Need space opera recommendations

[fantasyfan]

Thanks for the advice. I'll do that!

[adityadubey]

Originally Posted by jrlewis

What I'd really like to find are some Star Wars books that give me the sort of characters and stories that I'd enjoy as an adult. I mean, Star Wars in general tends to disappoint because it's geared toward kids, but it's such a great universe that adults keep coming back to it. Unfortunately, I've not been impressed by the Star Wars books I've read, except for the ones by Karen Traviss.

Have you tried the X-Wing novels by Stackpole and Allston?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wa...book_series%29
http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Squadron.../dp/0553568019

They're set in the New Republic and focus on the fighter squadrons as they tackle threats from the remnants of the Empire. Not too heavy, but some nice action packed thrillers.

[sabredog]

Re-reading the x-wing books currently and they are IMHO, about the best of the Star Wars novels.

[AThirstyMind]

I've recently reviewed Leviathan Wakes by James S.C. Corey (really two guys). It's a good old fashioned space opera. I loved it.

[V.W. Singer]

Keith Laumer's
- Galactic Odyssey
- Retief (series)

Murray Leinster's
- The Wailing Asteroid

Harry Harrison's
- Stainless Steel Rat series

David Weber's
- Starfire series
- Safehold series
- Prince Roger series

H. Beam Piper
- Space Viking

James P Hogan's
- Giants series

James White's
- Sector General series

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by AThirstyMind

I've recently reviewed Leviathan Wakes by James S.C. Corey (really two guys). It's a good old fashioned space opera. I loved it.

I'm going to second this recommendation. This is the best, new, space opera-ish scifi I've read in a really long time (and the best scifi I've read this year). It's the first book in a planned series (The Expanse), but this first volume wraps up all it's major plotlines tidily while still leaving room for the later novels. No cliffhanger/stay tuned ending.

It's a mid-future setting where humans have sparsely colonized the solar system, but that's it. There's no FTL drive that allows humanity to explore/fill the galaxy yet.

The technology is plausible without being a lesson in quantum mechanics and besides all the elements of good space-opera, there's touches of horror and noir as well. And even a little comedy.

James S.A. Corey is the pseudonym for Daniel Abraham (Long Price Quartet, The Dragon's Path) and Ty Franck (George R.R. Martin's Assistant).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm going to second this recommendation. This is the best, new, space opera-ish scifi I've read in a really long time (and the best scifi I've read this year). It's the first book in a planned series (The Expanse), but this first volume wraps up all it's major plotlines tidily while still leaving room for the later novels. No cliffhanger/stay tuned ending.

Sounds interesting. Added to my wish list. By the time I get around to it, there should be some more novels in the series.

[Joykins]

Currently reading _The Lost Fleet: Victorious_ by Jack Campbell

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Sounds interesting. Added to my wish list. By the time I get around to it, there should be some more novels in the series.

Just so you know... when you buy the ebook version of Abraham's The Dragon's Path it includes a (very high quality) ARC of Leviathan Wakes. And vice versa: if you buy the ebook of Leviathan's Wake (released today 6/15) it includes Abraham's The Dragons Path as a bonus. It's a Two-Books-For-One-Money SciFi/Fantasy bargain.

[susan_cassidy]

I love lots of the series that have already been mentioned, but I'll add a few:

The Sten series, by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch. Good old space opera, and funny in spots, too. Available from Fictionwise (multiformat), and I believe now also from Amazon (Kindle).

The Orphan series by Robert Buetttner (Kindle, for one). Also, the Lt. Leary series, by David Drake (Baen).

[jrlewis]

I just start the Count of Monte Cristo again. Loving it.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm going to second this recommendation. This is the best, new, space opera-ish scifi I've read in a really long time (and the best scifi I've read this year). It's the first book in a planned series (The Expanse), but this first volume wraps up all it's major plotlines tidily while still leaving room for the later novels. No cliffhanger/stay tuned ending.

It's a mid-future setting where humans have sparsely colonized the solar system, but that's it. There's no FTL drive that allows humanity to explore/fill the galaxy yet.

The technology is plausible without being a lesson in quantum mechanics and besides all the elements of good space-opera, there's touches of horror and noir as well. And even a little comedy.

James S.A. Corey is the pseudonym for Daniel Abraham (Long Price Quartet, The Dragon's Path) and Ty Franck (George R.R. Martin's Assistant).

Great recommendation. I've put it on my wish list at Amazon.

[dwallbaum]

I haven't read the entire thread, so I am probably repeating.

For space operas, you cannot beat E.E. "Doc" Smith. The "Lensman" series is staggering in the way one book flows into the other. He had all five books plotted before he wrote the first one. It is amazing.

"Spacehounds of the IPC" by Smith is a page-turner and an incredible look into the mores of the era. A brilliant hunk of a scientist and a stunningly beautiful and brilliant woman on an asteroid for more than a year, and they never get around to sleeping together until they are married later in the book. Gotta love the '40s!

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by dwallbaum

I haven't read the entire thread, so I am probably repeating.

For space operas, you cannot beat E.E. "Doc" Smith. The "Lensman" series is staggering in the way one book flows into the other. He had all five books plotted before he wrote the first one. It is amazing.

There are actually six books in the series:
Triplanetary
First Lensman
Galactic Patrol
Grey Lensman
Second Stage Lensman
Children of the Lens

There is also a novel set in the Lensman universe but not connected with the series, The Vortex Blaster

Magazine versions of Triplanetary and The Vortex Blaster are on Project Gutenberg.

Screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski is working on a film version:
http://www.scifiscoop.com/news/lensm...ci-fi-project/

(There was a Japanese adaptation as well, but I don't believe it bore much resemblance to the original.)

"Spacehounds of the IPC" by Smith is a page-turner and an incredible look into the mores of the era. A brilliant hunk of a scientist and a stunningly beautiful and brilliant woman on an asteroid for more than a year, and they never get around to sleeping together until they are married later in the book. Gotta love the '40s!

That's up on PG, too: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/sear...ads&query=9515

Smith is pretty much the archetypical example of what most folks mean when they say "space opera". Whenever you think "He can't top this!", rest assured he has a topper up his sleeve, and a topper for the topper in the queue behind it.

His other notable series were the four Skylark books: Skylark of Space, Skylark Three, Skylark of Valeron and Skylark Duquesne. I find them less satisfactory. Protagonist Richard Seaton is a little too perfect. The most interesting character is the protagonist's arch-rival, "Blackie" Duquesne.

At the end of the last Lensman book, there is a message from the son of the main protagonist to any entities capable of receiving it, stating that if they get the message, some great new threat has arisen that they will have to counter. Some fans have speculated that the threat might be the return of Blackie DuQuesne from the Skylark books.
______
Dennis

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by jrlewis

I just start the Count of Monte Cristo again. Loving it.

Did I miss something?