Best Space Opera Books for your bookshelf

The space opera genre has entered a thrilling new phase. Once defined by galaxy-spanning wars and larger-than-life heroes, today’s modern space opera series deliver not only grand scope, but nuanced storytelling, diverse characters, and sharp critiques of society and power. If you're looking for the best space opera books to dive into, the past decade has produced some of the finest entries in the genre’s history.

Here are the standout modern space opera books and series that have defined the last ten years.

1. The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

First Published: 2017
Why It’s One of the Best Space Opera Books: Unique AI protagonist, corporate dystopia, emotional depth

Martha Wells' award-winning series follows an introverted, media-obsessed security android known as Murderbot. Despite being built for combat, Murderbot wants nothing more than to be left alone with its favorite soap operas.

Spanning from All Systems Red to System Collapse, and with Platform Decay on the way, this modern space opera series combines dry humor, fast-paced action, and introspective character work. It’s a standout example of how space opera books can explore deeply personal stories without losing the grandeur of space travel and intergalactic politics.

2. The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

Notable Entry This Decade: Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen (2016)
Why It’s Still Relevant: Legacy of character-driven storytelling, political intrigue, and evolving perspectives

Though the saga began in the 1980s, Bujold’s work remains essential reading in any list of the best space opera series. The later novels, especially those from the last decade, are more contemplative—focusing on aging, legacy, and relationships in the aftermath of military and political conflict.

Bujold’s creation of Miles Vorkosigan, a disabled but brilliant aristocrat navigating a militarized empire, broke new ground in character diversity and emotional realism in science fiction.

3. The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

Series Run: 2011–2022
Why It Dominates the Genre: Realistic politics, large-scale world-building, thrilling tension

If you’re searching for the best space opera books with blockbuster vibes, look no further than The Expanse. With entries like Tiamat’s Wrath and Leviathan Falls, this series blends hard science fiction with the sweeping stakes of space opera.

The tension between Earth, Mars, and the Belt provides a grounded starting point before the series evolves into ancient alien tech, existential threats, and galactic warfare. It's a benchmark for modern space opera series, made even more popular by its TV adaptation.

4. The Teixcalaan Duology by Arkady Martine

Books: A Memory Called Empire (2019), A Desolation Called Peace (2021)
Why It’s Unique: Linguistic depth, cultural conflict, award-winning prose

Martine’s Teixcalaan books have brought a literary and diplomatic edge to the genre. This modern space opera explores an imperial society through the eyes of an outsider diplomat, touching on identity, cultural assimilation, and alien contact.

Its poetic writing style and political intricacies have drawn comparisons to Le Guin and Asimov. For fans of cerebral science fiction, this is one of the best space opera series of the decade.

5. The Sun Chronicles by Kate Elliott

Books: Unconquerable Sun (2020), Furious Heaven (2023)
Why It Deserves the Hype: Epic political maneuvering, gender-flipped military sci-fi, queer representation

A thrilling reimagining of Alexander the Great in space, The Sun Chronicles delivers palace intrigue, complex strategy, and bold characters. Princess Sun battles to carve her place in a star-spanning empire ruled by her commanding mother.

With rich world-building and diverse representation, this series exemplifies what modern space opera books can achieve in 21st-century storytelling.

6. Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee

Books: Ninefox Gambit (2016), Raven Stratagem (2017), Revenant Gun (2018)
Why It’s Innovative: Calendar-based reality manipulation, queer characters, complex strategy

Lee’s Machineries of Empire is one of the most ambitious and intellectually challenging entries in the modern space opera genre. It blends surreal mathematics, shifting reality, and mind-bending warfare with a deeply flawed, memorable protagonist in Shuos Jedao.

It's a series that rewards attentive readers and is frequently cited in lists of the best space opera books of the 21st century.

Honorable Mentions

• Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky — Spanning centuries, it follows the evolution of intelligent spiders on a terraformed world. A modern classic.
• Noumena Series by Marina J. Lostetter — Featuring generational space exploration and artificial intelligence. Quietly powerful and sweeping in scope.
• Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe — AI ships, empire-level conflict, and twisty plots make this one of the most exciting modern space opera series to debut in recent years.

Ready to blast off into your next favorite book? Start with The Murderbot Diaries or The Expanse, and you'll soon find yourself lost in the stars.