Summer reading, space operas

http://www.scottwesterfeld.com/books/succession.htm
from GalCiv2 Forums
Last week, I finished reading Scott Westerfeld's "Succession" (published as "The Risen Empire" and "The Killing of Worlds" in the US). It reminded me of a past thread here that I liked very much that asked for reading suggestions for GC2 fans.

This Westerfeld work really fired up my appetite for space operas, so I'm hoping the crowd here can exert a little self discipline and just post authors and/or titles with short blurbs about why you think a GC2 fan might like the work.

I'm sure "Succession" will please several folks around here because it is full of richly detailed space battles, very "modern" SF treatment of ground battles, and a swell backdrop of sub-light interstellar conflict. The setting is much closer to the galactic core than we are, so the 80-world empire where the action happens has a volume about 30 light years across. The piece covers more than ten years thanks in part to no FTL, but it stays very fast-paced.
off-topic
63,164 views 33 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Bump.

I'll be going to the library again soon, and I was really hoping for some leads on another good space opera. I know some of y'all have admitted to reading for fun before...
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sorry, I read Modernist and Postmodernist fiction in Spanish for fun. The only 'Science Fiction' book I've even read in the last five years or so was to reread Stranger in a Strange Land, because it's probably the most important sci-fi book ever written, IMO.

So I can't really help on the Space Operas front.

Although, if you want to listen to some kick-ass Space Operas . . .

Listen to the discography from the band Ayreon from beginning to end. It's one of the grandest Space Operas ever set to music, and every album ties in as another cog in the elaborate tapestry that is the Ayreon story. :CONGRAT:
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I enjoyed the Honor Harrington series by David Weber.

On Basilisk Station
The Honor of the Queen
The Short Victorious War
Field of Dishonor
Flag in Exile
Honor Among Enemies
In Enemy Hands
Echoes of Honor
Ashes of Victory
War of Honor
At All Costs

I also liked his Starfire series which was based of a space board game of the same name.
The Stars at War- Crusade+In Death Ground
The Stars at War II- The Shiva Option+Insurrection

Both series can be read online by following the links on the wiki page.
I've never read depictions of space battles better than those in these two series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Weber
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'll second Tral's recommendation. Very much so. I'd also recommend reading the anthologies and the two other books in the HH universe: Crown of Slaves and Shadow of Sanganami. If you want, I can zip through the anthologies and put the short stories in chronological/logical order for you, although you may not be able to do this using the library. It's hard to believe he's not even halfway through that series - it's planned at 30 novels, or so I hear.

Other possibilities - unfortunately I've never read any Scott Westerfield that I know of, so I'll give a wide range of styles:

Start reading anything by Larry Niven. The "Known Space" books in particular, but anything is worth your time. Ask me or KP for a list if you're interested.

Peter F. Hamilton's Reality Disfunction, Neutronium Alchemist, and The Naked God - 6 books in all.

David Drake. Excellent material, but it takes a certain mindset to really get. If you're in the mood for a grim view of reality, he's the go-to guy. In descending order of grimness: Lacey and his friends (good luck finding it, though), the Northworld trilogy, The Reaches trilogy, all the various Hammer's Slammers books, and the Lt. Leary series. There are plenty of other single books out there, too. You really can't go wrong, just be prepared for what you're getting into.

Addendum: read Ranks of Bronze (David Drake) and then The Excalibur Alternative (David Weber).

David Weber's Legacy of Empire (Mutineer's Moon, The Armageddon Inheritance, Heirs of Empire)

Elisabeth Moon: the Serrano series (again, good luck starting from the beginning) and the Vatta War series.

John Ringo: Legacy of the Aldenata (A Hymn Before Battle, etc)

Jerry Pournelle's Falkenberg's Legion series, as well as A Mote In God's Eye and The Gripping Hand. The War World spinoff anthologies were pretty good, as well.

That's what I can read from my chair. Further recommendations might require getting up, and that just isn't happening  :D 

A note: if you're like me, you won't like getting into a series unless it's pretty well done - I really hate reading the first book of a trilogy and having to wait several years to get the second and third. If so, avoid the Vatta War series, it's only three books in IIRC. The other ongoing series I've listed (HH in particular) are far enough in that you can read the books already out, then reread them in a few years when the later ones have come out.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try this gem from Eric Frank Russell:
The Wasp - about an interplanetary spy

It's an older book, but it's pretty cool. It can be found at Amazon: WWW Link
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks. Please keep 'em coming. I need to get as much "junk reading" done as I can before my mentor gets me back on a fancy lit-ra-chure diet. I actually read Madame Bovary earlier this year, and *liked* it. But it would have been more fun with some wizards or starships.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
"The Lensman" series by EE 'Doc' Smith - its an enduring Sci-Fi Classic. When I read the first in the series, I couldnt get the others fast enough. Its a phenominal series, a true Sci Fi Classic, and extremely intelligently written, they are not Junk/Trash novels for morons.

This link will give an overview Lensman Series, but just Google "Lensman Series EE Doc Smith", and you'll drown in links. They can be hard(ish) to get hold of now, but persevere, its an incredible series of novels.

Wikipedia Reference EE Doc Smith Wikipedia
Wikipedia Reference Lensman Series Wikipedia This link also gives a superb summary of the plot line (without spoilers!). Negotiations for Movie rights with Doc Smith's estate are ongoing.

I've always maintained that an enterprising Games House could make this into a Marvellous Game, the plot lines are laid out, weapons defined, and it lends itself to todays technology superbly. You could have immense fun with "thought Beams" flashing over the screen zapping Galaxies - hint hint Stardock post Fantasy game/not mom :LOL:

(Not a flippant comment - it could easily be another Stardock Classic, the base idea is that good, and when the movie is made, the world will go "Lensman" crazy! The game will sell itself ... GC3:The Lensman ;) )

If you go for these, start with the first one "Triplanetary", its worth taking the trouble to read them in series order. Whilst each are stand alone novels in themselves, you gain much by sticking to the order in which they were produced.

Worth doing some background reading on the series and EE Doc Smith, as in the latter stages of the series some "wannabies" jumped on the bandwagon and muddied the series waters a little. Stick to EE Doc Smith versions as a broad principle to start with, variations can come later, and you will enjoy it even more.

Regards
Zy
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Three worth checking out. I loved them all.

Dan Simmons: The Hyperion series and his Illium, Olympus books

Peter Hamilton: Nights Dawn Trilogy

Verner Vinge: Zones of Thought Series - A Fire Upon The Deep and A Deepness In The Sky
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How about Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? Great book.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How about Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? Great book.


Absolutely one of the best books in any genre I have ever read...
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Two good Sci-fi adventure books I read were Polaris and Seeker, by Jack McDevitt. Seeker got the Nebula Award in 2005, so you know that it's good.

These are excellent suggestions. I will take a look at some of them.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Dan Simmons: The Hyperion series and his Illium, Olympus books

Peter Hamilton: Nights Dawn Trilogy

Verner Vinge: Zones of Thought Series - A Fire Upon The Deep and A Deepness In The Sky


Simmons isn't really space opera, but I highly recommend the first Hyperion. The second one, not so much -- didn't really make a lot of sense to me.

I second the Vinge suggestion heartily -- those are some of the best science fiction books I've read, and very much in the space opera genre.

I haven't read any Peter F. Hamilton, but I did find out recently that I'm related to him by marriage, which is kind of odd. Guess I'll have to read him now, eh?
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Simmons isn't really space opera,


Yes, Simmons is not known for space operas but there were four books in the sreies which told an epic story and took on some of the qualities of space opera as it played out, particularly in the last two.

Hyperion (1989)
The Fall of Hyperion (1990)
Endymion (1996)
The Rise of Endymion (1997
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It is a bit of a space grunt book, but I recently picked up 'Old Man's War' from John Scalzi and enjoyed it. Fun, light, military sci-fi reading. Perfect for those vacation jaunts.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As Sci-Fi do I have to mention Foundation by Asimov? (slow, but really good ...)

Another classic: the Great Dune trilogy!

Ender's Game is top!

Not space opera but a good read anyway is Contact by Carl Sagan.

I'm reading Hyperion just now, and it sure starts out in the right direction!

Real space opera (à la Star Wars) is the Star of the Guardian series by Margaret Weis (who co-wrote Dragonlance) but unfortunately it is far inferior to her Dragonlance books (some cool ideas though).



Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
check out these by Elizabeth Moon
Planet Pirates
1. Sassinak (1990) (with Anne McCaffrey)
3. Generation Warriors (1991) (with Anne McCaffrey)
The Planet Pirates (omnibus) (1993) (with Anne McCaffrey and Jody Lynn Nye)


Serrano Legacy
1. Hunting Party (1993)
2. Sporting Chance (1994)
3. Winning Colours (1995)
4. Once a Hero (1995)
5. Rules of Engagement (1998)
6. Change of Command (1999)
7. Against the Odds (2000)
Heris Serrano (omnibus) (2002)

Vatta's War
1. Trading in Danger (2003)
2. Marque and Reprisal (2004)
aka Moving Target
3. Engaging the Enemy (2006)
4. Command Decision (2007)
5. Victory Conditions (2008)


Serrano Legacy Omnibus
1. The Serrano Legacy (2006)
2. The Serrano Connection (2007)
3. The Serrano Succession (2008)
Novels
Remnant Population (1996)
The Speed of Dark (2002)

Collections
Lunar Activity (1990)
Phases (1997)
Moon Flights (2007)
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
classic space operas by Robert A. Heinlein

Starship Troopers
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Time Enough for Love
The Number of the Beast
I Will Fear No Evil
Glory Road
Have Spacesuit-Will Travel
The Door into Summer
The Puppet Masters
Farnham's Freehold
The Past Through Tomorrow
Citizen of the Galaxy
Tunnel in the Sky
Double Star
Podkayne of Mars, her life and times
Red Planet
The Green Hills Of Earth
Methuselah's Children
Orphans of the Sky
Starman Jones
The Man Who Sold the Moon
Assignment in Eternity
Space Cadet
The star beast
Farmer in the Sky
Revolt in 2100 603
Beyond This Horizon
Time for the Stars
Between Planets
The Menace From Earth
Rocket ship Galileo
Waldo, and Magic inc
For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs
The Notebooks of Lazarus Long (The Future…)
Revolt in 2100 & Methuselah's Children
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In honor of the kzinti empire The Warriors 1966 Worlds of If; Tales of Known Space; The Man-Kzin Wars; Three Books of Known Space; The Best of All Possible Wars† Larry Niven
Iron 1988 The Man-Kzin Wars; Inconstant Star† Poul Anderson
Cathouse 1988 The Man-Kzin Wars; Cathouse†; The Houses of the Kzinti† Dean Ing
Briar Patch 1989 Man-Kzin Wars II; Cathouse; The Houses of the Kzinti Dean Ing
The Children's Hour 1989 Man-Kzin Wars II; The Children's Hour†; The Houses of the Kzinti Jerry Pournelle & S.M. Stirling
Madness Has Its Place 1990 Man-Kzin Wars III; N-Space; Three Books of Known Space; The Best of All Possible Wars Larry Niven
The Asteroid Queen 1990 Man-Kzin Wars III; The Children's Hour Jerry Pournelle & S.M. Stirling
Inconstant Star 1990 Man-Kzin Wars III; Inconstant Star Poul Anderson
The Survivor 1991 Man-Kzin Wars IV; The Space Opera Renaissance Donald Kingsbury
The Man Who Would Be Kzin 1991 Man-Kzin Wars IV; The Best of All Possible Wars Greg Bear & S.M. Stirling
In The Hall of the Mountain King 1992 Man-Kzin Wars V; The Best of All Possible Wars Jerry Pournelle & S.M. Stirling
Hey Diddle Diddle 1992 Man-Kzin Wars V Thomas T. Thomas
The Heroic Myth of Lieutenant Nora Argamentine 1994 Man-Kzin Wars VI Donald Kingsbury
Trojan Cat 1994 Man-Kzin Wars VI Mark O. Martin & Gregory Benford
The Colonel's Tiger 1995 Man-Kzin Wars VII Hal Colebatch
A Darker Geometry 1995 Man-Kzin Wars VII; A Darker Geometry† Mark O. Martin & Gregory Benford
Prisoner of War 1995 Man-Kzin Wars VII Paul Chafe
Choosing Names 1998 Choosing Names: Man-Kzin Wars VIII Larry Niven
Telepath's Dance 1998 Choosing Names: Man-Kzin Wars VIII Hal Colebatch
Galley Slave 1998 Choosing Names: Man-Kzin Wars VIII Jean Lamb
Jotok† 1998 Choosing Names: Man-Kzin Wars VIII Paul Chafe
Slowboat Nightmare 1998 Choosing Names: Man-Kzin Wars VIII Warren W. James
Pele 2002 Man-Kzin Wars IX Poul Anderson
His Sergeant's Honor 2002 Man-Kzin Wars IX Hal Colebatch
Windows of the Soul 2002 Man-Kzin Wars IX Paul Chafe
Fly-By-Night 2002 Man-Kzin Wars IX Larry Niven
One War for Wunderland 2003 Man-Kzin Wars X: The Wunder War Hal Colebatch
The Corporal in the Caves 2003 Man-Kzin Wars X: The Wunder War Hal Colebatch
Music Box 2003 Man-Kzin Wars X: The Wunder War Hal Colebatch
Peter Robinson 2003 Man-Kzin Wars X: The Wunder War Hal Colebatch
Three at Table 2005 Man-Kzin Wars XI Hal Colebatch
Grossgeister Swamp 2005 Man-Kzin Wars XI Hal Colebatch
Catspaws 2005 Man-Kzin Wars XI Hal Colebatch
Teacher's Pet 2005 Man-Kzin Wars XI Matthew Joseph Harrington
War and Peace 2005 Man-Kzin Wars XI Matthew Joseph Harrington
The Hunting Park 2005 Man-Kzin Wars XI Larry Niven
Destiny's Forge 2006 Destiny's Forge†
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A good sci-fi book based on a game is Farnham's Legend. It tells the back story of the X Universe games, which are made by Egosoft.
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Gotta love the David Weber/Steve White books like Crusade, Insurrection, Shiva Option, as mentioned by Tral. GC2 reminds me of those books. (As did Space Empires 4, a game that has a more direct lineage to those books, in that one of the authors was a contributor to a game called Starfire, reportedly one of the inspirations to SE4.) I never got into Honor Harrington, but I did love the digs against the lefty "Dolists" mentioned in the series (sci fi is a great venue to make socioplitical statements in a non-threatening manner).

Series by Dan Simmmons, Peter F. Hamilton, Asimov--all very epic.



Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A good sci-fi book based on a game is Farnham's Legend. It tells the back story of the X Universe games, which are made by Egosoft.


Yes, definitely yes! I heard this book a week before (the DVD Farnhams Legende is the bonus of the collectors edition of X3). I read also Nopileos (the saga continues). This book is a bonus in the collectors edition of X2. These two books were my first german books I have read :D . They are great. The games too (well I did not played X3 yet, I am finishing X2 at the moment). Well at least those games are excellent, if you like trading space simulators like hte good old Wing commander: Privateer.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Not a space opera, but AWESOME science-fiction:

Harry Turtldove's Colonization series.

Fantastic follow-up to the Worldwar saga, with an awesome world-sitting-on-a-powder-keg story.

Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For fun summertime reading, I am a big fan of historical naval fiction. The basic premise is the same as your space operas (putting a fast ship in harm's way), but the writing tends to be a bit more polished.

I cut my teeth on the Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, as well as Alexander Kent, but the real gem of the genre is Patrick O'Brien. His Aubrey-Maturin series provided some of the most enjoyable reading of my life. I won't go into detail about it, for brevity's sake, but here is a link to the wiki article:WWW Link

There are 20 books in the canon, and I can pretty much guarantee that if you read the first one, you'll end up reading the 20th. Good luck, and have a great summer.