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This list features the best space opera books out there.
1

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4.27 avg rating — 291,782 ratings
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2

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4.29 avg rating — 1,595,619 ratings
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3

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4.31 avg rating — 1,460,438 ratings
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4

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4.17 avg rating — 587,798 ratings
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5

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4.23 avg rating — 220,089 ratings
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6

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4.01 avg rating — 243,853 ratings
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7

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4.24 avg rating — 144,806 ratings
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8

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3.71 avg rating — 435 ratings
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9

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4.23 avg rating — 53,266 ratings
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10

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3.99 avg rating — 60,859 ratings
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11

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4.13 avg rating — 65,861 ratings
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12

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4.31 avg rating — 310,851 ratings
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13

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4.10 avg rating — 240 ratings
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14

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4.16 avg rating — 32,796 ratings
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15

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4.17 avg rating — 1,669 ratings
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16

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4.14 avg rating — 178,618 ratings
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17

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3.85 avg rating — 99,146 ratings
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18

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3.88 avg rating — 30,063 ratings
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19

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4.28 avg rating — 79,363 ratings
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20

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4.38 avg rating — 336,317 ratings
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21

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4.35 avg rating — 6,122 ratings
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22

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4.14 avg rating — 48,614 ratings
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23

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4.07 avg rating — 72,610 ratings
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24

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4.12 avg rating — 37,846 ratings
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25

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3.94 avg rating — 127,884 ratings
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26

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4.13 avg rating — 148,468 ratings
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27

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4.19 avg rating — 69,173 ratings
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28

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4.22 avg rating — 223,102 ratings
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29

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4.12 avg rating — 181,608 ratings
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30

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4.27 avg rating — 14,892 ratings
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31

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4.30 avg rating — 166,347 ratings
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32

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4.17 avg rating — 179,799 ratings
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33

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4.27 avg rating — 200,065 ratings
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34

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4.30 avg rating — 40,044 ratings
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35

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4.07 avg rating — 12,304 ratings
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36

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4.25 avg rating — 3,416 ratings
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37

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3.83 avg rating — 20,300 ratings
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38

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4.27 avg rating — 30,063 ratings
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39

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4.76 avg rating — 88,361 ratings
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40

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4.08 avg rating — 475,685 ratings
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41

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4.32 avg rating — 8,922 ratings
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42

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4.22 avg rating — 1,989,589 ratings
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43

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4.27 avg rating — 117,917 ratings
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44

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4.35 avg rating — 106,365 ratings
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45

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4.09 avg rating — 16,759 ratings
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46

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4.03 avg rating — 16,417 ratings
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47

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4.12 avg rating — 90,153 ratings
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48

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4.18 avg rating — 333,113 ratings
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49

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 924 ratings
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50

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4.24 avg rating — 2,869 ratings
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51

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4.20 avg rating — 690 ratings
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52

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4.31 avg rating — 3,400 ratings
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53

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4.24 avg rating — 31,983 ratings
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54

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4.17 avg rating — 101,444 ratings
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55

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4.01 avg rating — 4,045 ratings
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56

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4.10 avg rating — 214,553 ratings
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57

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4.31 avg rating — 15,577 ratings
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58

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4.16 avg rating — 51,875 ratings
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59

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4.25 avg rating — 32,212 ratings
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60

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5,409 ratings
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61

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4.17 avg rating — 63,714 ratings
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62

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4.04 avg rating — 3,455 ratings
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63

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4.15 avg rating — 137,793 ratings
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64

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4.09 avg rating — 9,005 ratings
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65

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3.97 avg rating — 33,561 ratings
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66

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4.38 avg rating — 84,597 ratings
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67

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3.62 avg rating — 194,500 ratings
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68

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4.06 avg rating — 47,092 ratings
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69

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3.98 avg rating — 12,917 ratings
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70

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3.78 avg rating — 49,598 ratings
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71

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3.83 avg rating — 11,470 ratings
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72

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4.31 avg rating — 13,533 ratings
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73

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3.73 avg rating — 4,471 ratings
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74

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3.82 avg rating — 14,723 ratings
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75

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4.57 avg rating — 2,760 ratings
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76

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4.16 avg rating — 13,120 ratings
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77

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4.20 avg rating — 19,230 ratings
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78

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4.20 avg rating — 33,729 ratings
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79

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4.07 avg rating — 39,800 ratings
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80

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4.26 avg rating — 29,902 ratings
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81

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3.78 avg rating — 20,995 ratings
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82

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4.18 avg rating — 29,532 ratings
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83

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3.91 avg rating — 16,896 ratings
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84

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3.86 avg rating — 87,828 ratings
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85

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3.61 avg rating — 7,770 ratings
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86

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4.51 avg rating — 4,770 ratings
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87

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4.02 avg rating — 11,514 ratings
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88

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4.03 avg rating — 3,977 ratings
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89

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4.19 avg rating — 72,508 ratings
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90

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4.12 avg rating — 94,696 ratings
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91

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3.69 avg rating — 7,889 ratings
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92

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4.21 avg rating — 4,601 ratings
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93

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4.04 avg rating — 33,181 ratings
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94

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4.31 avg rating — 159 ratings
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95

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4.10 avg rating — 71,667 ratings
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96

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3.92 avg rating — 14,861 ratings
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97

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4.07 avg rating — 3,932 ratings
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98

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3.93 avg rating — 3,809 ratings
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99

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4.32 avg rating — 34,841 ratings
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100

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4.27 avg rating — 26,887 ratings
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1,050 books · 1,697 voters · list created July 24th, 2009 by Kevis Hendrickson (votes) .
231 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Kevis 1711 books
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Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Great list of wonderful books.

Melanie


message 2: by Andre (new)

Andre Added Io Deceneus Journal of a time traveller. A brand new author but quite good in creating new worlds and conflicts between civilizations.


message 3: by David (new)

David I was surprised The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester was not included in the list. If you've never read it, I highly recommend it, it's probably the best singular Science Fiction novel I've read thusly


message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

Saga does not forget to be awesome!


message 5: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Could someone define the difference between "space opera" and "sci-fi that happens to take place in space"?


message 6: by Kevis (last edited Dec 06, 2013 11:00AM) (new)

Kevis Hendrickson Jamie wrote: "Could someone define the difference between "space opera" and "sci-fi that happens to take place in space"?"

Space opera is a branch of science fiction where the story generally takes place in outer space. Its focus is usually on interplanetary adventure on a grand, epic scale, rather than the technical aspects of space exploration which you might associate with Hard Science Fiction which places the focus on the science, rather than the humanistic elements found in space opera.

When you say Space Opera, think Star Wars or Dune. Science Fiction in space is more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey.


message 7: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Kevis wrote: "Space opera is a branch of science fiction where the story generally takes place in outer space. Its focus is usually on adventure on a grand, epic scale, rather than the technical aspects of space exploration which you might associate with Hard Science Fiction which places the focus on the science, rather than the humanistic elements found in space opera.."

Kevis.

I like your descripion of space opera vs science fiction. It's clear and concise.


message 8: by Kevis (last edited Dec 06, 2013 10:59AM) (new)

Kevis Hendrickson Thomas wrote: "Kevis wrote: "Space opera is a branch of science fiction where the story generally takes place in outer space. Its focus is usually on adventure on a grand, epic scale, rather than the technical as..."

Glad you like it, Thomas!


message 9: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Kevis wrote: "When you say Space Opera, think Star Wars or Dune. Science Fiction in space is more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey. ..."

Thank you. I was confused because 2001 is on this list (so I must not be the only one...) :-)


message 10: by Kevis (new)

Kevis Hendrickson Jamie wrote: "Kevis wrote: "When you say Space Opera, think Star Wars or Dune. Science Fiction in space is more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey. ..."

Thank you. I was confused because 2001 is on this list (so I ..."


No problem, Jamie. There's a lot of confusion about what's space opera and what isn't and it leads to some interesting book choices for this list.


message 11: by Jon (new)

Jon Graci How is the saga of seven suns not on here


message 12: by Dan (new)

Dan I've read quite a few on this list but I think I will go through and read or re-read as many as possible, looks like a great list!


message 13: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Xantha wrote: "Awful lot of hard science fiction here."

See my question (above) about space opera vs. sci-fi.


message 14: by Marcus (new)

Marcus Steffanci dystopia does not equal space opera


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