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Non-military space opera recomendations
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2025
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I’m not super clear on what genre space opera is exactly, but The Locked Tomb trilogy might fit the bill??
Ah, I tried reading the first one and couldn't get past the first few chapters.
Space Opera, think Firefly.
Ah yes, Firefly, that does clarify the genre well. I’d say the series “technically” counts, but the writing style is definitely not for everyone.
My understanding is a space opera is where space serves as a backdrop or theme to the story, as opposed to hard sci-fi where the the science is more forthright. Space operas focus heavy on character development and adventure, that just happen to be in space.
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.
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.
Star Wars, Firefly, and The Expanse are examples.
I feel like firefly and expanse put to much into realism to be properly space opera.