We polled our readers and, after hundreds of votes were tallied, have determined a Top 10 list for the subgenre of Space Opera.
Senior Editor Hank Davis provided his own list and guidelines for defining the genre here: http://www.baen.com/contests-may.asp
Because space operas tend to be big, sprawling and multi-book sagas, we are listing series rather than individual titles, if only because many of these series are still on-going and any title listing we give here would be necessarily ephemeral. (Any vote for a book in the series counted in that series’ totals). If you want to explore the best of space opera, start here:
The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Honor Harrington series by David Weber
The Lensman series by E.E. “Doc” Smith
The Liaden Universe ® series by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
The Skylark of Space series by E.E. “Doc” Smith
The Looking Glass series by John Ringo & Travis S. Taylor
The Prince Roger/Empire of Man series by David Weber & John Ringo
The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz
The Empire from the Ashes series by David Weber
The Posleen War/Legacy of the Aldenata series by John Ringo
There were a few outstanding novels nominated that weren’t part of a larger series. Grand Central Arena by Ryk E. Spoor was one of them, but it will almost certainly be part of a big, sprawling multi-book saga should the author continue writing them; another was Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair, which is already part of a series. Many solo titles were by Robert A. Heinlein. The recommended Heinleins in this subgenre are: Starship Troopers, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Have Space Suit, Will Travel, Red Planet, The Number of the Beast, Podkayne of Mars, The Rolling Stones and Tunnel in the Sky.
There were also many, many standalone titles by Andre Norton listed. We heartily recommend her work as well.
Further suggested reading should satisfy anyone’s need to delve into the vastness of the universe:
RCN series, David Drake
Troy Rising series, John Ringo
Brain & Brawn Ship series, Anne McCaffrey
Cobra series, Timothy Zahn
Stainless Steel Rat series, Harry Harrison
Ringworld series, Larry Niven
Retief of the CDT series, Keith Laumer
Technic Civilization/Flandry, Poul Anderson
Starfire/Stars at War series, Steve White, David Weber, Charles E. Gannon
Riverworld series, Philip Jose Farmer
Terro-Human Future History, H. Beam Piper
Uplift series, David Brin
Vatta's War, Elizabeth Moon
Culture series, Iain Banks
Galactic Empire/Foundation series, Isaac Asimov
History of the Future, Robert A. Heinlein
Night's Dawn/Confederation Universe series, Peter F. Hamilton
Barsoom series, Edgar Rice Burroughs [Should be higher up, imho!—Toni Weisskopf]
Childe Cycle, Gordon R. Dickson
Familias Regnant, Elizabeth Moon
Hobart Floyt/Alacrity Fitzhugh, Brian Daley
Legion of Space series, Jack Williamson
Flinx and Pip, Alan Dean Foster
PsychoTechnic League, Poul Anderson
Rama series, Arthur C. Clarke
Solar Queen series, Andre Norton
Starwolves trilogy, Edmond Hamilton
Thrawn trilogy, Timothy Zahn
Time Traders series, Andre Norton
Venus series, Edgar Rice Burroughs
Zones of Thought series, Vernor Vinge
Central Control duology, Andre Norton
Darkship series, Sarah A. Hoyt
Dune series, Frank Herbert
Ender Saga, Orson Scott Card
Federation of the Hub, James Schmitz
Hammer's Slammers, David Drake
Known Space, Larry Niven
Lost Fleet series, Jack Campbell
Northwest Rim series, Leigh Brackett
Paratime, H. Beam Piper
Rats & Bats series, Eric Flint & Dave Freer
Saga of the Skolian Empire, Catherine Asaro
Sector General series, James White
Star Kings, Edmond Hamilton
Zero Stone duology, Andre Norton