The Best Space Opera Book

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-11 06:40pm

So, which are the best space opera sagas in book format?

(Excluding Star Wars, we all now about it's up's and downs)

Recomendations?

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2002-11-11 06:50pm

2001, 2010, 2063, 3001, Space Odyssey, Asimovs Foundation series, and ones that I still need to read are Zahn Star Wars books.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2002-11-11 06:53pm

The Night's Dawn trilogy.

Thats

The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist and The Naked God.

Absolutely mindfuckingly epic (3700 pages, one plot, several stories), absolutely redefines the word 'scale' in Space Opera.

It does not get better.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-11 08:01pm

Vendetta wrote:The Night's Dawn trilogy.

Thats

The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist and The Naked God.

Absolutely mindfuckingly epic (3700 pages, one plot, several stories), absolutely redefines the word 'scale' in Space Opera.

It does not get better.

Yeah, i've heard about the scale of it, I'm trying to find coureage to start reading them... 1000 pages per book... umm... one week for each... ummmmm.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2002-11-11 08:04pm

Foundation

ph33r the f0und4t10n

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2002-11-11 08:08pm

Cyril wrote:Foundation

ph33r the f0und4t10n

Second Foundation's more dangerous

But yeah, the Foundation series, Anne McCaffrey's Talent series, the Crystal Singer series (though they're somewhat iffy), David Weber's Honor Harrington series (though the new one focuses more on politics than actual space opera...I think he's setting up for a new series of HH books).

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-11-12 09:24am

Lensman

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-12 09:33am

consequences wrote:Lensman

Who's the author?

DocHorror · Post by **DocHorror** » 2002-11-12 09:35am

E.E. 'Doc' Smith is the author of Lensman

My own choice would be Dune...though I feel that the books get poorer as they go on. The First two are essential reading, the rest?.....bah!

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-11-12 10:01am

I wouldn't list Dune as Space Opera, the definition doesn't feel right.

DocHorror · Post by **DocHorror** » 2002-11-12 10:12am

I would

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-12 10:25am

Dune is definitely space opera: expansive space faring civilizations, fight for galactic domination, etc.

Has anyone read Lois Bujold?

DocHorror · Post by **DocHorror** » 2002-11-12 10:37am

The name seems familiar, though I haven't read any of his stuff...what did he write?

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-11-12 10:39am

Bujold is a woman, and the writer of the Vorkosigan Saga. Truly awesome books.

DocHorror · Post by **DocHorror** » 2002-11-12 10:49am

Ah, LOIS!!! I mis read it as Louis...I must spend more time reading threads...

So these are good books yeah?

I always enjoyed the Stainless Steel Rat books...though I do realise that they probably aren't space opera in its truest sense...

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-12 12:24pm

consequences wrote:Bujold is a woman, and the writer of the Vorkosigan Saga. Truly awesome books.

So I hear about the Saga, but besides the book count (16, I think), what separates them from the others? Are they on par with, for example, Night's Dawn?

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-11-13 01:14am

I don't know about the rest of the sci-fi community, I just like the style, and love the main character.

Mr. B · Post by **Mr. B** » 2002-11-13 02:17am

Dune and the foundation novels.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2002-11-13 08:40am

Well, the Honor Harrington was a good space opera (before it turned into a political soap opera...)
Dune
Night's Dawn Trilogy
baxters Xeelee series, although I think it might be a bit too "epic" for a space opera...

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2002-11-13 08:59am

Lemsman

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-13 10:22am

Dahak wrote:baxters Xeelee series, although I think it might be a bit too "epic" for a space opera...

Yeah, I've read some synopsis of it's books. I want to avoid time travel plots as much as possible.

Yosemite Bear:
Aren't the Lensman series a "little" bit old?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2002-11-13 10:37am

WWI era sci-fi isn't too old.

After all I am a big fan of Jules Vern, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and H.G. Wells, so if the Victorian Sci Fi, isn't too old, the WWI & WWII era stuff can't be either.

Also Science Fiction got really good just after WWII when Farmer and Heinline invented Sex in Sci Fi.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2002-11-13 10:51am

Dune and Foundation are a must, but for a couple books not mentioned try Jandor of Callistro series by Lin Carter.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-11-13 11:16am

THe Yosemite Bear wrote:Also Science Fiction got really good just after WWII when Farmer and Heinline invented Sex in Sci Fi.

You mean, in the future we have to physicaly mate? yuck!

OK, I'll put them on my list...

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2002-11-13 11:44am

Up until then it was implided like Ming would hold Dale Arden "Captive". Nope Farmer and Heinline had folks doing what came natural, and say compared to Horseclans, or Gor, or Terry Goodkin, their softcore was pretty soft.