in case you needed a reason to volunteer at your local public library: today the librarians let me pick a theme for and then curate one of the featured displays.
-
@molly0xfff fantastic, I have definitely read most of those (and should probably read the others) and I am actually surprised you could find that many space operas but maybe that's just me reflecting on my library's own deficiencies in the space opera category.
-
B [email protected] shared this topic
-
@jessamyn I was wondering if I would be able to find a dozen or so I needed for a display but i was pleasantly surprised!
-
@molly0xfff Thanks for the recommendations!
I just finished The Three Body Problem, and was trying to decide what book to read on a long flight tomorrow. Gonna try an new-to-me author and go with Shards of Honor.
I’ve read and liked many of the books on your list.
-
John A :picardfacepalm:replied to Molly White last edited by
@molly0xfff The Algebraist is easily my favourite Banks novel, great choice
-
S [email protected] shared this topic
-
T [email protected] shared this topic
-
@molly0xfff great list, I’d add Asimov’s “The Gods Themselves” as it fits well in the current tech-political climate https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Themselves
-
@molly0xfff Would you recommend any of these to autistic person who loves sci-fi but has an very high sensitivity to violence? Saga and The Expanse would both be far too violent for her.
-
@ChristinWhite space operas tend to be violent but maybe something like The Martian would fit the bill? Or Hitchhikers Guide
-
@molly0xfff yep, that’s why I’m always looking for the rare sci-fi/fantasy books she can read, most of my favorites are too much for her. The Martian is one of her favorites but I’m not sure if she’s read Hitchhikers, I’ll have to see. Thanks, I know a challenging question!
Also, I was just reading over your site and I’m really enjoying your writing! Web3 is going just great is particularly delightful
-
@molly0xfff so, I took the freedom to make a BookWyrm list in case anyone is interested in check the list: https://bookwyrm.social/list/3488/s/molly-whites-curated-list-of-space-operas
-
update: the library director was in today and showed me his secret space opera hoard. new additions to the list:
* August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, Alex White
* You Sexy Thing, Cat Rambo(haven’t read yet, but he highly recommends)
he also had two of the books i’d been wanting to include in the display!
* The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers
* Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee
-
@molly0xfff ooh, new space opera for me!
Because someone said the words, I'll recommend my favorite space opera: The Hellflower trilogy by Eluki Bes Shahar (or Bes'Shahar or Bes-Shahar; I've seen it spelled all those ways).
Elevator pitch: Han Solo as a world-weary, nonwhite middle-aged woman eking out a living after escaping oppression. She ends up entwined (not like that) with a young, naive, confused (because events) super-assasin-type guy from a super-assassin-type genetically engineered lineage. She tries to keep his culture of honor and temper from getting him (and her) killed. Also she is carrying around a piece of "pain-of-death-illegal" tech from the Before Times.
Bes-Shahar created an entire slang/dialect for her main character, and everything is in first person, so there's a little learning curve. It's worth it!
The slang/dialect feels a lot like 1930s gangster-speak sometimes, but you gotta believe me it works.
-
@molly0xfff Total agreement! Are you a fan of Black Jack? Dauntless by Jack Campbell has the fastest take-off of any book I have ever read.
-
@Spark44029 haven’t read it!
-
@molly0xfff I didn’t see it on the original list you posted, but is Catherynne Valente’s “Space Opera” anywhere on there? https://everybookadoorway.com/glitter-is-punk-actually-space-opera-by-catherynne-m-valente/
-
Molly Whitereplied to Molly White last edited by [email protected]
btw if you thought this was a list of only 20 or so books, i failed to mention that almost every one is the first in a series. you’ve got 100+ books here
-
@guyjantic strong pitch
-
@GrumpusNation haven’t read it yet but the blurb sounds incredible
-
I suspect "The Interdependency" and Delany's "Nova" have nothing to do with each other. Two entries might have been conflated into one?
-
@glitzersachen oop, fixed
-
@molly0xfff I particularly respect inclusion of "alt text cont'd."
