Described as a subgenre of science fiction, your good ol’ fashioned space opera is all about adventure, drama and action, with a central heroic character or two to make it interesting. ‘Starship Troopers’ is an excellent example, as is Frank Herbert’s sweeping ‘Dune’ saga, but Flash Gordon would be an example, as would the Lensman series and even Doctor Who if you’re feeling really inclusive. There’s even ‘The Black Hole’ for weirdos like me, but the question of which is the best is a wide-open field, leading to today’s high-stakes intergalactic query…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) thinks that my favorite is probably the ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, though I once had a deep connection to the works of a certain author who drove me away with his real-life antics, asking: What’s YOUR favorite Space Opera style story?
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Dull answer, but Star Wars original trilogy. Hyperion/Endymion books by Dan Simmons are also very high on the list.
I have to say my favorite is the Lucky Starr series of books written by Paul French (actually Issac Asimov). Set in the year 7000 David (Lucky) Starr is a agent for the Council of Science fighting against all threats to the solar system.
David Starr, Space Ranger (1952)
Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids (1953)
Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus (1954) – Venus was covered with carbonated water oceans!
Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury (1956)
Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter (1957)
Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn (1958)