I feel like I wrote this post from time to time on Reddit and I think I’ll start this tradition here. I’m. a Honor Harrington fan. I’ve read several other space operas and they always fall short. The three that came close were Lt. Leary, Kris Longknife and Vorkosigan saga. Lt. Leary was nice, but it failed on World building. Kris Longknife also failed on world building and had astronomical levels of cringe with aliens and plot, but I enjoyed it. Vorkosigan saga had better world building and it was nice overall, but the books without Miles Vorkosigan weren’t enjoyable. There were other series that I enjoyed: Serrano Legacy, Vatta’s War (those are some of my favorites but they were too short), Starship’s mage (it declines with every new book), The Lost Fleet (it has a serious plot problem, the plot doesn’t move forward), Old Man’s War (it was really nice), Dread Empire Fall (also awesome), Teixcalaan (good, but short), Alarm of War (good, but short and pretty generic), Bobbiverse (I read until book 3, it isn’t for me), Red Rising 1st trilogy (really nice, but too Hunger Gamish, this whole dividing society into a cast system is getting old), Ark Royal. The Three Body Problem was awesome and, contrary to most series, didn’t leave me craving more after it was over. Edit: forgot to mention The Expanse, it was OK.
I think that what won me over on HH was the fact that she is a complete Mary Sue and other character don’t fall far from the tree, there is a nice world building, characters die, and there is a ton of action.
On the other hand, there are some long books that I enjoy that aren’t space operas. I really enjoy the Dresden Files (because he is cool and it is a long series), I absolutely love Jack Reacher (it is just a nice fun read, it’s like a nice Big Mac), I also enjoy The Spellmonger series, and I enjoyed the Riyria. I disliked Takeshi Kovacs (lack of sequence and plot) and I absolutely hate Southern Reach (VanderMeer), and there is another popular sci-fi book that is written as a report, which I also hated. I don’t like those very innovative mystery stories where you are trying to figure out wtf is going on or waiting for a plot to start until the middle of the book.
Got any suggestions? =)
(OMG, after writing this post, I see myself as an incredible hard reader to please)
No love for Iain M Banks? The Culture series looks like it will tick all your boxes and instead of following a single protagonist the Culture itself is the protagonist so each book has it’s own cast of interesting characters.
I second this. The Culture cycle is one of the best space opera series ever written.
+1 - Banks is probably my favorite sci fi author (as you might have guessed based on my username). The Culture series is excellent and highly entertaining.
What? No love for the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey? I love em. Gotta love genetically engineered dragons.
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. I liked the prequel, A Deepness in the Sky even more.
Fantastic book, I had no clue there was a prequel. I must acquire this.
Alastair Reynolds - Revelation space i.e. Inhibitor sequence
Peter F Hamilton - Void trilogy in the Commonwealth universe
I absolutely love Hamilton’s Commonwealth universe! Pandora’s Star then Judas Unchained, then the void trilogy followed up by The Abyss Beyond Dreams. I’ve read all of them 3 times and thinking of doing a 4th round soon!
I’ve also seen House of Suns mentioned here a few times. It gets my vote for the exploration of deep time due to the speed limits of causality.
I don’t know what it is, but I struggle with both series that take place in the Commonwealth. Pandora’s Star took quite a bit for me to get into, hooked me right as the book ended, but I enjoyed Judas Unchained after that.
I just finished Dreaming Void (Void #1), and it flowed the same as Pandora’s Star to me, but I’ve grown a little over that kind of lead-up and then just end the book. On top of that, the world shifted too much, and it’s hard for me to feel like I understand it in the slightest. I’ve been hesitant to continue it.
Pandora’s Star and the sequel Judas Unchained by Peter F Hamilton
Excellent storyline
I really loved how many different storylines it weaves together.
Really, all of the Commonwealth Saga are good reads
The Three Body problem is a an absolutely phenomenal take on the Dark Forest Theory.
It has the unfortunate quality of reading like a news article at times, recounting events, rather than feeling like an illustrated narrative. And some plot points hinge on the authors pre-conceived notions about gender that really didn’t sit well with me.
I also really like the Honor Harrington series. I’m also a big fan of the Liaden universe created by Lee and Miller.
The Nanotech Succession by Linda Nagata is pretty awesome if less well-known.
I really like Neal Asher’s books. Sprawling long series (what is the plural of series?) and so good.
Was recommended the Children of Time books, am halfway through the first and WOW. I love it.
Plural of series is series, if that helps.
Spinward Fringe series is good and decently long
How about the Uplift series by David Brin? Start with Sundiver
Have you read revelation space? I also recommend house of suns from the same author. They fit your criteria
I’ve actually really been enjoying the Warhammer 40k books, started with the Ultramarines omnibus, fun sci Fi fantasy
The Saga of Seven Suns by Kevin J. Anderson. It’s a huge favorite across our family.
This is kind of cheese ball, but have you tried Steve Perry’s Matador series? The books aren’t very long, but there’s quite a few of them. Lots of fun characters and villains and such and it’s a light, fun read.
