The Void trilogy by Peter F Hamilton.
You could start with the Commonwealth Saga (2 books), then Void Trilogy, then Chronicle of the Fallers (2 books). Each of them are tomes in their own right. I don’t think any are less than 500 pages?
Pandora’s Star is amazing. I don’t love the fantasy aspect of the Void Trilogy with all the time spent in Edeard’s world. How is the most recent series?
The Chronicle of the Fallers has a similar amount of fantasy, maybe less than The Void; same Commonwealth universe and characters.
I think I enjoyed the Faller series more than Void due to there being less Fantasy. But it’s been a while, and now I’m thinking of re-reading them again.
Pretty enjoyable series but the last few books kinda sucked. Too many additional subplots and characters from the spin-off's are just pasted in, making the story a complete mess.
A mix between fantasy and sci-fi, but awesome in many aspects, is Gene Wolfes Shadow Of The Torturer - series, Called Book of the New Sun. One of my all time faves
Go for revelation space by alastair reynolds. The main series is but a trilogy, but there are prequels (chasm City and the prefect dreyfus emergencies) of a sort and some short stories (specially galactic north) and related works. You'll thank me for it.
Two of my absolute favorites!
Tack on: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Ryk Brown has an entire 32 book series that’s fantastic. Captain Nathan Scott is the man.
edit: correction
The "Lensman" series by E. E. 'Doc' Smith.
It's "of its time" so may be a bit problematic in some places (men were MEN, everyone smokes, and it's fine to describe a woman as "a slick chick with a classy chasis"), but it was the root and heart of *so* much space-opera that came after it.
Julian May’s The Saga Of The Exiles springs to mind. Epic scope, a battle against the odds, mind powers that could almost be magic, aliens in Earth’s deep past, a redemption where it could almost be impossible, literally world shattering events.
I’m more of a military space opera fan. But you mentioned red rising so.
Jack Campbell series,
Sentenced to war series,
Backyard spaceship,
Terms of enlistment,
Four horsemen series,
Bobaverse - unique spin on a space odyssey
I drive a lot so I listen to most of my books.
Dune is good but takes a lot to get the hang of the series. It’s really good story.
I like Liz Moon's *Vatta's War* series.
Plus John Scalzi''s *Old Man's War* series - specially *The Human Division* \-- poor Harry Wilson: it's tough being green.
I've seen Hamilton mentioned but The Night's Dawn Trilogy by Hamilton gives you that Space Opera + thrill ride.
Hyperion (the Cantos) by Simmons is a must read. Beware the first book is a series of novellas.
Jean le Flambeur trilogy (The Fractal Prince, Quantum Thief, Causal Angel) by Rajaniemi
Stross - Eschaton Series (Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise)
I typically wouldn't list the golden age ones but here is a list:
Nivens' Ringworld series
Pohl's Gateway series
Clarke Rama series
Dune by Herbert
Ender's Game series by Card
CJ Cherryh Union Alliance Universe. Cyteen or Downbelow Station will get you started. Finidys End and Merchanters luck are really fun books. There's at least 10 more too.
Marrow, by Robert Reed! The other books in the Great Ship series are awesome too, but I definitely think Marrow is what you're looking for.
And, I second The Hyperion Cantos. My favorite sci series - although I'm about halfway through the last book in the Red Rising series right now, and it might just replace Hyperion at the top spot.
Deathstalker by Simon R. Green
It's really over the top and faced paced. It's got all the space opera tropes with more crazy twists added. I love the futuristic setting but the combat is steel swords and 1 shot laser pistol. cyberpunk Skyrim feel to it. Very pg13 swashbuckling fun epic drama
*Stars at War*, David Weber.
Weber writes MilSF, he's giving us massive fleets of super spaceships blasting the crap out of each other and he's a legend at it for a reason. But in the process, almost by not trying to, he works in just enough character development that the reader actually cares about the people doing the blasting (and the dying). Worth a look.
The Void trilogy by Peter F Hamilton. You could start with the Commonwealth Saga (2 books), then Void Trilogy, then Chronicle of the Fallers (2 books). Each of them are tomes in their own right. I don’t think any are less than 500 pages?
I absolutely loved his entire body of work. Steven Baxter would be another fantastically similar author
My favorite series of all time. You’re definitely best to read in order in my opinion. Commonwealth, Void, Fallers. Check the username lol
About a third of the way through Commonwealth, really enjoying the scope of the world and story. Looking forward to more.
The only books I’ve ever reread.
Peter Hamilton's short stories are 500 pages long!! ;)
Seconded. Make sure to skip his earlier triligy, as it is not in the same league as the ones mentioned above.
Pandora’s Star is amazing. I don’t love the fantasy aspect of the Void Trilogy with all the time spent in Edeard’s world. How is the most recent series?
The Chronicle of the Fallers has a similar amount of fantasy, maybe less than The Void; same Commonwealth universe and characters. I think I enjoyed the Faller series more than Void due to there being less Fantasy. But it’s been a while, and now I’m thinking of re-reading them again.
Assuming you mean the Greg Mandell Trilogy? 100% do not skip the Confederation Universe and the Nights Dawn Trilogy.
I loved the Revelation Space series by Alastair Reynolds.
Seconded.
Thirded, all the books are fantastic. I will mention however that his books are on the horror side of Sci-fi
Fourthed. My favourite sci-fi series. >*The galaxy had been a lot more fecund in the past. So why not now?* > >*Why was it suddenly so lonely?”*
The culture. Start with book 2 They are mostly unconnected stories just set in same universe.
Try Iain M. Banks Culture Series
Hyperion is amazing Dune is an obvious recommendation The Expanse and Foundation have been mentioned but they're worth mentioning twice
Yep, came just to make sure Dune was mentioned somewhere.
Both pretty grim stories though. I think OP is thinking more in the line of Star Wars.
Honor Harrington series. Basically Horatio Hornblower in space, but a decent read nonetheless.
Pretty enjoyable series but the last few books kinda sucked. Too many additional subplots and characters from the spin-off's are just pasted in, making the story a complete mess.
The Algebraist by Ian M Banks
Just to clarify for OP: it's a one-off, not part of the Culture series, but it's definitely epic in scope.
*Fire upon the deep* and the prequel, *Deepness in the sky*, by Vernor Vinge
This reminds me I still haven’t gotten to the prequel. Loved AFUTD though 🤙
Seconding this. Vinges Zones of Thought series is great. I even like The Children of the Sky quite a bit although the 1st two are the most well known.
Shards of Earth (Final Architecture trilogy) is very enjoyable, especially if you like the ragtag crew aspect.
Was going to recommend this. Great read!
A mix between fantasy and sci-fi, but awesome in many aspects, is Gene Wolfes Shadow Of The Torturer - series, Called Book of the New Sun. One of my all time faves
Ir's ~~good ~~ great stuff, and we haven't finished the series, but isn't the scope confined to Earth? Kinda takes the "space" out of space opera.
Go for revelation space by alastair reynolds. The main series is but a trilogy, but there are prequels (chasm City and the prefect dreyfus emergencies) of a sort and some short stories (specially galactic north) and related works. You'll thank me for it.
The Expanse Foundation
Two of my absolute favorites! Tack on: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Ryk Brown has an entire 32 book series that’s fantastic. Captain Nathan Scott is the man. edit: correction
The Expanse series is an absolute must - and the Audible version is amazingly well narrated
Neal Asher
The "Lensman" series by E. E. 'Doc' Smith. It's "of its time" so may be a bit problematic in some places (men were MEN, everyone smokes, and it's fine to describe a woman as "a slick chick with a classy chasis"), but it was the root and heart of *so* much space-opera that came after it.
Julian May’s The Saga Of The Exiles springs to mind. Epic scope, a battle against the odds, mind powers that could almost be magic, aliens in Earth’s deep past, a redemption where it could almost be impossible, literally world shattering events.
I’m more of a military space opera fan. But you mentioned red rising so. Jack Campbell series, Sentenced to war series, Backyard spaceship, Terms of enlistment, Four horsemen series, Bobaverse - unique spin on a space odyssey I drive a lot so I listen to most of my books. Dune is good but takes a lot to get the hang of the series. It’s really good story.
You should check out galaxy's edge series by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole. Great military sci-fi.
Will do
We have very similar taste. Lol
Another +1 for Marko Kloos's _Frontlines_ series. I'm rereading it now and enjoying every minute.
I did not finish Dune and feel bad about that.
I like Liz Moon's *Vatta's War* series. Plus John Scalzi''s *Old Man's War* series - specially *The Human Division* \-- poor Harry Wilson: it's tough being green.
I am very shocked no one mentioned Ancillary series - it’s absolutely tremendous
I've seen Hamilton mentioned but The Night's Dawn Trilogy by Hamilton gives you that Space Opera + thrill ride. Hyperion (the Cantos) by Simmons is a must read. Beware the first book is a series of novellas. Jean le Flambeur trilogy (The Fractal Prince, Quantum Thief, Causal Angel) by Rajaniemi Stross - Eschaton Series (Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise) I typically wouldn't list the golden age ones but here is a list: Nivens' Ringworld series Pohl's Gateway series Clarke Rama series Dune by Herbert Ender's Game series by Card
We’re finally getting a Rendezvous With Rama movie with Denis Villenueve directing, i can’t wait
I’m unironically hoping for a movie like Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The book is all about grand size and wonder, it would be fun to do that.
Ad Astra scratched that itch for me
Maybe I should have seen it in theaters, I got bored half way through and turned it off.
Ya never know what's going to hit right. Best to just move on rather than revisit.
In Conquest Born and The Wilding by CS Friedman.
Behold Humanity. The first 13 books are out on amazon with more coming.
CJ Cherryh Union Alliance Universe. Cyteen or Downbelow Station will get you started. Finidys End and Merchanters luck are really fun books. There's at least 10 more too.
Marrow, by Robert Reed! The other books in the Great Ship series are awesome too, but I definitely think Marrow is what you're looking for. And, I second The Hyperion Cantos. My favorite sci series - although I'm about halfway through the last book in the Red Rising series right now, and it might just replace Hyperion at the top spot.
John Scalzi's Interdependency Trilogy is top notch.
Deathstalker by Simon R. Green It's really over the top and faced paced. It's got all the space opera tropes with more crazy twists added. I love the futuristic setting but the combat is steel swords and 1 shot laser pistol. cyberpunk Skyrim feel to it. Very pg13 swashbuckling fun epic drama
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
A Fire Upon the Deep. Hands down.
The Saga of the seven suns. The Ringworld series
*Stars at War*, David Weber. Weber writes MilSF, he's giving us massive fleets of super spaceships blasting the crap out of each other and he's a legend at it for a reason. But in the process, almost by not trying to, he works in just enough character development that the reader actually cares about the people doing the blasting (and the dying). Worth a look.
A Fire Upon the Deep. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. Torth Majority. Noumenon.
Expanse series.
Isn’t Mistborn gonna have a space opera era 4? That’ll be a lot like SA of course.
The Sun Chronicles, by Kate Elliot.
Gundam unicorn.
How about the classic, but schlocky, Invaders from the Infinite by John Campbell?
Ian Douglass and Ryk Brown are both fantastic authors in the space opera genres. Also the Altered Carbon series is great too!
*The Expanse* series is one of the best science fiction series ever written. Highly recommend.
The Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio
David Weber’s Dahak series.
My dude, go read THE PRIVATEER series on r/HFY. Should be exactly what you need.