Space Opera Fans discussion

Can't find it :-( You'll have to manually add it to goodreads and then add it back in once it appears.

Anna,

This should work. Clicking on the Amazon link from this link should work as well. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Gateway . It's there, but it may be hard to find because the author name is duplicated. In fact the book is in the database twice because of that.

Brian, did you do that because there are other authors named Brian Dorsey in Goodreads? There's a different way to deal with that in Goodreads, using extra spaces.

Also, it looks like your series page hasn't been set up. I'd be glad to help you with those things, or you can ask any librarian in the librarian's group. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/220

All You Need is Kill is a Light Novel(think YA book over here) not a manga/comic/whatever. If you enjoyed Edge of Tommorow I REALLY recommend reading it, a good number of things got changed from book>movie.

The upshot is Tom Cruise's character in the movie was a good bit better and stronger as a whole and the comic relief was really good compared to the books. However the time travel was different and much more consistent in the book, the Bitch actually was wayyy more badass in the book, plus they used a giant halberd thing. I feel overall the ending was better in the book however it wouldn't of appealed as strongly to the mass audience, been a hell of a lot more likely to win a fancy award though.

I guess if I had to compare the in one line.
Edge of Tomorrow was way more polished and a much smoother ride, however All You Need Is Kill had a better outline.

Brian wrote: "Cool...I made the list :)
Kindle is here: http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Brian-D...
papeback and Nook will be avail..."

This is not commentary on your book but I was wondering how you came to the title of your book and series?

Conal,

The name came from a communications station that is in the initial scene in the book. It acts as the 'Gateway' to the Neutral (also called Dark) Zone-think DMZ-between two civilizations in the storyline. The title was developed before I realized the title was used in Pohl's work. The publisher decided to stay with the title.

Conal wrote: "Brian wrote: "Cool...I made the list :)
Kindle is here: http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Brian-D...
papeback and Nook..."

The name came from a communications station that is in the intial scene in the book. It acts as 'Gateway' to the Neutral (also called Dark) Zone-think DMZ-between two civilizations in the storyline. The title was developed before I realized the title was used in Pohl's work. The publisher decided to stay with the title.

Betsy wrote: "Gateway . It's there, but it may be hard to find because the author name is duplicated. In fact the book is in the database twice because of that.

Bria..."

Betsy,
Thanks. My publisher has a librarian that should be working on it. Also, the name issue stems from previous non-fiction work I have done under my first name (Brian is middle name) before realizing how much I endjoyed writing fiction. If it takes a while I may enlist your help :)

Thanks Brian, I hope that you are successful with this series.

Okay ...

Added Gateway series

Moved All You Need Is Kill out of Manga into regular military sci-fi. It's not classified on Amazon as YA, so I didn't add it to that list (several reviewers described it as 'Starship Troopers' which is more 17-1/2 year old joins the army which isn't really YA). If I'm wrong, though, I'd be willing to add it to the YA Boys list. There is an appalling lack of space opera in general for kids and young people, so I'm being really flexible about my definition of YA Space Opera, but my flexibility is more in the 'space' part than the 'YA' part.

The Exile Empire

Horus heresy series

I recommend the first three books to everyone interested in military sci-fi or space opera. After, you can decide whether or not to dabble WH40K universe.

Anna wrote: "Okay ...

Added Gateway series

Moved All You Need Is Kill out of Manga into regular military sci-fi. It's not classified on Amazon as YA, so I didn't add it to that list (several reviewers descri..."

Your not really wrong light novel is more because illustrations+short length=light novel the target audience I would say is more 16-30...so New Adult? I believe normally what that gets called, putting it with the regular stuff is a better fit then YA I feel.

@ Brian - The Exile Empire was already on the list. Because of the 'The' in the title it was down lower under the 'T'

@ Firat - added Horus heresy series ... wow! There's a ton of books/authors in that universe!

@ Aaron - that 'new adult' age group is hard to define. Too smutty/violent/potty mouthed for YA, but has some YA-type coming of age issues that make an old fart (like me) go 'huh?' Adult usually is a better fit.

This list is all over the place so it's not very useful. Space Opera OR Military Sci-Fi? They are not the same. Star Wars, for instance, is fantasy. Ender's Game is not space opera. I dunno, I give up...

I agree that Star Wars is fantasy, and that’s why it’s not on the list. Ender's Game has Space Opera elements, we had a debate about that. Overall I think it’s a pretty good list if you want some guide lines for military space opera.

Jon wrote: "This list is all over the place so it's not very useful. Space Opera OR Military Sci-Fi? They are not the same. Star Wars, for instance, is fantasy. Ender's Game is not space opera. I dunno, I give..."

I mean things are multiple genres and their is a purity of it's genre.

This list is supposed to be for Military Space Opera, not military sci-fi or regular space opera. There has to be a larger element than just one man's battle against a single target (classic military sci-fi). But there DOES have to be a clear military aspect involved, at least one or more of the major POV characters overcoming the odds as part of a clearly defined military (or mercenary) unit.

As for jumping all over the place, except for a few books I've read myself, I'm just listing them as YOU guys suggest them. This is a community effort, a chance for you guys to suggest books to other people that you think will hit that 'kinda want military, but kinda like a bigger story' sweet spot. Make sense?

So ... if you guys think a book clearly does NOT fit the spirit of the list, say so, say why, other people can weigh in, and I'll remove it and stick it on some other list. :-) Talking about books is what this community is all about.

Could we add Robert Frezza's A Small Colonial War , Cain's Land , Fire in a Faraway Place . Excellent series of books, unfortunately Frezza hasn't written anything since.

Brad wrote: "Could we add Robert Frezza's A Small Colonial War , Cain's Land , Fire in a Faraway Place . Excellent series of books, unfortunately Frezza hasn't writt..."

I researched them and they appear to be standalones, so I listed them under 'standalones.'

McLendon's Syndrome? A rare disease only treatable by chocolate chip cookies? I think I have to read that book of his :-)

Anna wrote: "Brad wrote: "Could we add Robert Frezza's A Small Colonial War , Cain's Land , Fire in a Faraway Place . Excellent series of books, unfortunately Frezza..."

They sorta are but same characters and ongoing story. Best read in order.

McLendons's is quite good also. More of the humorous bent than the Military ones. Good though.

Military Space Opera series - Dorsai Trilogy by Gordon R Dickson, Stark's War series by John G Henry (aka Jack Campbell, Ark Royal series by Christopher Nuttall.

Military Space Opera stand alone - The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven

David wrote: "Military Space Opera series - Dorsai Trilogy by Gordon R Dickson, Stark's War series by John G Henry (aka Jack Campbell, Ark Royal series by Christopher Nuttall. Military Space Opera stand alone -..."

Just added them all, David! Thanks :-)

[*Think I have enough here to get off my butt and make a Listopia soon...*]

Anybody read this series?

Koban

David Weber's Dahak series.

The Starfire series from multiple authors including David Weber, Steve White and Shirley Meier.

Jerry Pournelle's Falkenbergs Legion series

Stand alone: Dragon Never Sleeps by Glen Cook

In TV need to be added Babylon 5

I agree with most of that list but have a question. Why does anyone like The Forever War? What are the reasons people like it? I've started it 3 times and have gotten no further than 50 pages.

I agree with you Jonathan. I have never been able to get into Forever War either. Another author I disliked due to one book I read in high school is Stross. However, he is now so prolific I am tempted to try him again, just because quite a few people are obviously buying his stuff. Maybe I missed something. What is Charles Stross best book? I will give him another shot.

Forever War is more readable if you understand the author's point of view and reason for writing it. This was shortly after the end of the Vietnam War and written very much to describe the insanity of that war, and war in general, where you go and kill people without knowing why, just because you were given orders by someone higher up who also does not understand why, all the way to the top, the CiC, who has questionable motives for starting the war in the first place. It's insane. That's the point of the book. Ignore the sci-fi stuff; it was put into that setting in order to render it as social satire.

I just added Gateway as a standalone book, but when you get your subsequent books out Brian Dorsey (Christopher Brian Dorsey), let me know and I'll move it into the series category?

Packi wrote: "Anybody read this series?

Koban"

I'm working my way through them.

J.S. wrote: "Forever War is more readable if you understand the author's point of view and reason for writing it. This was shortly after the end of the Vietnam War and written very much to describe the insanity..."

I'll give it another shot then with that in mind. My uncle LOVES the book, but he was a Marine grunt in Vietnam so I was expecting him to like it.

Here's my list to date:
The Fighter Queen saga (starts with "The Fighter King") by John Bowers
The Starport series, also by Bowers
Children of Destruction by Al Philipson (the second half of the book is military space opera)
Screw the Galaxy - (Hard Luck Hank #1) by Steven Campbell
Starship Troopers by Heinlein
That Which is Human by Bruce C. Davis

Anna wrote: "I just added Gateway as a standalone book, but when you get your subsequent books out Brian Dorsey (Christopher Brian Dorsey), let me know and I'll move it into the..."

Thanks. Saint should be out this fall and I have a novella from the Gateway Universe coming out this summer...I'll keep you updated.

For the standalone list: Rimrunners by C.J. Cherryh. Story of a female marine marooned on a space station while warships play a deadly cat and mouse game in and around the system.

Apologies if I am adding on to an out of date thread. I would highly suggest David J. Williams "Autumn Rain Series", Gavin Smith's "The veteran Series" and Joel Shepards "Cassandra Kresnov" series.

I love "All You Need is Kill"
but its actually a stand alone not a series.
There is one novel that was redone as a graphic novel and then redone again as a Manga which at one time was split into two parts but is now sold as one large Manga but all were based on one single great stand alone novel.

Um, series I've read of military science fiction:
Leo Champion's Desert Strike and Legion

Kal Spriggs Fallen Race series The Fallen Race.

Glenn Stewert's Space Carrier Avalon

I'd add David Drake's RCN series to the list.

first book:
With the Lightnings

The Slaver Wars
The Nameless War
Merkiaari Wars
The Synchronicity War
Exodus: Empires At War
Hayden War Cycle
Man of War by H. Paul Honsinger

Hi, I've written a military space opera series but I'm not sure of the etiquette here. Are authors allowed to put forward there own work in threads like this or is that considered spamming. I don't want to rub people up the wrong way.Dave O'Connor

Aaron wrote: "All You Need is Kill is a Light Novel(think YA book over here) not a manga/comic/whatever. If you enjoyed Edge of Tommorow I REALLY recommend reading it, a good number of things got changed from bo..."

Is Legend of the Galactic Heroes up too? That stars a military prodigy in an advanced age of space flight (the covers focus on space stations). Here's the first novel, Dawn.

Novel (Continuing series):


Video Games:
Mass Effect (main character is commander of a space ship crew tasked with building an army to combat aliens).
Series has a lot of books and graphic novels too. Here's a book.


Xenosaga (Big focus on humans vs monsters from space known as the Gnosis, humans piloting mecha equipped with military grade armaments).

Xenoblade X (Blade, a military organization helping a recolonization and escape from Earth effort, help explore the wilds of their new homeworld Mira in high speed mecha, while also battling with both indigenous and non-indigenous life).

Infinite Space (military focus?)

Manga / anime:
To Terra


Harlock (Adventures of Space Captain Harlock?)


Majestic Prince

Knights of Sidonia (I think it got a mention above)


Code Geass (started as an anime; Lelouch battles the aristocracy by winning with his mind on the battlefield).


Also an anime series, Aldnoah;Zero. Again, military ace that outsmarts his opponents, this time people from Mars who wish to take Earth; lots of political intrigue, but it gets dumb in the second half).

Please add my Warner's World series:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1906...

Thanks.

Undying Mercenaries- B. V. Larson
The lost stars - Jack Campbell
Hayden war cycle - Currie Evan

Lucifer's Star by C.T. Phipps (me!)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Cartwright's Cavaliers by Mark Wandrey

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Mobile Suit Gundam (the trilogy) and Origin by Yoshiyuki Tomino

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I always wanted to be a part of one of the Lists here. :)

I read lot of these books mentioned, and definitely gone see if i can get my hands on the once i did not read. Are there any good military space opera after 2017?

Als :
Into the Looking Glass (series by John Ringo) enjoyed those a lot was realy bummed there were not more of those.

@ Terrence yes masseffect ! loved the game (my own space opera adventure) and the books make it even more immersive.

Mass effect Andromeda also has books https://www.goodreads.com/series/1990...


The Murderbot Diaries Martha Wells are great as well!
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1919...

(I apologize for my english)

Expeditionary Force by Graig Alanson!!!

The Galaxy’s Edge series by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole are amazing!!!

Could the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold by included here?

This is a random question; but... Since Elizabeth Moon (yes, I know, for Vatta's War)is on the list I guess people here have read her work. I have a question about The Serrano Legacy series.
I own #7 but can't seem to get my hands on #6, would that matter much, if I read it out of order?

This is something I would normally ask about the actual book, but GR seems to hate me at the moment and won't let me ask of the general community. That #7 is burning a hole in my to read shelf, but I will resist if I seriously need to read #6 first.