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 Granted, EE "Doc" Smith's Lensmen and Skylark of Space series are going to feel outdated and awkward to some modern readers.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.

[@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.

[@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

[@steverliu1886]

I’ve really enjoyed John Scalzi‘s Old Man’s War series as well as his The Collapsing Empire Series.

[@awesomeink]

yes that is a great series !

[@BeCurieUs]

I love The Collapsing Empire!

[@florbfnarb7099]

I only read the first in the series and was sorely disappointed; the protagonist is definitely a Mary Sue. Nothing wrong with the writing, really, but I tend to be allergic to Mary Sues.

[@BeCurieUs]

@@florbfnarb7099 Have you read The Collapsing Empire? Really recommend it. It is a good space opera. Filled the void of what I needed after I finished what existed of The Expanse :D

[@florbfnarb7099]

@@BeCurieUs - Nope.

[@nickross1003]

i loved pandora's star series but how about a little love for Lois McMaster Bujold. Vorkosigan saga may be the most space opera space opera. Thanks for the video

[@Debilitator47]

I spent 12 years as a cabbie, working night shift. When it got quiet after last call, I'd pull out some Vorkosigan and sink in. Never minded the quiet hours, and then finish the shift with early morning airport runs. Plus numerous other sci fi novels, too many to recount. But the vorkosigan saga is by far my comfy place.

[@rackbites]

Read them all in just 3 months a year ago ... loved LMB's world.

[@massivereader]

@@Debilitator47 If you're a Bujold fan, you should definitely try Miller and Lee's Liaden series.

[@Debilitator47]

@@massivereader I'll look that up. Thanks for the rec.

[@richmcgee434]

@@Debilitator47 You should also take a look at Elizabeth Moon's Familias Regnant series.

[@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

[@donsample1002]

The Honor Harrington books by David Weber. The series starts out as Horatio Hornblower IN SPACE, but quickly adds all sorts of political intrigue and other shenanigans.

[@BadgerRobot]

One of my absolute favorites of all time.

[@futurepiercer]

Hornblower in space.... A marriage I never knew I needed in my life. Came for the video but a comment sold me.

[@walker1812]

@@futurepiercer They really are good, especially the first half dozen or so. The world does get a little big and unwieldy at times after that. David Weber has more than one space opera series as well under his belt. Mutineer's Moon is another fun one.

[@this.is.a.username]

Came to mention Honor. Loved the way he "ended" it, but still waiting for the next one... Mike, Anton, and Victor still have plenty of mopping up to do while Honor enjoys her retirement.

[@richmcgee434]

If you're fond of the "Hornblower In Space" elements of it, do not miss out on David Drake's RCN series, or Lt, Leary, or whatever you want to call them. They dial it up to eleven, with FTL tech that literally requires setting "sails" manually. Very fun reads if you enjoy military scifi and political intrigue with a strong dash of historical flavor.

[@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.

[@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.

[@mikepope9503]

Lots of great sci-fi suggestions, but not all sci-fi is space opera. One of my favourite space operas (along with the Honor Harrington series that others have mentioned) is the Vorkosigan Saga series by Lois McMaster Bujold. Really, really well-written and entertaining.

[@stratocruising]

Absolutely loved the Vorkosigan series. One measure of a series' worth is how often it resonates with contemporary life. I find that frequently, I use language from the books to explain an idea. Another is whether the characters are people I'd like to know.

[@TuffTitties4U]

Absolutely agree. I could never have enough "Miles".

[@davidunderwood326]

Whenever I hear the term "Space Opera", I automatically think of Iain M Banks and was starting to think he was not featuring lol. I love those novels and have been half-looking for another author to follow!

[@rogerpartner1622]

Or Hamilton or REYNOLDS - BAXTER . Etc I like the old boys E E DOC SMITH Galactic lenseman Skylark series etc Frank Herbert

[@carlosfandango2419]

Keep looking. That man, until God knows when has/will never be replaced when it come's to this genre. His Universe is so well portrayed and imagined that everything else comes across as a pale shadow. In saying this I have however enjoyed Gene Wolfe - Shadow of the Torturer series, The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell, The Book of Strange New Things - Michel Faber, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North, Alastair Reynolds - House of Suns, Under the Skin - Michel Faber and the obvious Dune series.

[@OnlyKaerius]

My top recommendation is the Caine Riordan series by Charles E Gannon. On a more "space adventure in a space opera universe" sort of series look towards Jamie McFarlane's Privateer Tales series (also Junkyard Pirate series). He's great, and prolific.

[@prime8nate]

Player of Games is my favorite fiction book. Brilliant.

[@g0rd0nfreeman]

@@prime8nate 100% brilliant. When I put that down I thought to myself this could never be turned into a movie which is something that makes it great.

[@ttrestle]

The greatest space opera ever written is by Peter F Hamilton. In order- Pandora’s Star Judas Unchained The Void Trilogy (3 books)

[@rogerpartner1622]

Agreed But for its time EE DOC SMITH galactic lensman and SKYLARK of space series considered they were written 80 yrs ago are stunning And of course Frank HERBERT The master

[@deanwalker5367]

I was about to write on here exactly what you did. That and the "Night's Dawn" trilogy are quite clearly the best in my opinion. PFH is the GRR Martin of Sci Fi.

[@sriranjit3684]

@@deanwalker5367 💯 Agreed ... tho my personal favorite is Commonwealth Saga Duology which was fast paced than Night's Dawn Trilogy

[@fatalshore5068]

No love for The Reality Dysfunction?

[@anderskronquist9750]

I love Hamilton's books, I just hate that he can't write a good end to a story. It's why I recommend his series over his stand-alone books, because the end is a much smaller part of them. Also, Night's Dawn trilogy is a good read, too - I bought the first one (The Reality Dysfunction) out of sheer $ per page, and wasn't disappointed.

[@MalcolmBrenner]

Glad you mentioned Poul Anderson’s “Tau Zero.” When I interviewed him in Seattle in 1980, I met a gentleman of the old school, kindly, humorous but not rude, thoughtful and intelligent. He said his degree in physics wasn’t intended to make him a better SF writer, but it did. Concepts of time dilation led him to the idea that each chapter would cover 10X the time of the previous one!

[@massivereader]

Always liked Anderson. His Dominic Flandry stories were James Bond before there was a Bond and his Polesiotechnic League was right up there with Heinlein's Universe.

[@dreadogastusf3548]

Agreed. I feel Anderson is seriously overlooked in many lists and conversations. His characters were well written especially for the time he started writing.

[@davestr7031]

Anne Leckie’s Ancillary series! best space opera of the past few years.

[@peakrider4886]

Currently reading through The Expanse series. I think the TV series is great and it has prompted me to get the books and delve deeper into the storytelling that you don’t get in adaptations. Other space operas I have really enjoyed is the Nights Dawn trilogy by Peter Hamilton, which I would love to see come to life on screen, and Stephen Baxter’s Xeelee time series of books.

[@UteChewb]

Yes to Baxter, though I always feel like I need an anti-depressant after reading him. But love his grand scale thinking.

[@wtk6069]

For those interested in the pulp origins of space opera, the original father of the space opera sub-genre was Edmond Hamilton in his "Interstellar Patrol" stories in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and they still hold up today. After the Interstellar Patrol, he became the third most prolific writer for Weird Tales Magazine after only Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft, plus he was the lead writer and creator of Captain Future, a space opera pulp hero who was basically Doc Savage in space. Hamilton was Isaac Asimov's favorite writer growing up, and the influence is obvious in the precise "style-less" prose they both used and with Foundation being full of space opera tropes whose origins go back to Hamilton and Doc Smith, the "second father of space opera" very shortly behind Hamilton. If you ever check out any of the collections of pulp stories that Asimov edited in the seventies and eighties, several of them begin with Edmond Hamilton stories as the very first story. Along with fellow pulp writers like Otto Binder and Manly Wade Wellman, Hamilton escaped the collapse of pulps by moving into comic books, where he wrote Superman and Batman for decades. He also got to apply some of his space opera tropes to remake a series created by Jerry Siegel, The Legion of Super-Heroes. Incidentally, Hamilton's wife was Leigh Brackett, who was nicknamed the "Queen of Space Opera" in the 1930s. Today, she is most remembered for her later screenwriting on movies like "The Big Sleep, "The Empire Strikes Back", and a number of John Wayne westerns.

[@classicsciencefictionhorro1665]

Love those.

[@jonnyosteo5984]

Smart n interesting post. Cheers 🫡

[@TheTozmoGaming]

Commonwealth Saga by Peter F Hamilton is my favourite space opera (all 7 of them). I also loved the revelation space trilogy, and I'm on the last book of the Expanse right now and loving that too.

[@angryginger791]

I was going to say the same thing about Hamilton. I also read his newest "Salvation" trilogy, which was fantastic.

[@mikeyfoofoo]

Same with the Peter F Hamilton books! They are delicious. I did several of the Expanse and they are excellent, but I forgot where I was between waiting on the next book to come out.

[@gregorhi2]

@@angryginger791 The books were too short though, the whole series was more like one of his books in the past.

[@Shattered-Realm]

It Peter F Hamiltons books really worth reading? the entire universe is based on a such an unbelieveable concept that you just sit there having to suspend all disbelief. (All there myriad worlds connected by wormholes which are traversed though.......steam engines - that's right trains.)

[@stevenscott2136]

​@@Shattered-Realm Why is that harder to accept than hyperdrive? A train is a very efficient means of moving people and goods. If it's the "steam" part that bothers you, just say "electric" in your head -- it's not like railroad logistics are a major part of the story.

[@paulgilligan1535]

Read all of them. Good picks! Lots of good choices in the comments as well. I'm surprised that no one mentioned 'The Mote in Gods Eye' when talking space opera. Fantastic read!! Thumbs up for 'A Fire upon the Deep' as well.

[@mpetersen6]

Or Ringworld

[@massivereader]

Well, while this guy in the video is pretty much conflating "galactic empire"' with "space opera" that's not really the common usage. While there are quite a few space operas set in empires, most of the silver age writers like Niven, Anderson, Dickson, and such were not really considered space opera but more 'hard" or even the 'new wave' of science fiction'.

[@geoffmoon2903]

I also enjoyed "A Fire upon the Deep'. I would love to see more novels from Vinge set in that universe to flesh it out. I have read "Children of the Sky' and 'A Deepness in the Sky' too. But more is needed.

[@UnwashedPearl]

What always comes to mind first for me is the German pulp series, Perry Rhodan, that has been published weekly since 1961 (!). The first 126 of them were published in English by Ace Books from 1969-1978 under the direction of Forrest J Ackerman. They would be classified as novellas today since they were around 125 pages.

[@richmcgee434]

That is absolutely and unequivocally the longest-running space opera in existence, no denying it. OTOH, it struggles for recognition in English-speaking circles because of the age of the last translation run, and even if that were to change getting into it as a new reader at this point would be a daunting task. You hear manga fans say One piece is hard to start up with due to its length, but Perry Rhodan makes the series look a grade school writing assignment by comparison. Still, worthy of mention, and very important to the sub-genre historically. Shame about that damn movie, though. :)

[@gregorhi2]

@@richmcgee434 It's not just hard for new readers to get in to. There have been so many announcements of movie and tv productions for at least 20 years (let's never talk about "That Movie" though) and yet nothing apart from a few CGI trailers has ever progressed. The best time for new readers is probably at the start of a new cycle (often every 100 issues or so) or reading the Silberband issues (compressed cycles into a few books). And of course having to learn German :-)

[@calypsodream8059]

OMG. I didn't think anyone knew of the Perry Rhodan series here in the US. I guess this will show my age, but I did own couple of dozen of the books in French in the 70s while abroad, and they were outrageously fun to read. My whole family got into it. I agree...Something did get lost in the translation because I never got the same out of the English version.

[@Wateringman]

@@calypsodream8059 That may eventually change, when computers get advanced enough, and translate German into English, or whatever language one wishes, with a high degree of accuracy, and appropriate syntax. It's coming!

[@ronaldstrous2764]

I have the first 900 episodes in dutch, after which i stoppen collecting them. As far as i know they are beyond episode 2100.

[@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.

[@GavP75]

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

[@carl6149]

I guess I am getting too old. The only series I read from these is Poul Anderson’s Tau Zero and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series. Anything by Asimov is good reading. The R. Daneel Olivaw Series, The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn and Robots and Empire are also excellent books. If I remember correctly, they tie into the Foundation universe. And being old, when I think of space opera, I automatically think of E. E. Doc Smith’s Lensman Series.

[@TheMaxWyvern]

You're right about Asimov's Robot novels tying into Foundation, especially with the later works in both series. A lot of people find it a crude fit and there are definitely logical flaws, though I think this is largely due to Asimov's compositional style in which he didn't start with an outline. He was making up connections on the fly. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but in general it lends itself to delightful possibilities.

[@SusannaSaunders]

How the Lensmen series didn't make this top five list is just mind boggling to me! It's the definitive Space Opera Story! An Absolutely Awesome Read!

[@waynecampeau4566]

I agree. To me the touchstone of space opera is the E.E. Doc Smith Lensman series (also The Skylark of Space and Spacehounds of I.P.C.).

[@thomascollins4325]

Absolutely agree that the Lensman series is the foundational space opera series!!! 👍

[@emilywhitfield2780]

I love classic science fiction!! Asimov, Anderson, Doc Smith and Hal Clement are my favorite authors!! James White and Alan Dean Foster are my favorite modern authors!!! Old school sci fi is the best!!!

[@donaldc3884]

I really enjoyed the Hyperion series.

[@Thereallenin76]

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

[@david22262]

I have read the Foundation series twice now as it’s one of the best sci-fi series ever. I will have to read these other suggestions too. Thank you.

[@temmy9]

I recommend David Brin's Upliftverse

[@Starbuck8008]

Revelation Space and The Culture are so good.

[@KarloVukosic]

Great picks, and love your editing its special and different to other booktubers which i love!

[@Sci-FiOdyssey]

Wuk_xD thanks so much 😃

[@s0litaire2k]

Surprised there wasn't a mention of Stephen R Donaldson's "Gap" series. This was "Game of Thrones" in space before "Games of Thrones" was even written! Filled with a cast of characters you love to hate and hate to love.

[@thedamnedatheist]

Donaldson is a brilliant writer, the best character development I've ever read, but damn his stories are dark.

[@seanhoare7639]

Whilst I loved reading all mentioned on here for comedic entertainment in Sci Fi you cannot beat Harry Harrisons Stainless Steel Rat stories..

[@lord6617]

Or Deathworld. Deathworld Trilogy was one of the first science fiction books I ever read.

[@wades2132]

Hahaha! Slippery Jim! What a great series.

[@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.

[@SteveWhipp]

A master of Space Opera is Peter F. Hamilton. Really reminds me of Iain M. Banks. I can definitely recommend the Commonwealth Saga and the Void Trilogy (The latter is set 1,000 years after the former, in the same universe) possibly the finest exemplar of the subgenre.

[@RobertoMaurizzi]

I though he got a lot of ideas from Banks... then reading Banks in order I found that his novel about post-life is from ~2010 while Edenism is from mid-90s... I'd add "Great North Road" to the recommendations :D

[@bowantoia8536]

Agree with everything you said dude.👍

[@mikeyfoofoo]

Common Wealth and Void Trilogy are awesome. I circled back to the Common Wealth books again recently. So good.

[@animeanibe]

Agreed, Peter Hamilton is fantastic.

[@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.

[@jasonwilliams3064]

5. Ilium/Olympos by Simmons. Everything except the ending. 4. Fire Upon the Deep 3. Commonwealth Saga (Hamilton is amazing) 2. Hyperion 1. Saving #1 for when Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere gets to the space opera era !

[@awesomeink]

Hyperion ,the Commonwealth Saga(and a few others he wrote) and fire on the deep were really good .. i am also waiting to see what sanderson does with Cosmere

[@asdf51501]

Excellent choices!

[@OnlyKaerius]

Caine Riordan series by Charles E Gannon. You can thank me later.

[@mikeyfoofoo]

Yeah, Hyperion has a Lovecraft element to it that's cool if you are in to that kinda thing. Sanderson is amazing and fast. Loved Mystborn and the later books set in the wild west although I guess it's fantasy. I had to hold up on the Stormlight stuff until it's done. The first could were excellent.

[@dreadogastusf3548]

After decades of losing interest in S-F I got A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. Damn what a story! This is space-opera brought into the info-age and then given a course in Practical Theology.

[@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.

[@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!!!

[@kaigogolin515]

Thank you so much for your awesome Science fiction recommendations and reviews. I have read Foundation and loved Revelation Space. Just reading Alastair Reynolds Chasm City. Looking forward to dive into the world of Iain Banks soon.

[@morganjones1566]

I absolutely LOVE Chasm City!

[@mdbrewer07]

Chasm City is awesome. I also highly recommend Terminal World (my favorite Reynolds book), House of Suns, and The Prefect. I'm 99 percent sure that all these books take place in the same universe as Revelation Space. The galaxy is huge, so there is a lot of space to tell stories in.

[@taknothing4896]

You should read all of Banks' Culture books in the order they were written. They do vary, but taken as a whole they're great.

[@RobertoMaurizzi]

I'm interested in your (and other people's) opinion about the big revelation at the end of Bank's "Use of Weapons"...

[@paulabrowning9798]

@@RobertoMaurizzi I never got on with Feersum Enjinn but the rest of Banks books are great. Use Of Weapons might just be my favorite. He also wrote some great regular fiction under Iain Banks (as opposed to Iain M. Banks).

[@vanlepthien6768]

Never thought of Foundation as Space Opera. I'm surprised you overlooked C. J. Cherryh's Alliance-Union books - including extensions like the Chanur series. Excellent treatment of complex humans and aliens and their interactions.

[@richmcgee434]

I can see elements of space opera in Foundation but it's not a perfect fit by any means. Then again, of all Cherryh's work the Chanur books are the ones I'd say are closest to space opera, but again none are a perfect fit - they're mostly missing that element of rapidly-increasing scale that define the subgenre to me, unlike (say) Lensmen or Honor Harrington. Almost like many books don't fit into neatly pigeonholed subgenres, no matter how much corporate booksellers want them to. :)

[@wtk6069]

@@richmcgee434 Foundation is like Dune in that it's not strictly a space opera, but it has a ton of space opera tropes like interstellar travel, galactic empires, etc.

[@keithfaulkner6319]

The Chanur series is one of my very favorite series. Too bad there weren't more of them.

[@stephanhirons3454]

Wow you put Tau Zero in there I must have read this book over 40 years ago and loved it.Thank you

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

Nathan Lowell's Golden Age of the Solar Clipper books are a bunch of good reads in the genre.

[@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.

[@m.4983]

I just want to say that a lot of people on youtube discussing books are incredibly annoying. You however, are calmly spoken, informative and without ego. Thanks for your videos, I'll be looking for more.

[@rikwarren3999]

great. review. Banks' books are wonderful and the addition of "minds" as characters to the story arc is genius. Wildly entertaining books!

[@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.

[@bowantoia8536]

The Reality Dysfunction. Could be classed as Science Fantasy but another great read.

[@23catzilla]

Minor correction: EE Smith's Lensman series had a Galaxy spanning empire long before Foundation

[@khankrum1]

Foundation has a lot of presince with the long fall of the Rome and Byzantium. As well as other empire's rise and fall. As for the Second Foundation based upon logic and mathematics, I would look at the " Arisians : for presidence. Not tjat Fundation is not a classic, but it pales by comparison to Dune for literary excellence. More of a synopsis than novel. Now if you want Asimov at his very best, in my opinion, read " Fall of Moon Dust" . You will not be disappointed.

[@colinmaynard2879]

I love in Lensman that it is all analog. Even building a ship large enough to contain a vernier scale to perform galactic triangulation!

[@richmcgee434]

@@colinmaynard2879 Vacuum tubes and slide rules for the win! :) He may not have been great about tech predictions, but the US navy took inspiration from Lensmen (specifically the Z9M9Z fleet command ship in it) when they were trying to come up with command/control/communications techniques during WW2. The roots of the modern Combat Information Centers on USN ships ultimately come from a space opera protagonist's need to manage a fleet of millions of starships for a multi-galaxy war. Kind of makes up for not foreseeing the transistor, eh?

[@matt_SurfaceOfTheSunPhx]

@@richmcgee434 that is an amazing factoid. thanks for sharing, I hadn't heard that but it makes tremendous sense in retrospect.

[@davidbonner4556]

Correction. TWO galaxy spanning empires... The Arisians and the Eddorians.

[@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.

[@sriranjit3684]

1. Foundation series by Assimov 2. Revelation Space 3. Tau Zero 4. Leviathan wakes 5. Consider Phlebas

[@korichamberlain]

Thank you.

[@insaciableshakuras190]

Thanks for the list. IMO, it should be present (with links even) in the description of the video.

[@RamBam3000]

For military space opera I can recommend Lois McMaster Bujold's "The Vorkosigan Saga" in which the crippled heir to an upper class military family becomes an agent for his Empire's intelligence and security service, and accidentally becomes the head of a mercenary fleet. How does this happen accidentally? Read the series.

[@stuchatterton6550]

These are awesome. Some of my favorite writing ever resides within those pages.

[@RamBam3000]

@@stuchatterton6550 A sidebar from the main subject matter, but I love Aral's distinction between honour and reputation in his conversation with Miles in A CIVIL CAMPAIGN. The book is a must read for that one conversation. It will clarify many things. Also, Emperor Gregor Vorbarra is one of the best character in the series.

[@stuchatterton6550]

@@RamBam3000 There are too many to choose tbh. LMB is just plain awesome. Cordelia viewing Bothari as a hero, and so he becomes one for her. Miles and Ekaterin, and the various proposals. But if I did have to pick I'd seriously have to think about the gifts quotation. Pretty sure you'd know the one being referred to :)

[@RamBam3000]

@@stuchatterton6550It's been awhile, so you'd have to remind me. But I think one of my favourite conversation in the entire series is the one between Miles and Aral when Aral is explaining the difference between honour and reputation. And then of course, there's the whole of "Labyrinth" where Miles meets Taura for the first time and the two manage to destroy Baron Ryoval's ENTIRE stock of biologicals.

[@stuchatterton6550]

@@RamBam3000 Butterbugs :) The quote is as follows: I've always thought tests are a gift. And great tests are a great gift. To fail the test is a misfortune. But to refuse the test is to refuse the gift, and something worse, more irrevocable, than misfortune.

[@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.

[@Staylecrate]

Revelation Space is so epic. My Reynolds jam is House of Son's though. I would have tossed Sun Eater in the List as an honorable mention. Roucchio is a machine! A book a year with upwards of 800 pages, you kidding me?! Can't wait until the last book next year. I love the channel man btw, subbed!

[@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.

[@LinuxGalore]

the culture books would make for a really good SF tv series.

[@psibug565]

The Honor Harrington novels by David Weber have been one of my favourite space operas but I should read these classics some time.

[@norm4x]

I wish I could go back and read Peter F Hamilton all over again for the first time.

[@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...

[@Naafun]

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

[@UteChewb]

As an old (in both senses) fan of Poul Anderson it was great to see Tau Zero mentioned. Absolutely blew my mind when I first read it. The scale of it was staggering. Only exceeded when I read Stapledon. I haven't read Revelation Space but it sounds like I really should add it to the list. Love the rest of your selection also, there are others I could add, but I guess we all feel like that. :)

[@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.

[@tmutant]

I love Space Opera. It usually seems more fundamentally hopeful about the future. Very good video. I love the Foundation and Expanse books. I'm starting to get into the Culture books, and I'll have to check out the others you discussed.

[@khomo12]

Sounds great! Adding a few of these to my tbr📚

[@defaultuser1447]

Two series I really enjoy are the Ancillary books by Ann Leckie and The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Very different, but have some similarities in the viewpoint character/narrator. In Ancillary Justice, we are introduced to Breq, sole remaining "corpse soldier" of the troop carrier Justice of Toren, who retains the memories of the ship's AI that controlled the body (personality-wiped enemy or criminal). She is on a mission to avenge the destruction of the ship. Murderbot is security bot, a constructed entity of machine and vat-grown human material. It hacked its own controller, becoming a "rogue" although at first all it does with that is download and view video content.

[@BeTheGuitar]

Agreed! Murderbot is wonderful. As someone who is still stuck in the past (lol) with CJ Cherryh Union/Alliance universe, it was great to have a friend recommend something new that stuck for me. Really liked Ancillary Justice as well, but it is a slower burn in the beginning (much like Cherryh). Oh yeah, and there’s always the early Vorkosigan novels. I liked the beginnings of that one as well.

[@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.

[@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.

[@bencowles2105]

I have read all of these and quite a few more. then again I am a sci-fi writers so it was kind of expected. lol hopefully one day soon my books will be available. great video glad I found your channel.

[@ewangillespie452]

Some great books here! My favorite space opera is Vernor Vinge's Zone of Thought including (1) A Deepness in the Sky and (2) A Fire Upon the Deep. An epic sweep with some of the best representations of alien life/culture that can be found in science fiction. Vinge is also well known for his theory of The Singularity.

[@michaelgiotis9373]

"Hyperion" bro. Totally unique, fully epic. Also, no Dune?

[@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.

[@willfagence3144]

I really enjoyed Banks Culture books, my favourite was Excession, but i also liked the book of short stories "State of the Art". I've never read anything by Reynolds, although i keep running into good reviews of his work, and yours has piqued my interest. I read Tau Zero many years ago and enjoyed it very much, i still have it in storage (along with almost all my books, due to extensive renovation!!). I have seen the Expanse and really loved it, i haven't read the books, but I'm putting them on my list. Which is pretty long.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@phillipradcliffe8037]

The term Space Opera was coined by the writer Wilson Tucker, who is / was my grandmother’s cousin.

[@CoronisAdair]

Two space opera series I'd highly recommend are David Weber's Honor Harrington Series and Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy

[@rikwarren3999]

great recommendations. Haven't read Tau Zero but will look for it. The Culture rules!

[@michaelmills5972]

The later Foundation books even tied to R. Daneel Olivaw series in, as well.

[@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 😇 😊!

[@ZombieDish]

I've only watched the Expanse but am curious about picking up the novels. Amos Burton is my favorite character on the series.

[@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.

[@d3mist0clesgee12]

New subscriber, really like your review and your book list, read two but didn't know about the others. Thanks to this video I"m actually want to read the last two when I have time, thanks again and keep them coming.

[@devenscience8894]

Nice list. I'll add Consider Pflebas and Tau Zero to my list, as those are the two I haven't read. My suggestions for space opera would be Ancillary Justice.

[@slipoch6635]

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

[@JakTheRipper-01]

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

[@slipoch6635]

@@JakTheRipper-01 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.

[@JakTheRipper-01]

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

[@slipoch6635]

@@JakTheRipper-01 yeah otherwise known as solyent green. I like the deathworld series too.

[@JakTheRipper-01]

@@slipoch6635 Have you tried H.Beam Piper?

[@raylane7056]

Just ordered Considering Philbeas. Loved foundation as a child and need to reread it now. Need to reread/finish reading Dune now as well. Love Expanse. I've read Revelation Space and couldn't get into it. Might need to check it out again. Several people have already mentioned books I have loved. The old Lensman series was great fun. Loved John Scalzi's Old Man's War. I'm rereading James Hogan's Inherit the Stars/Gentle Giants of Ganymede story. Thanks for your list.

[@grahamtravers4522]

Enlightening and very well presented. Thank you.

[@timwill9688]

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

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

Good selection to choose from!

[@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.

[@DamoBloggs]

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

[@machintelligence]

Jack Vance wrote a lot of space operas including one novel entitled “Space Opera “ about an interstellar opera company.

[@erikvolger5631]

It seems Mr. Vance is slowly being forgotten, which is a shame because I am a big fan of all of his work. He didn't write hard SF, maybe that is why...

[@seanferguson5460]

@@erikvolger5631 Totally agree. Vance was a master. Problem is the decline of the monthly mag, like Fantastic or Analog. Along with writers you know and love there would always be stories by new or unfamiliar writers. They wouldn't stay unfamiliar for long.

[@richmcgee434]

Much as I love Jack Vance's work, I don't think there's anything by him that really falls into space opera as the subgenre is defined here. The closest approaches would be the Tschai/Planet of Adventure stories and the Five Demon Princes books, but even those are so uniquely Vancian they'd look out of place alongside (say) Lensmen or Honor Harrington or Vorkosigan. His work is very hard to stick into sub-categories beyond science fiction or fantasy, and that may explain part of why modern booksellers and publishers are slowly erasing him from print.

[@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

[@113SciFi]

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

[@davidrobertson5996]

Excellent choices - have read them all, except Tau Zero, which I plan to.

[@PatternShift]

Pretty good list. Only change is I would've dropped Foundation and added Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice series. Don't dislike Foundation, but I don't think the whole psychohistory thing has aged particularly well. Compare to Ancillary series (and I'll be vague here to avoid spoilers) where what's essentially a failure of a consensus protocol for copied intelligence is behind a lot of the galactic turmoil or what have you.

[@everrit]

Great list thank you.

[@JK-Visions]

I really liked the books of Jack Vance. But i cannot remember if he wrote a space opera. Loved the foundation series too!

[@JK-Visions]

O I forgot the Ender series! Also very good!

[@richmcgee434]

I wouldn't call any of his work space opera personally, but the closest ones would probably be the Tschai/Planet of Adventure series (which feels more like very elegant sword & planet to me) and maybe the Five Demon Princes books (which are more scifi revenge/heist stories). Vance's style doesn't shoehorn into subgenres very well. Too unique and wonderful a talent.

[@acousticrocker7990]

I have read three of the books on this list already and one is my favourite sci-fi novel ever. I will definitely been checking out the other two you suggest. Thank you so much!

[@johndillon8051]

Should include Brin's Uplift series.

[@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.

[@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.