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Joined: 2/9/2012 Posts: 427
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Hi folks, I realized that my experience with space opera is quite flimsy, so I am looking for a really good book to get me excited about the genre. More recent stuff (past 20 years) is preferable. Thank you so much!!!
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Joined: 8/13/2011 Posts: 272
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Off the top of my head, I'd suggest On Basilisk Station, Crown of Slaves or His Majesty's Starship. The first two are both in David Weber's Honorverse, with Basilisk being the first in the series and Slaves being a side-story that stands alone in hilarious fashion.
The last one's a personal favourite, probably mostly due to it being one of the few novels with a british-crewed ship. I'm probably biased.
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Joined: 7/18/2011 Posts: 8
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Space opera, as in musical comedy?
But I think you meant a novel set in outer space. Mars Shall Thunder
"Satisfying tapestry of space thriller, love story, and
thought-provoking observations on the human condition and its systems."- Sunni Maravillosa
"Magnificently realised, both in the
description of the setting and in the politics and intrigue that go on
there. Dialogue and interaction of the characters is gripping, the
action scenes marvellously portrayed."
- Samuel Z. Jones
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Joined: 2/9/2012 Posts: 427
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Thanks, Tim. David Weber it is!
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Joined: 10/5/2013 Posts: 1
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After you're done with David Weber, I would recommend the Culture series by Iain M. Banks. It doesn't have a continuing cast of characters, largely because the galactic culture itself is the real main character. The exception is some of the quirky AI ships that do make occasional recurring appearances. The stories are fun, the scope (in time and space) is immense, the beings and places are imaginative, nuanced and richly textured and the language a pleasure to read. Some of the titles are, Excession, The Player of Games, Consider Phlebas (yes, an Eliot reference), The Use of Weapons, etc. Sadly, Iain Banks did pass away earlier this year.
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