I’m looking for a books or series that includes plenty of starships, aliens, laser fights and space magic. Definitely like Star Wars, Mass Effect, Firefly or Starfinder.
Ideally with a rough and tumble crew of characters of various species and walks of life finding adventure on multiple worlds on their special starship.
Military science fiction is acceptable but not preferred.
by TacticalGM
5 Comments
Maybe *Cascade Failure* by LM Sagas. Firefly vibes
Starship Troopers is pretty amazing. And the only other one I’ve read that’s close is Battlefield: Earth.
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
Expeditionary Forces by Craig Alanson
The Rookie by Scott Sigler
Molly Fyde by Hugh Howey
Torth by Abby Goldsmith (self-promo)
Those are some of my favorites.
I really like Alastair Reynolds and Iain M Banks. Not sure they fit exactly what you’re looking for but their space opera stuff is the best I’ve read.
Also quite like Adrian Tchaikovsky, Gareth L Powell, and Liu Cixin
If you haven’t read Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey, start there. There are SEVERAL books in that series if you like it.
If you’ll accept a lovable crew of compelling characters who let plot take the back seat, check out Becky Chambers’ Long Way to a Small Dark Planet. Very strong Firefly vibes.
If you want intrigue and exquisite world building, try A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.