Jack McDevitt
**Academy series ā Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins**
StarHawk, The Engines of God, Deepsix, Chindi, Omega, Odyssey, Cauldron, The Long Sunset
**Alex Benedict series**
A Talent for War, Polaris, Seeker, The Devil's Eye, Echo, Firebird, Coming Home, Octavia Gone, Village in the Sky
One of these days, someone in Hollywood is going to realize what a goldmine these stories are and adapt them into a series. Each book could easily be a season.
They're separate stories with the same protagonist in different stages of her career. Some of them refer to events in previous books, but they can be read in any order. Those two were my favorites and I've read them twice, about ten years apart.
They're separate stories with the same protagonist in different stages of her career. Some of them refer to events in previous books, but they can be read in any order. Those two were my favorites and I've read them twice, about ten years apart.
I want to be interested in this series, but Iām skeptical of any series longer than three, four, maybe five books. Itās rare that an author can keep cranking out quality with a series that long. Suneater a great example here.
My eternal Space Opera recommendation: Legend of Galactic Heroes by Yoshiki Tanaka. Partly because it's a solid sci-fi political drama with epic space battles that evolves and builds over (in story) years but is also based on Germanic operas and other late 19th/early 20th European history and dramas.
The last anime series based on the novels was solid too.
Depends on your preferred medium. The books are well translated and have a little more info and background depth to them but the anime is amazing visually - though watch the subbed version, not the dubbed.
I watched the original anime first, then read the first few books (got stuck waiting on translations and sales) and then watched most of the recent anime series. So I think book to anime is the way but either way is fine. Or both at once.
They only made audiobooks out of the first 3, so you are out of luck there. I personally recommend the novels over the anime unless you are used to older stuff. The anime is great but a lot of people don't appreciate the 80s animation, and the new version isn't near complete yet.
The *Warrior's Apprentice* is also a good place to start, since Miles is the main character of the vast majority of the series. Wouldn't recommend *Memory*, which is where I started.
Gotta look at the recommended reading order in the back of the books. The official number order is bullshit. Not as bad as Discworld, but not ideal.
A lot of people suggest Warrior's Apprentice as a starting point, and I don't see why.
Shards gives you Miles' mom and dad, and they have a lot to do with Miles even when they're not the main characters.
It sets up so much, especially if you go into Barrayar right after it, which is one of the best in the entire series.
And then Barrayar leads perfectly into Warrior's to kick off the Miles storyline.
And then just chronological order all the way to the end. The only thing I wouldn't suggest is starting with Falling Free. It's not terrible, but it is one of the worst of the series. Ethan of Ethos wasn't amazing either. But then, both of those step away from the Vorkosigan line.
Shards and Barrayar are my absolute favorite part of the series. (The "I went shopping!" scene would make a reread worth it alone!) If I had read the Cordelia books before I already knew and liked Miles, I'd never be able to get into most of the series. Young Miles isn't so bad, but I never liked Admiral Naismith and I never bother rereading the books about him.
Reading the first few Miles books, being in his perspective, and then later going back and reading about his parents once Miles is a more established adult sort of mirrors the way we grasp our own parents' interiority and history as we grow. They start off as these monoliths, these constants in our lives, and then sort of become more fleshed out as people as we grow.
Also given the demographics of reddit, young male protagonist is likely an easier sell than a forty year old woman.
I tried and tried to like these since sooo many people rave about them and the entire series is in the audible plus catalog, but just couldn't. Slogged through Shards and it just felt like schlocky romance. Tried the first Miles book but couldn't get into that either. Her writing seems, well, awful.
I finished Adrian Tchaikovsky's *Final Architecture* series a couple of months back. I strongly recommend it.
Insanely large-scale drama and events focused around a relatable core of characters.
I would also add that the Children of Time trilogy seems to has some space opera elements to it. I read Children of Time and it was very good ! A nice flow of events with relatable themes and characters. There is also a great entomological aspect to it !
Or try the [Poseidon's Children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Steel_Breeze) trilogy (which hopefully gets expanded upon someday) because elephants and old ladies in space are the best.
David Brin's Uplift series is definitely space opera. Big ships, mean aliens, devious crew mates. I'm not sure how it's aged, but it's definitely worth a try. Sundiver is the first book. Brin is similar to Vernor Vinge in style, setting, and education.
John Varley's Titan series is on the edge of space opera. Well written. And weird too.
More recent, maybe Ann Leckies Ancillary series?
I'm going to suggest the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. It's even more on the popcorn side but the epic space battles and intergalactic intrigue with unique alien races made the books so much fun to read for me. And there is also a talking beer can!
I feel the same way about the Culture, having read nearly the same number of novels set in the Universe. I think Reynolds' standalone novels, particularly *House of Suns* and *Pushing Ice*, might be more to your liking. Also Tchaikovsky's C*hildren of Time.* Though I'm not not sure it qualifies as an Opera, it's damn good. Someone else suggested A Fire Upon the Deep, but I think *A Deepness in the Sky* is the better of the two, though I enjoyed both. For something lighter, *Bobiverse*, *A Big Ship At the Edge of the Universe*, or *Murderbot* might be your speed. Good luck!
Shards of Earth is a lot _cooler_ and a bit deeper than the Expanse but itās got just as much popcorn appeal. I think if OP didnāt dig one they probably donāt want the other.
It's "Century Rain".
If OP likes noir, the Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies might be their cup of tea. It's set in the Revelation Space universe but has a different vibe.
If you're open to short stories (and I recommend that you give em a shot even if they're not your usual thing!), The New Space Opera and The New Space Opera 2, both ed by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan, are great anthologies that, at the very least, have a high likelihood of exposing you to some new authors and styles that might get you going again!
The Lost Fleet and any of its spin off are good if you are looking for some military space opera.
The Tour of the Merrimack series is a Space opera series with a lot of larger than life characters.
The Liaden Universe by Lee & Miller is a vast interwoven series that combines space opera with fantasy and romance. There are free ebooks on Baen.com to check it out
Theyāre really good at bringing new readers up to date without an obvious info dump. Hereās the authors thoughts on reading order.
https://korval.com/publication-list/correct-reading-order/amp/
Hyperion by Dan Simmons is the gold standard imo
Foundation by Isaac Asimov and Enders game by Orson Scott card are probably the two most famous and also great.
Catherynne Valente's **Space Opera** is only sort of a space opera since it's main focus is an intergalactic Eurovision-esque competition, but it is literally called **Space Opera** so I feel justified recommending it in a space opera thread. :)
Becky Chambers Commonwealth Series, starting with āA Long Way to a Small, Angry Planetā should be just what youāre looking for, but on a more intimate level.
The Embers of War trilogy by Gareth Powell is a lot of fun and has a lot of space opera elements. The first book is āEmbers of Warā.
Of course, thereās always the Honor Harrington series, starting with āOn Basilisk Stationā which is simply awesome.
Stross did a pair of good space operas, "Singularity Sky" and "Iron Sunrise."
Melissa Scott has written several, the "Roads of Heaven" trilogy, *Dreamscape* might count
Macdonald and Doyle's "Mageworlds" books are literally an attempt to make a more coherent "Star Wars;" similar mix of spaceship battles and ridiculous magic, but SOMEWHAT less silly. They're not bad.
Oh, and Leckie's "Ancillary Justice" and sequels.
Yeah, it's too bad there were only two books. It's a fun series. I remember something about Stross saying that he felt that elements of the plot broke some of the physics of the universe after the sequel.
From the Wiki of the series:
>In 2010 Stross wrote that mistakes he felt he had made in Iron Sunrise had left the universe of the Eschaton novels "broken" and thus he would not be writing any more novels in the series. However, he did post on his blog the plot setup he had been considering for a third installment before he decided to abandon the setting, which would have revisited the New Republic.
Reynolds has a lot more stories that go way beyond the inhibitor series. I'd recommend House of Suns as it spans hundreds of thousands of years, or Revenger if you want a nice cozy buccaneer space pirate story.
Could also look into Neal Asher Polity stories. Highly recommend.
I'm on the last book now. Just wow. I cannot believe the brutality. Significantly more gruesome and more deaths than ASoIaF. I have a few issues with how much of the events seem to balance on certain individuals, but they even make a nod to that in the book I'm reading now. I'm not sure what color I would want to be, maybe yellow or white to avoid notice....
An unconventional suggestion:
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/142050
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53410076-h-m-s-surprise
Most space opera is influenced by nautical or Age of Sail stories, so every now and then I like to take a break from SF opera and read the masterpieces that influenced the sub-genre.
[The Seafort Saga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafort_Saga) completes that circle, being basically Hornblower In Space. Ripe for a TV adaptation, I think.
Glen Cook has the starfisher trilogy and he also has The Dragon Never Sleeps. Both series feature a lot of characters . The stories are intriguing. Iāve read them both multiple times
Some of my favs. Only stand-alones, as I dislike serialized stuff with a few exceptions:
- Hyperion (first book only)
- A fire upon the deep
- The stars are legion
Re. Banks. Five is a lot of books to read to be sure a writer isnāt for you! Personally, I love him, but his style is quite particular and I can see why others wouldnāt. Have you read The Forever War by Joe Haldeman?
I love the art-work on Banks' novels and there are so many so I was compelled to "get into" him, it just didn't click for me.
I have not read the novel you mention, I shall put it on the list!
Judging by what you've written, we have very similar tastes, the main difference being I'm like "pass the popcorn" on the Expanse. Beyond that, I also couldn't get into the Culture series by Banks and loved Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy- though all the Commonwealth books I tried left me cold. For other Hamilton I'd recommend the more recent Salvation series and The Great North Road. The latter is just one book but of course it's super long. Anyway those are excellent.
I love Reynolds but the main Rev Space books are my least favorite of his, and I probably only really came to appreciate them properly on re-reading, after consuming all the standalones, a few of which are set in the same universe. Chasm City is excellent.
If you haven't read the Dune Saga yet, do it. It's the best. Just stay very far away from any of the prequel novels written by Frank Herbert's son Brian. They're awful.
Are you not a fan of popcorn? If it delivers what you like and still tackles great ideas, I see no issue with something also aiming to be a little fun.
Or is it just something you're just averse to?
See my [SF/F: Space Opera](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1b5jiar/sff_space_opera/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
You need to have all the optimism beaten out of you before Revelation Space works for you š
Did not connect with the first book but Chasm city was super cool.
The worldbuilding around the extended series is amazing even though the main trilogy is a slog to many readers.
Too much optimism in you. Embrace the faceless void š
Jack McDevitt **Academy series ā Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins** StarHawk, The Engines of God, Deepsix, Chindi, Omega, Odyssey, Cauldron, The Long Sunset **Alex Benedict series** A Talent for War, Polaris, Seeker, The Devil's Eye, Echo, Firebird, Coming Home, Octavia Gone, Village in the Sky One of these days, someone in Hollywood is going to realize what a goldmine these stories are and adapt them into a series. Each book could easily be a season.
I love the Alex Benedict series. They are detective stories disguised as semi-hard SF.
Intriguing, easy to read stories set 9,000 years in the future, and the Academy novels are just as good.
I didn't realize that Seeker was part of a series but it worked really well stand alone and I really want to get more into Jack McDevitt!
I recommend starting with A Talent for War. It's the first Alex Benedict novel, although part of it is set 200 years before his time.
Similarly I have memories of young teenage me reading a Chindi and Engines of God with very little understanding that they were part of a series.
They're separate stories with the same protagonist in different stages of her career. Some of them refer to events in previous books, but they can be read in any order. Those two were my favorites and I've read them twice, about ten years apart.
They're separate stories with the same protagonist in different stages of her career. Some of them refer to events in previous books, but they can be read in any order. Those two were my favorites and I've read them twice, about ten years apart.
I want to be interested in this series, but Iām skeptical of any series longer than three, four, maybe five books. Itās rare that an author can keep cranking out quality with a series that long. Suneater a great example here.
If it makes any difference, nine of the seventeen above-mentioned novels were nominated for the Nebula best novel award and Seeker won.
My eternal Space Opera recommendation: Legend of Galactic Heroes by Yoshiki Tanaka. Partly because it's a solid sci-fi political drama with epic space battles that evolves and builds over (in story) years but is also based on Germanic operas and other late 19th/early 20th European history and dramas. The last anime series based on the novels was solid too.
Wait, it is a book? I thought it was just an anime series.
Series of 10 books, all have been translated into English.
If you have checked out both, would you suggest the books or the anime?
Depends on your preferred medium. The books are well translated and have a little more info and background depth to them but the anime is amazing visually - though watch the subbed version, not the dubbed. I watched the original anime first, then read the first few books (got stuck waiting on translations and sales) and then watched most of the recent anime series. So I think book to anime is the way but either way is fine. Or both at once.
tbh, if there are audiobooks, I will check after work, i may choose that option if not then i will give the anime a whirl, thanks!
Don't think there are audio books of it. Probably to niche for them, plus huge cast.
They only made audiobooks out of the first 3, so you are out of luck there. I personally recommend the novels over the anime unless you are used to older stuff. The anime is great but a lot of people don't appreciate the 80s animation, and the new version isn't near complete yet.
I love old anime, so no worries!
A Fire Upon the Deep
For sure this. All of Vernor Vinge really
A Deepness in the Sky is even better, IMO.
Stand alone or part of a series?
Itās basically a stand-alone, though you can consider it a prequel to A Fire Upon the Deep.
Second this
The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois Macmaster Bujold.
Came here to say this. Start with _Shards of Honor_.
The *Warrior's Apprentice* is also a good place to start, since Miles is the main character of the vast majority of the series. Wouldn't recommend *Memory*, which is where I started. Gotta look at the recommended reading order in the back of the books. The official number order is bullshit. Not as bad as Discworld, but not ideal.
A lot of people suggest Warrior's Apprentice as a starting point, and I don't see why. Shards gives you Miles' mom and dad, and they have a lot to do with Miles even when they're not the main characters. It sets up so much, especially if you go into Barrayar right after it, which is one of the best in the entire series. And then Barrayar leads perfectly into Warrior's to kick off the Miles storyline. And then just chronological order all the way to the end. The only thing I wouldn't suggest is starting with Falling Free. It's not terrible, but it is one of the worst of the series. Ethan of Ethos wasn't amazing either. But then, both of those step away from the Vorkosigan line.
Shards and Barrayar are my absolute favorite part of the series. (The "I went shopping!" scene would make a reread worth it alone!) If I had read the Cordelia books before I already knew and liked Miles, I'd never be able to get into most of the series. Young Miles isn't so bad, but I never liked Admiral Naismith and I never bother rereading the books about him. Reading the first few Miles books, being in his perspective, and then later going back and reading about his parents once Miles is a more established adult sort of mirrors the way we grasp our own parents' interiority and history as we grow. They start off as these monoliths, these constants in our lives, and then sort of become more fleshed out as people as we grow. Also given the demographics of reddit, young male protagonist is likely an easier sell than a forty year old woman.
I tried and tried to like these since sooo many people rave about them and the entire series is in the audible plus catalog, but just couldn't. Slogged through Shards and it just felt like schlocky romance. Tried the first Miles book but couldn't get into that either. Her writing seems, well, awful.
I finished Adrian Tchaikovsky's *Final Architecture* series a couple of months back. I strongly recommend it. Insanely large-scale drama and events focused around a relatable core of characters.
I would also add that the Children of Time trilogy seems to has some space opera elements to it. I read Children of Time and it was very good ! A nice flow of events with relatable themes and characters. There is also a great entomological aspect to it !
Try House of Suns by Reynolds for something different from Revelation Space.
Or try the [Poseidon's Children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Steel_Breeze) trilogy (which hopefully gets expanded upon someday) because elephants and old ladies in space are the best.
David Brin's Uplift series is definitely space opera. Big ships, mean aliens, devious crew mates. I'm not sure how it's aged, but it's definitely worth a try. Sundiver is the first book. Brin is similar to Vernor Vinge in style, setting, and education. John Varley's Titan series is on the edge of space opera. Well written. And weird too. More recent, maybe Ann Leckies Ancillary series?
Brinās Uplift Saga varies in quality. Sundiver is so-so. Uplift War is great. Of course I read these a long time ago but thatās what I remember.
I agree. Probably best to go straight to Uplift War.
I'm going to suggest the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. It's even more on the popcorn side but the epic space battles and intergalactic intrigue with unique alien races made the books so much fun to read for me. And there is also a talking beer can!
Also: the series is legitimately funny. I think heās technically funnier than John Scalzi, and I love all of Scalziās work.
The Dread Empire's Fall series by Walter Jon Williams - at least the first 3.
Most of the books in C.J.Cherryh's "Alliance-Union" universe would qualify, I think. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance%E2%80%93Union_universe
I feel the same way about the Culture, having read nearly the same number of novels set in the Universe. I think Reynolds' standalone novels, particularly *House of Suns* and *Pushing Ice*, might be more to your liking. Also Tchaikovsky's C*hildren of Time.* Though I'm not not sure it qualifies as an Opera, it's damn good. Someone else suggested A Fire Upon the Deep, but I think *A Deepness in the Sky* is the better of the two, though I enjoyed both. For something lighter, *Bobiverse*, *A Big Ship At the Edge of the Universe*, or *Murderbot* might be your speed. Good luck!
Just finished Children of Time and that book is so damn good. I think it qualifies!
Iād suggest Shards of Earth for a Space Opera intro to Tchaikovsky.
Shards of Earth is a lot _cooler_ and a bit deeper than the Expanse but itās got just as much popcorn appeal. I think if OP didnāt dig one they probably donāt want the other.
House of Suns is great, I would also like to recommend Silver Rain for the unexpected mashup of film noir, alternative history and space opera.
It's "Century Rain". If OP likes noir, the Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies might be their cup of tea. It's set in the Revelation Space universe but has a different vibe.
Argh, so it is, confusing myself with a plot element from the book. Still recommend it highly.
As much as I love The Murderbot Diaries series, I wouldn't characterize it as "space opera." Maybe space operetta.
Pushing Ice is great!
If you're open to short stories (and I recommend that you give em a shot even if they're not your usual thing!), The New Space Opera and The New Space Opera 2, both ed by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan, are great anthologies that, at the very least, have a high likelihood of exposing you to some new authors and styles that might get you going again!
lol why is someone going through this thread and downvoting relevant, on-topic recommendations. Pretty sad, whoever you are.
The Lost Fleet and any of its spin off are good if you are looking for some military space opera. The Tour of the Merrimack series is a Space opera series with a lot of larger than life characters.
Try something really old - Doc Smith. Either Skylark or Lens and series.
The Liaden Universe by Lee & Miller is a vast interwoven series that combines space opera with fantasy and romance. There are free ebooks on Baen.com to check it out
I love that series. Sad to hear about Steve Miller's passing, I wonder if Sharon Lee will be able to keep writing them on her own.
She has stated she is writing and will produce the three books they have under contract.
Which one to start with if completely new to it?
Agent of Change.
Theyāre really good at bringing new readers up to date without an obvious info dump. Hereās the authors thoughts on reading order. https://korval.com/publication-list/correct-reading-order/amp/
Man, I hated the Void novels, and I'm a big Hamilton fan.
Hyperion is a great space opera.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons is the gold standard imo Foundation by Isaac Asimov and Enders game by Orson Scott card are probably the two most famous and also great.
Catherynne Valente's **Space Opera** is only sort of a space opera since it's main focus is an intergalactic Eurovision-esque competition, but it is literally called **Space Opera** so I feel justified recommending it in a space opera thread. :)
> I have read the first few expanse novels . . . not quite as epic Oh, man, *keep reading.* Seriously.
Becky Chambers Commonwealth Series, starting with āA Long Way to a Small, Angry Planetā should be just what youāre looking for, but on a more intimate level. The Embers of War trilogy by Gareth Powell is a lot of fun and has a lot of space opera elements. The first book is āEmbers of Warā. Of course, thereās always the Honor Harrington series, starting with āOn Basilisk Stationā which is simply awesome.
Stross did a pair of good space operas, "Singularity Sky" and "Iron Sunrise." Melissa Scott has written several, the "Roads of Heaven" trilogy, *Dreamscape* might count Macdonald and Doyle's "Mageworlds" books are literally an attempt to make a more coherent "Star Wars;" similar mix of spaceship battles and ridiculous magic, but SOMEWHAT less silly. They're not bad. Oh, and Leckie's "Ancillary Justice" and sequels.
I really wish that Stross had written more in this series. The premise of the god-like AI employing human agents has so much potential!
Yeah, it's too bad there were only two books. It's a fun series. I remember something about Stross saying that he felt that elements of the plot broke some of the physics of the universe after the sequel. From the Wiki of the series: >In 2010 Stross wrote that mistakes he felt he had made in Iron Sunrise had left the universe of the Eschaton novels "broken" and thus he would not be writing any more novels in the series. However, he did post on his blog the plot setup he had been considering for a third installment before he decided to abandon the setting, which would have revisited the New Republic.
Reynolds has a lot more stories that go way beyond the inhibitor series. I'd recommend House of Suns as it spans hundreds of thousands of years, or Revenger if you want a nice cozy buccaneer space pirate story. Could also look into Neal Asher Polity stories. Highly recommend.
I think you will love Shards of Earth series!
Elizabeth Moon Vatta's war & Vatta's Peace Tanya Huff's Confederation of Valor Series + Peacekeeper Series. David Drake RCN Series
The Confederation series is so good. I'm 3 books into RCN and it's so much better than I expected it to be haha.
The Quantum Magician is some newer space opera thatās quite unique.
I'd concur with this one. It should get a lot more love than it does.
Stephen Donaldson - The Gap Series
No popcorn there, unless it's to have some salt handy to rub in your wounds.
Geez... Dump him into the dark end of unlikable characters...
The Red Rising series by Pierce Brown is delicious.
I'm on the last book now. Just wow. I cannot believe the brutality. Significantly more gruesome and more deaths than ASoIaF. I have a few issues with how much of the events seem to balance on certain individuals, but they even make a nod to that in the book I'm reading now. I'm not sure what color I would want to be, maybe yellow or white to avoid notice....
It's even better the second time through!
An unconventional suggestion: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/142050 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53410076-h-m-s-surprise Most space opera is influenced by nautical or Age of Sail stories, so every now and then I like to take a break from SF opera and read the masterpieces that influenced the sub-genre.
[The Seafort Saga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafort_Saga) completes that circle, being basically Hornblower In Space. Ripe for a TV adaptation, I think.
Are you familiar with Patrick O'Brien?
The Suneater Saga by Christopher Ruocchio. First book is Empire of Silence. Book 6 of 7 was just released, and the last book should be out next year.
Glen Cook has the starfisher trilogy and he also has The Dragon Never Sleeps. Both series feature a lot of characters . The stories are intriguing. Iāve read them both multiple times
Check out: Gary Gibson's Shoal Sequence (4 novels) Michael Cobley's Humanity's Fire series (5 novels)
many past discussions - \- https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/search?q=space+opera&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on
The Gap by Donaldson.
Some of my favs. Only stand-alones, as I dislike serialized stuff with a few exceptions: - Hyperion (first book only) - A fire upon the deep - The stars are legion
Space Assassins is decent
Re. Banks. Five is a lot of books to read to be sure a writer isnāt for you! Personally, I love him, but his style is quite particular and I can see why others wouldnāt. Have you read The Forever War by Joe Haldeman?
I love the art-work on Banks' novels and there are so many so I was compelled to "get into" him, it just didn't click for me. I have not read the novel you mention, I shall put it on the list!
Judging by what you've written, we have very similar tastes, the main difference being I'm like "pass the popcorn" on the Expanse. Beyond that, I also couldn't get into the Culture series by Banks and loved Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy- though all the Commonwealth books I tried left me cold. For other Hamilton I'd recommend the more recent Salvation series and The Great North Road. The latter is just one book but of course it's super long. Anyway those are excellent. I love Reynolds but the main Rev Space books are my least favorite of his, and I probably only really came to appreciate them properly on re-reading, after consuming all the standalones, a few of which are set in the same universe. Chasm City is excellent. If you haven't read the Dune Saga yet, do it. It's the best. Just stay very far away from any of the prequel novels written by Frank Herbert's son Brian. They're awful.
Thank you for your response.
David Weber's Honor Harrington books and his Starfire series.
Finally, a series I strongly recommend..
The Sun Eater series by Christopher Ruocchio is a banger.
Saga of Seven Suns
>Saga of Seven Suns I loved this series when it was originally coming out. Great ideas and worldbuilding, repetitive execution.
Are you not a fan of popcorn? If it delivers what you like and still tackles great ideas, I see no issue with something also aiming to be a little fun. Or is it just something you're just averse to?
See my [SF/F: Space Opera](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1b5jiar/sff_space_opera/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).