrel. Ha! I just started re-reading Revelation Space two days ago. And Tau Zero - man, I've read it twice but eons ago. I love Poul Anderson's work, good choice for sure.

[@Sci-FiOdyssey]

Andreas Xanthros Yes Tau Zero blew me away. Never read any Poul Anderson before but I sure will again. Will do a review soon. Let me know how you get on with RS. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

[@TheMaxWyvern]

Haven't read Tau Zero, but the plot description reminded me of a book by AE van Vogt called Rogue Ship. Same idea - arc ship bound for distant stars at sub-luminal speed. Things go wrong, time and space dilation effects, generational changes. Great concept and well-executed. Stuck with me.

[@vertigus28]

The most underrated and my own personal favourite SO is The Gap series by Stephen Donaldson. Set in a future where humans have just started expanding into the galaxy with mining and corporations being the powers . Theres a very original alien race. Amazing space travel concepts. Cool ships, cyborg and tech ideas. Intrigues and epic scale story lines. Hardcore writing with a wide scope of characters that have many shades of grey.

[@israfaeldari5532]

Thank you for recommendations: I will look at revelation space, I'm big fan of the three body problem, so this looks like it's the same territory of Sci fi.

[@roymillard5784]

May I suggest the addition of "The Witches of Karres" by James H Schmitz. Novel published 1966 and nominated for a Hugo Award. Fun story including an inter-dimensional peril defeated by courage and "klatha."

[@sophdog1678]

I cannot argue with any of these choices - they're all great. Kudos to you for including Tau Zero by Paul Anderson. Not all classic sci-fi stands up so well these days, but Tau Zero does.

[@ttrestle]

The greatest space opera ever written, has to be the commonwealth saga by Peter F Hamilton. Start with Pandoras star and Judas unchained, and then read the void trilogies. So good!

[@ishtarg8]

Zirn left unguarded, the Jenghik palace in flames, John Westerly dead, by Robert Sheckley. A mere three pages long, but one of the most action packed space opera you’ll ever read, with enough ideas to fill a fat trilogy for most writers.

[@winc06]

Terrific. I loved the Foundation series and The Expanse. Will try the others. Might even try the Leviathan to see how it is different from the television series. Book marking this page partially for the great comments.

[@kingtigerbooks1162]

Happiness is ignoring the world because you are busy with your intergalactic wars. My 4 favorite books: - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - Paradise Lost by John Milton - Icon by Frank Frazetta - Great Fighter Jets of the Galaxy 1 by Tim Gibson

[@MarkSmith-zg5hq]

You should examine E.E. "Doc" Smiths "The Lensman" and "Skylark" series.

[@eddiegaltek]

I always associated Space Opera with Opera; grandiose stories told of a epic scale.

[@MalcolmBrenner]

The Universe isn’t over until the fat lady sings!

[@andreaslermen2008]

Nice that someone mention the Culture books by Ian Banks. Most of them are real good read. While Consider Phlebas is an excellent book, Player of Games and Use of Weapons are better. What makes him so great, is the way he tells stories. You are always up for a suprise. The best example is Use of Weapons, where he tells one chapter from "now" and the next one from the future. But you still need to finish the book to understand whatand why things are happening. Unfortunally, he died far to young.

[@terratrodder]

Agreed, I'm going through Use of Weapons now and can't put it down. Just fantastic storytelling.

[@nelsonstewart5999]

How come Legend of the Galactic Heroes never makes it into these lists. Bizarre, it's an absolute classic.

[@jayneff6327]

I was very disappointed that the Lensmen series by Smith wasn't included

[@svendtang5432]

Consider Philipias is an incredible read.. one of my favourites. And off course foundation. But one you should read is “a more in Gods Eye” also one for everyone’s bucket list.. unique perspective on alien culture

[@ncsmith1952]

Typo... A Mote in God's Eye

[@frankmontez6853]

I used to be more into sci-fi but never read or heard of several of these listed here. Just the Culture and Foundation ones. Yes the authors I’ve certainly heard of them but not these other books

[@cunningba]

Disappointed that the father of space opera, E. E. “Doc” Smith, author of the Skylark and Lensmen series didn’t make your list. Your choices were all good, but Doc deserves some love too.

[@liammurphy2725]

My first ever series of sci fi was "The Lensman" and while I appreciate that it may be somewhat stilted and cliched to modern readers, I feel that all sci fi fans should have this in their reading history. The 'Doc" was the man. Grey lensman was my fav. I still mourn the loss of I.M.Banks.

[@massivereader]

"Spacehounds of I. P. C."!

[@richmcgee434]

@@massivereader That's an excellent example of Smith's style condensed into a single short book. Modern readers who aren't sure about trying Lensmen or Skylark because of concerns about a writing style that's the better part of a century old at this point would do well to try Spacehounds as a sample. If you can get through it, or better yet enjoy how over the top it is, you're good to go on anything Smith wrote. The "Subspace" duology might work for that too, particularly as a "light" version of the overall style you see in the Skylark books.

[@treefarm3288]

I found Doc Smith old fashioned back in the 60s, although I only read him in the magazines. I watched a good TV interview with Hugo Gernsback in 1967 which renewed my interest in reading sci-fi, which had waned due to the poor quality of a lot of the writing. You had to read the whole magazine, and a lot of it was terrible. Ace books were good value though, as they had two novels back to back, really good value for 35 cents.

[@massivereader]

@@treefarm3288 Yes, Smith grew up in the Edwardian Era, so compared to a lot of the stuff in the sixties I'm sure he seemed old fashoned to you. I only stumbled upon him in the seventies when a guy on my floor at university had an extensive SF library of older works in his dorm room. He was a collector. By the time I got to Smith I had been through just about everything I could lay my hands on in my school and city town librarys and the librarys of two adjoinng cities as well. I'd probably read most of the stuff, at least the notable works in SF&F wrtten prior to the fifties by then. Compared to a lot of the early authors, even Verne and Shelley, Smith was not so bad. I have a couple dozen of the Ace Doubles in a box in the basement. IIRC most of them were novellas, and a lot were reprints from the magazines, but not necessarily the domestic ones. I only ever subscribed to Analog and Asimov's so most of them were new to me. I did run across a few double full novels in the Ace Doubles series. Generally, it was easy to tell since the ones that had two full length novels were much thicker, and IIRC more expensive. As to the poor quality of the writing... see Sturgeon's Law.

[@daleslater6999]

F.M Busby. The Demu Trilogy, the Rissa Kerguelen and Bran Tregare series, the related Hulzein series, and then the Slow Freight series.

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

I have read the Robots and Empire, and Foundation novels 3 times. By the time I reach the end, I'm ready to start over.

[@paulallison6418]

I must be a big space opera fan! Apart from Tau Zero I have read all of these, not only the books mentioned but everything almost. I have read everything Asimov wrote including the FOUNDATION SERIES even some books wrote by other authors within the series universe. FOUNDATION is fantastic. I have also read most of there Expanse, I think I am up to book 8, great series, benefitting from being recently penned, very accessible, excellent stuff. I have also read almost everything Alistair Reynolds has wrote including everything in the Revelation Space sequence. These are really mind blowing, great imagination and solid science. I have read all the culture novels too, these are funny which is not that common in SF, very humorous apart from CONSIDER PHLEBAS this is more serious, all the other culture novels are lighter and easier to read, really enjoyable. I must get Tau Zero on order!

[@MixuLauronen]

As a Finn, I must add The Quantum Thief trilogy by Hannu Rajaniemi.

[@chrisellis1232]

Empire from the Ashes and Cities in Flight 👍

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

Good selection to choose from!

[@itsmootdamnitnotmute905]

"The Long Run" and the entire Continuing Time series by Daniel Keys Moran "Startide Rising" and the entire Uplift Universe series by David Brin "The Tar Aym Krang" First book in the Flinx series by Alan Dean Foster "The Stars My Destination" Alfred Bester "Northwest of Earth" Collected tales of Northwest Smith by CL Moore I think I must be the only Sci-Fi fan fan in existence who thought The Foundation series and for that matter, pretty much any of Asimov's novels were frickin' snore-fests. Yah, I know-HERETIC!!!!! That said, his short stories, such as "Liar", "The Billiard Ball", "The Ugly Little Boy" etc. All were almost invariably genius.

[@richmcgee434]

The Pip & Flinx series as a whole becomes more and more high-powered space opera over time (which is saying something, considering the grand stakes in Tar-Aym Krang) although it takes a few side-trips into more personal stories on the way. Not the kind of steady ramp-up you see in, say, Lensmen but a very satisfying light read.

[@wildfire160]

If your looking for great space opera nearly everything from these authors should do.... Peter F Hamilton (Commonwealth series) Alastair Reynolds (The inhibitors) Neal Asher (the Polity series) Iain M Banks (the Culture) All of them kinda epic in scale...

[@grantyoungblood7895]

Excellent video, and an interesting subject for sci-fi fans! Thanks for posting! I don't know if anyone has mentioned this one, but a seminal work in the "space opera" genre that you didn't include would be Edmond Hamilton's 1949 novel "The Star Kings" and its sequel "Return to the Stars". It's a huge, sprawling story set in a far-future galactic empire, into which a contemporary man has been flung by a super-science mind exchange technology. Well worth a read, if you're interested in that particular sub-genre of sci-fi!

[@cto1gg]

Funny, but I don't consider some of these choices space opera, especially the Foundation Series. For me, space opera needs to have a fantastical element or two (Star Wars is a great example, in fact, the perfect example of space opera.) My recommendation is the Night's Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton, a unique mix of far future hard SF and horror. Yes, horror. The threat in this series is pretty bonkers, and I'll admit that if you don't buy the premise of it, the series may not work for you. Also, this series has my all time favorite SF book titles ever. I mean, who wouldn't want to read novels titled The Reality Dysfunction or Neutronium Alchemist??? :)

[@davidjamesmclean6325]

I would define space opera as any story about humans living in a mythological space age of exploration and colonisation. While star wars is more fantastical and borrows from Edgar Burroughs planetary romance novels I consider star trek a space opera in the same breath but is more grounded in science.

[@cdeford]

It's obviously not easy to define. I agree about the Foundation series not being Space Opera as I understand it. I think about things like the Lensman series and other E.E. 'Doc' Smith books, and The Mote in God's Eye, broad canvas space adventures or romances.

[@richmcgee434]

@@cdeford Mostly agreed, although I'd stick Mote and the rest of the CoDo/Imperium stories in military scifi myself. For me space opera also has to have some military-grade conflict where whole planets (or more) are at risk and display a fairly steep power curve as the story proceeds, reaching mind-boggling excesses toward the end. But that is, admittedly, colored by early experience with Smith's work.

[@pierretouchette8336]

Well, I was very happy to read your 5 best Space Opera, but I did not write anything. My favorite when I was younger was Foundation. Then I discover A. Reynolds (Ph.D.) that I was always waiting for the French Translation, but I finally read his books in English. Then I just start the Culture that I did know that Consider Pl was book no. 3. James S Corey, from someone who watches B5, I like it a lot. I am reading book 7 right that just came out in French in December 2019.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

I love Alastair Reynolds, all his books are great, love it all.....and I'm also a big Ian M Banks fan too. Take it easy

[@maryzakiandourrugrats4671]

Thank you I was looking for a book like tau zero. I'm new to space operas, and I seem to really enjoy them more than hard sci fi. In particular I love stories about getting lost in space (pardon the pun). Could you recommend any other books that has space exploration / getting lost / dealing with space flight obstacles / discovering new life, physics, etc. Thank you. - New Subscriber, I love your presentation style and the 80s music

[@VanKlaunch]

These sound solid. Ever read "Blindsight" By Peter Watts? That's a pretty hardcore space opera, from what I remember.

[@VanKlaunch]

Also I might add, "House of Suns" by Reynolds is probably my all time favorite. It's almost like reading a book written by an alien.

[@Sci-FiOdyssey]

No never read Blindsight... I’ll check it out. I’m looking forward to getting into more Reynolds so I’ll definitely look out for House of Suns. Thanks for the suggestions 😀

[@bmoneybby]

@@Sci-FiOdyssey great video. Ya House of Suns it's really good.

[@fredlewis6527]

Blindsight is unreal but it's definitely more hard sci-fi than Space Opera

[@RobertoMaurizzi]

@@fredlewis6527 it definitely is... even if it has... VAMPIRES 😅

[@Farwalker2u]

Where does David Weber's Honorverse series (Honor Harrington as the protagonist) fall in your spectrum of Space Operas? 20 or so novels that bracket Space Opera to a "T".

[@DamoBloggs]

An excellent list - have read them all, and totally agree 👍

[@paulfelix5849]

I’ll start by saying I don’t disagree with anything you said in this ‘review.” Good Job. However - yeah there’s always one of those - I can’t help but be disappointed that you didn’t include two of the most seminal Space Opera series of the 20th century, both written by a single author - Edward E. Smith, otherwise known as E.E. “Doc” Smith. Those series are the Skylark and Lensman series. Smith is frequently cited as the father of the Space Opera genre. His book The Skylark of Space (first if a 4-book series) is generally considered the first great space opera. Smith’s other great series, Lensman, took second place at the 1966 Hugo Awards for “Best All-Time Series” only to Asimov’s Foundation trilogy… it was - and remains - that highly regarded. If you haven’t read these books, I highly recommend them. They are not only entertaining, they are - in many ways - revolutionary. I refer to the Wikipedia biography on Smith, particularly the section titled “Influence on science and the military”. It is eye opening for anyone not familiar with Smith or his works. Have a nice day.

[@grahamtravers4522]

Enlightening and very well presented. Thank you.

[@gimmeboobes]

Good list. I'd add Dune, Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy from the Star Wars EU, Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy, and 2001 A Space Odyssey.

[@everrit]

Great list thank you.

[@tumbledownbadger1764]

I highly recommend the gap series by Stephen R. Donaldson. The best space opera I've ever read.

[@melbaker9495]

Include: "A Mote in God's Eye" by Niven and Pournelle, "RIngword" and the Known Space universe by Niven among others.

[@shayneoneill1506]

Re the term "Space Opera", it wasnt from "Soap Opera", it came from the term "Horse Operas" which was a popular description of the pulp westerns of the early 1900s. I'm fairly sure Horse Opera predates Soap Opera too, (The "Soap" in "Soap Opera" refers to the fact many of these early 1940s dramas where sponsored by soap manufacturers on radio)

[@jeffr2643]

Read some David Weber- Honor Harrington series. Neal Asher the Polity universe series. David Drake the Lt. Leary Books

[@warhammerbadly5973]

Special mention to the Horus Heresy Series (& the Siege of terra series that caps it off) Although There is something like 68 books in the whole thing so its a bit of a commitment!.

[@danielwood719]

Foundation trilogy was my first sci-fi book.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

SOOO nice to see someone giving credit to Alistair Reynolds! I never read the first, but got involved with Redemption Ark, then a collection of short stories (Galactic North), then Yellowstone. Afer that, i got ahold of the one about the Ice/asteroid Miners. I love his concepts...though he does seem to have a little problem with devising unique character motivations. IMO, ain't NO reason for 6 characters, from vastly different areas of tha galaxy, and walks of life, to within the space of 20 pages, each fall back on the same ideology: "Well, I can't blame 'em...if I was in their place, I'd've done the same." It's a good idea, but seeing it from EVERYONE at much the same time, makes it seem that the author just didn't have any idea how other people think... Some people are motivated by reactions beyond logic, and will straight up resent you tryiing to appeal to it. They go out of their way to (*surprised Pikachu gasp) deliberately fly in the face of logic.

[@DBresien]

Evan Currie Odyssey series or silver wings series. Both great for different reasons. Odyssey is probably more of space opera fare. Curries’ strength is in utilizing technologies that are currently emerging or theoretically possible in the near future. Lensmen is what I had always been pointed to as Space opera.

[@robinstanden1951]

hi nice to see someone who likes sci fi i find so few new books theses days in the genre a short bit in one of your videos that guides such a search would be great, btw my no1 sci fi book in the last 30 years has to be ( afire upon the deep, vernor vinge)

[@CptvonChaos]

Series: Merchanter/Alliance and Mri Wars: C.J. Cherryh, Dorsai : Gordon Dickson, Berserker : Fred Saberhagen, Known Space: Larry Niven, Coyote : Allen Steele, Northwest Smith: C.L. Moore, Conqueror , Cobra, and Galactic Railroad : Timothy Zahn, Retief: Keith Laumer,, The Praxis: Walter Jon Williams, Skylark and Family D'Alembert : E.E. "Doc" Smith, Ler : M.A. Foster, Lucky Starr: Isaac Asimov, Fall of Worlds: Francine Mezo, Ghoster: Lee McKeone.

[@tishardnatthaniel8047]

I think i'll check out consider Philbas

[@elroykez]

I'm half way through leviathan.. it's great. I'll read the rest of these.. already downloaded the samples from Amazon so i don't forget them. Thanks again

[@pauldiamond9219]

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson is a pretty epic Space Opera covering about 250 years of Martian colonization covering in depths politics, betrayals, subterfuge, tech advances and rebellions

[@charlesmaurer6214]

I mentioned it in my list with others. My only problem with KSR books,while good on the whole must have some wierd sex stuf in it somewere, that I have to ignor or skim past to enjoy the rest of the story. I have read about 3 others of his as well including a 4th mars book stand alone. The mixed genitals fad in one making people both male and female in one is when I stopped reading his stuff since.

[@angushume2054]

Impossible to pick only five. But you have hit on five of my favorites and favorite authors. I could add a few more. A number of works from Peter F Hamilton, in particular the nights dawn and void trilogies. Ringworld. Orphans trilogy by Shane Dix and Sean Williams. Golden Age trilogy by John c Wright.

[@bluskies1000]

Isaac Asimov Foundation trilogy came with joining the science fiction book club pls 10 cents. I joined the club and dug into the trilogy at the age of 8. I think the books stacked 10 inch’s high lol. I never expected or looked for sequels or prequels the story was complete imo. I just re read Tau Zero. Excellent hard SF imo though some say dated Idisagree. I think the Bussard variation used was Ram Augmented interstellar Rocket. I think I will delve into Revelation tonight 😊 followed by Consider Phelebas.

[@caldepen372]

Good list. My favorite that I believe deserves a spot in the conversation is the Culture series by Iain M Banks.

[@adamwilliams1253]

so glad someone schooled him on ee doc smith, he is the true godfather of scifi. David zindell neverness set was truly epic, dont feel any of his subsequent stuff ever matched that set. Hamilton's Reality Dysfunction series was good the empire and world building great, but then felt he chickened out somehow at the end almost as if he was unhappy with his own ending but the voidseries are great, a little reminiscent of l e modesitt's imager series somehow but good favourite book ever is Excession by Ian Banks so glad he got a mention in here with the culture. Neal Asher's Polity set or Agent Cormac set should have been in here... his spatterjay characters and the brass man are fecking awesome too. Almost surprised there was no John Ringo mention either, he's ALL opera thought not all space. Speaking of Excession..(feck what a great book) really liking Alex White's efforts A big ship at the edge of the universe; the salvagers series Adrian Tchaikovsky threw his hat in the ring with Children of Ruin , like his stuff a lot. Clarke's Rendevous with rama is always up there Larry Nivens ringworld... and Bova...ha now I am just talking peeps I like... well thats a brief input

[@adamwilliams1253]

ha got my webers and ringos mixed up...not easy to do .. wasnt the harrington stuff that got me with weber, but the one he did WITH ringo that i loved Anyone found book 3 of Andromedan Dark...Ian Douglas, been looking for it for ages