Re: “Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series”

Lynn McGuire wrote:

On 6/1/2024 2:10 PM, William Hyde wrote:

Lynn McGuire wrote:

“Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series”
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https://discoverscifi.com/the-top-10-space-opera-books-and-series-of-all-time/ >
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10. Blood on the Stars by Jay Allan - never heard of it
9. Hyperion by Dan Simmons - yes
8. Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds - I have never read the series
7. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold - freaking awesome series
6. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks - I have never read the series
5. The Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton - I have never read the series
4. Triplanetary by E.E. "Doc" Smith - this is on my reread list
3. Old Man's War by John Scalzi - yes
2. The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey - awesome series
1A. The Foundation Series by Issac Asimov - yes
1B. Honor Harrington Saga by David Weber - yes
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David Weber's Dahak series needs to be a part of this list.
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I would swap The Foundation Series and The Vorkosigan series.

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Neither the Culture nor the Foundation books are space opera. Personally I don't think Hyperion is, either.
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The Praxis series is though (the one by Williams, not Nimzowitsch) and belongs on the list.
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William Hyde

 What is your definition of Space Opera ?

Nineteenth century opera, in space.
Lots of drama, lots of action, not much thought. WJW almost puts too much thought into it, but makes up for it with battles galore.
Bad science is not absolutely required, but is omnipresent.
The foundation and culture novels are way too thinky.  Various people in both series actually think that interstellar war is a bad idea! And worse, they're right!
Hyperion's central issues don't really bear on the themes of space opera. You can rule out pretty much any book where poetry is a central issue, especially if one of the poets is brain damaged.
Brian Aldiss published a two volume anthology of Space Opera stories. Yes, the genre works at shorter length, and for those of you worrying about the editor, the works were not at all new-wavy.  Recommended for fans of the genre but check the table of contents before buying - you may have most of it already.  At least you older folks.
William Hyde