Space Opera Fans discussion

It's that time of the month to nominate what space opera books we'd like to read as a group in August. We have the following categories:

READER PICK: The Reader Pick is for books by fairly well established authors, which should be widely available in both paperback and ebook and at most chain bookstores and public libraries. Books can't be exclusive to Kindle Unlimited since we're a global community.

INDIE PICK: This is for those newer, edgier books where the author has to do it all. Books that have been published by a micropress that helps you upload the thing, but YOU otherwise do the work and marking are okay, or if you got your backlist back, still qualify.

YOUNG ADULT: This is for books targeted at young adults, age 13-18. They should be newer books, published since 2000, starring a person in the YA age range. I'm restarting this category because we do have some younger members and I don't want them to think we don't value them. However, I'm not very familiar with this market myself, so I need your help.

If you are an author, you may nominate your own book in any category, provided it meets the criteria for that category. But only if you're an otherwise active member of the group. Drive by spam will not be tolerated.

Drop your nomination into the thread below and, on the first of the month (or so), we'll spin it through Random.org to pick three brand new group reads.

Since we read in July, I suggest for August.

Reader's Pick: Fearless by Jack Campbell

Indie Pick: Lucifer's Star by C.T. Phipps

Reader's Pick: Star Wars: Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover

Young Adult: Mutineer by J.A. Sutherland

Indie pick: Milk Run by Nathan Lowell. While this is in the same universe as , it starts a new story arc, with new main characters. There's a lot more action in this one than in Quarter Share, too.

Reader pick: The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey.

Still thinking about YA pick.

I second "The Ship Who Sang" Good yarn.

Indie pick: Thieves Profit by Bruce Davis.

I second the nomination of Crystal Dragon.

Reader Pick: Generation Warriors by Elizabeth Moon & Anne MCCaffrey -- it's a bit more space opera-y than Ship Who Sang, which is closer to hard sci-fi I think.

Indie Pick: Excalibur by Tim Marquitz. Super fun!

Generation Warriors is third in a series that starts with Sassinak . I'm not changing my nomination, just providing info. Sassinak is a great book.

I love Sassinak. I just haven't read Generation Warriors yet so it's self-serving :) It's my understanding that they're pretty stand alone though?

Jon wrote: "I love Sassinak. I just haven't read Generation Warriors yet so it's self-serving :) It's my understanding that they're pretty stand alone though?"

It's been a long time since I read these, so I can't remember whether they work as standalones. However, I just check several reviews on Goodreads and it doesn't look like it. They follow the same characters as the previous books and at least one reviewer said you needed to read the previous book to understand what was going on.

So I'm going to disallow Generation Warriors. But you could nominate Sassinak if you want.

Jon wrote: "Reader Pick: Generation Warriors by Elizabeth Moon & Anne MCCaffrey -- it's a bit more space opera-y than Ship Who Sang, which is closer to hard sci-fi I think.

Indie Pick: Excalibur by Tim Marqu..."

I have read both of these you mention as well as Sassinak. I already nominated another book but any of these would be a good choice. I probably read it about 30 years ago, but if I remember correctly I think The Ship Who Sang probably could go in the YA category.

Audrey wrote: "I probably read it about 30 years ago, but if I remember correctly I think The Ship Who Sang probably could go in the YA category"

I disagree. I don't believe Helga was that young (under 19) during most of the book, plus I believe some of the sexual content is very adult.

It was in my high school library, FWIW, which tended to indicate at least someone believed it was YA. :)

Isn't there a rule for YA nominations about them being books from this century? That means no Heinlein juveniles, and no Ship Who Sang.

Teresa wrote: "Isn't there a rule for YA nominations about them being books from this century? That means no Heinlein juveniles, and no Ship Who Sang."

There isn't much to this century. It's still young. If we ignore the 20th, we don't have much left. At least not for another decade or two.

The rule does state that YA books must have been published no earlier than 2000. It's totally arbitrary and does limit us. But I believe Anna had good reason for the rule. She was basing it on her experience with her daughters and friends who generally don't like books that are too dated. They want something that speaks to them and their current attitudes and experiences.

We could argue about this rule, but I'd really like to hear from some young people about what they want.

Here's what we have so far:


READER PICK:
Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - 2 nominations
Fearless by Jack Campbell
Shatterpoint by Matthew Woodring Stover
The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey - 2 nominations

INDIE PICK:
Lucifer’s Star by C.T. Phipps
Milk Run by Nathan Lowell
Thieves Profit by Bruce Davis
Excalibur by Tim Marquitz

YOUNG ADULT PICK:
Mutineer by J.A. Sutherland


We really need more young adult nominations. Anyone?

YA Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. It is in the Liaden Universe, but starts a story arc about Theo, who is a young teen at the start of this book and IIRC about 15 at the end of it. Much of the action takes place on planets but some is on a ship between.

And the ebook is FREE!

Hmmm. I'd recommend The Dragons of Dorcastle by Jack Campbell for YA, but I'm not sure because the reason why the series could be called space opera is only hinted at in this book. (Six book series. All becomes clear before the end.)

If that passes muster, consider it nominated.

Mary wrote: "Hmmm. I'd recommend The Dragons of Dorcastle by Jack Campbell for YA, but I'm not sure because the reason why the series could be called space opera is only hinted at..."

I don't know. It seems more steampunk fantasy to me. There ought to be something to do with space.

I will second Fearless by Jack Campbell

I'm still reading dark space! only on book 4

Betsy wrote: "Audrey wrote: "I probably read it about 30 years ago, but if I remember correctly I think The Ship Who Sang probably could go in the YA category"

I disagree. I don't believe Helga was that young (..."

YA seems to be a category very open to interpretation anymore. I have seen books in the YA section of my local Barnes & Noble or coming up in Amazon searches that are heavy on sex, violence, and strong language; not what I would consider appropriate for the younger crowd. Plus in some cases, the main characters are in their early to mid-20s. I like your definition better.

YA - I second the nomination for Fledgling. It was a good read.

Betsy wrote: "I don't know. It seems more steampunk fantasy to me. There ought to be something to do with space.."

It's steampunk fantasy but it also has something to do with space -- if you read between the lines properly. (Full clarity only comes with the latter books.)

Then, one could argue that it's more properly planetary romance.

Here's what we have so far:


READER PICK:
Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - 2 nominations
Fearless by Jack Campbell - 2 nominations
Shatterpoint by Matthew Woodring Stover
The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey - 2 nominations

INDIE PICK:
Lucifer’s Star by C.T. Phipps
Milk Run by Nathan Lowell
Thieves Profit by Bruce Davis
Excalibur by Tim Marquitz

YOUNG ADULT PICK:
Mutineer by J.A. Sutherland
Fledgling by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller - 2 nominations

The Snow Queen - Joan D. Vinge

YA- Revenger - Alastair Reynolds

I would "second" Fearless BUT I read the series last year, so for Reader Pick , how about Illuminae

Oh dear, just checked and its already been read, sorry.

Ok how about Sundiver

And ... the randomized winners are:

Reader Pick:
The Ship Who Sang

Indie Pick:
Lucifer’s Star

YA Pick:
Fledgling