
These battles can be both thrilling and emotionally impactful, as characters fight for what they believe in and face incredible danger along the way. Whether it’s a dogfight between starfighters or a massive fleet engagement, these stories often feature intense action sequences that keep readers on the edge of their seats. This allows for a sense of adventure and exploration, as characters discover new worlds and encounter new civilizations.Įpic battles are another hallmark of space opera. Whether it’s through hyperspace, wormholes, or some other method, characters in these stories are often able to travel vast distances in relatively short amounts of time. Space travel is a particularly important element of space opera. At the same time, space operas often incorporate elements of other genres, from romance to political intrigue to hard science fiction. Some of the key elements you might expect to find in a space opera book series include space travel, epic battles, sprawling interstellar empires, and larger-than-life characters. This sense of scope allows for some truly epic storytelling, with characters facing incredible challenges and overcoming seemingly impossible odds. These stories often take place on a galactic level, with characters traveling from planet to planet and encountering all sorts of alien species along the way. One of the defining characteristics of space opera is the sense of scale. These stories often include heroic characters battling powerful villains, with high stakes and plenty of action along the way. So what exactly makes a book part of the space opera genre? While there is some debate, most fans agree that space opera stories typically feature grandiose, sweeping narratives set in a futuristic or otherworldly setting. While the term “space opera” originally had a somewhat derogatory connotation, today it’s used to describe some of the most engaging and epic stories in the sci-fi world. In essence, this subgenre is an extension of traditional hero’s journey-style storytelling, but set in a futuristic or science fiction-inspired society. Before delving into specific titles, it’s worth taking a moment to understand what exactly “space opera” means.
