I’m looking for some good space opera. I read a lot on royal road and KU. I love space opera, but I’m sick of military and AI tropes. Any good suggestions? The more ship to ship battles the better. I understand that may be counter-intuitive, but I’ve read several privateer/freighter/scrapper books that were amazing. Looking for more of the same.

Thanks!

  • Arkhive@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    Yeah! I think the Firefly example dialed it in for me. I know Star Wars also get called that, but both get sorted under “space western” in my mind, so I was never really clear on the exact use of space opera. Would things like Enders Game or even Dune technically count?? Like those are political dramas at a point. Enders game is maybe a bit simplified, but Dune has heavy character development with the backdrop of Arrakis and the technology required for survival.

    • johnwicksdog@aussie.zoneEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      I’m not 100% sure. I consider Dune closer to a space opera than Ender’s Game. Dune is has a lot of soft fantastical elements over detailed physics. Enders game also has a few fantastical elements, like instant FTL, but it so neatly fits in military sci-fi and I would describe it that way. But these are mostly my own biases, rather than any deep considerations.