Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer define as "colorful, dramatic, large-scale science fiction adventure, competently and sometimes beautifully written, usually focused on a sympathetic, heroic central character and plot action, and usually set in the relatively distant future, and in space or on other worlds, characteristically optimistic in tone. It often deals with war, piracy, military virtues, and very large-scale action, large stakes."
The following are works that independent commentators have characterized as space opera, ordered chronologically by date of first publication.
Print These are works of print media.
Novels and series A True Story (c. 150) by Lucian of Samosata Somnium (1634) by Johannes Kepler Edison's Conquest of Mars (1898) by Garrett P. Serviss The Struggle for Empire: A Story of the Year 2236 (1900) by Robert William Cole Armageddon 2419 A.D. (Buck Rogers) (1928) by Philip Francis Nowlan The Skylark seriesDavid G. Hartwell, David G. and Cramer, Kathryn, eds. The Space Opera Renaissance (New York: Tor, 2006); pp. 10–11. (1928–1965) by E. E. "Doc" Smith Arcot, Wade and Morey (1930–32) by John W. Campbell The Lensman series (1934-1948) and The Vortex Blaster (1960) by E. E. Smith Empire (1945-1951), and Foundation series (1942–1999) by Isaac Asimov Federation series (1952–1964) by H. Beam Piper Starship Troopers (1959) by Robert A. Heinlein Known Space (1964–present) by Larry Niven Dune (1965–present) by Frank Herbert The Dag Fletcher series (1966–1976) by John Rankine The Dumarest Saga (1967-2008) by E.C. Tubb The Cap Kennedy series (1973-1983) by E.C. Tubb (writing as Gregory Kern) Alliance-Union universe series (1976–present) and Foreigner universe (1994–present) series by C. J. Cherryh The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series (1978–present) The Uplift Universe novels (1980–98) by David Brin Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1982–1989) by Yoshiki Tanaka The War Against the Chtorr (1983–present) by David Gerrold The Ender's Game series (1985–present) by Orson Scott Card Culture series (1987–2012)"A Night at the Space Opera," Lev Grossman, Time, Feb. 29, 2008 and The Algebraist (2004) by Iain M. Banks Vorkosigan Saga (1987–present) by Lois McMaster Bujold Liaden universe series (1988–present) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Hyperion Cantos series (1989–1996) by Dan SimmonsThe Space Opera Renaissance, page 311 The Gap Cycle series (1990–1996) by Stephen R. Donaldson Star Wolf (1990–2004) by David Gerrold Honorverse series (1992–present) by David Weber The Zones of Thought series (1992–present) by Vernor Vinge Mars Trilogy (Red, Green, and Blue Mars) (1993–1999) by Kim Stanley Robinson Seafort Saga series (1994–2001) by David Feintuch Skolian Saga series (1995–present) by Catherine Asaro Crest of the Stars series (1996–present) by Hiroyuki Morioka Revelation Space series (2001–present) by Alastair Reynolds The Golden Oecumene series (2001–2003) by John C. Wright Dread Empire's Fall (2002–2005) by Walter Jon Williams Saga of Seven Suns (2002–2008) and The Saga of Shadows (2014–present) by Kevin J. Anderson Singularity Sky, Iron Sunrise and Saturn's Children (2003–present) by Charles Stross Commonwealth Saga (2004–2005) and The Night's Dawn Trilogy (1996–1999) by Peter F. Hamilton The Lost Fleet (2006–present) by Jack Campbell Remembrance of Earth's Past (2006-2010) by Liu Cixin Spiral Arm series (2008–2013) by Michael F. Flynn Humanities Fire (2009-2016) by Michael Cobley The Expanse (2011–2022) by James S. A. Corey A Confusion of Princes (2012) by Garth Nix The Illuminae Files series (2013-2016) and Aurora Cycle series (2019–present) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Imperial Radch (2013–2015) by Ann Leckie The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2014) by Becky Chambers Expeditionary Force (2016–present) by Craig Alanson The Collapsing Empire: The Interdependency series (2017-2020) by John Scalzi The Sun Eater (2018–2025) by Christopher Ruocchio A Memory Called Empire (2019) by Arkady Martine Dragon Pearl (2019) by Yoon Ha Lee The Sun Chronicles (2019–present) by Kate Elliott The Common Saga (2020–present) by Jeremy Szal The Splinter in the Sky (2023) by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Anthologies and collections Space Opera (1974) by Brian Aldiss The Space Opera Renaissance (2006) by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer The New Space Opera (2007) by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan (2007) The New Space Opera 2 (2009) by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan
Short fiction Buck Rogers series (1928–present) by Philip Francis Nowlan and others Perry Rhodan series (1961–present) in German by K. H. Scheer and Clark Darlton. Berserker series (1967–2005) by Fred Saberhagen Graff series (2021-2023) by Carrie Vaughn.
Comics and manga Buck Rogers (1929-1967) Flash Gordon series (1934–present) by Alex Raymond and others Dan Dare (1950–2008), created by Frank Hampson Perry Rhodan (1961–present), created by K. H. Scheer and Walter Ernsting Lone Sloane (1966), created by Philippe Druillet Valérian and Laureline (1967–present) by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières Guardians of the Galaxy (1969–present) by Marvel Comics Adam Warlock (1975–1977) by Jim Starlin Space Adventure Cobra (1978–1984) by Buichi Terasawa Mobile Suit Gundam (1979–1980) by Yoshiyuki Tomino Dreadstar (1980–1988) by Jim Starlin The Incal (1981–present) by Alejandro Jodorowsky Nexus (1981–present) by Mike Baron and Steve Rude Atari Force (1982–1986) by Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, Gil Kane, Dick Giordano, Mike DeCarlo, José Luis García-López, Eduardo Barreto, Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming, and Karl Kesel Starstruck (1982–2010) by Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta Starjammers (1990; 1995–1996; 2004–2005) by Terry Kavanagh; Warren Ellis; Kevin J. Anderson Metabarons (1992–2003) by Alejandro Jodorowsky The Cyann Cycle (1993–present) by François Bourgeon War of Kings (2009) by Dan Abnett, C. B. Cebulski, Andy Lanning, and Christopher Yost Saga (2012–present) by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru (2019–2020) by Masashi Kishimoto Schlock Mercenary (2000-2020) by Howard Taylor The Amory Wars (2004–present) by Claudio Sanchez HK (1996-2012) by Kevin Hérault and Jean-David Morvan. Imperial (2025) by Jonathan Hickman
Film and television Film series Flash Gordon (1936–1980; 3 serial films and one feature film based on comic strip) Super Giant (1957-1959; 9 films) Dr. Who (Dalek films) (1965–1966; 2 films) Planet of the Apes (1968–present; 10 films) Space Odyssey (1968-1984; 2 films) Star Wars (1977–present; 14 films) Star Trek (1979–present; 14 films) Dune (1984–present; 3 films) Transformers (1986–present; 8 films based on Toyline) Avatar (2009–present; 3 films) Guardians of the Galaxy (2014–2023; 3 films)Part of larger MCU which not Space Opera Rebel Moon (2023–present; 2 films)
One-shot films Warning from Space (1956) The Mysterians (1957) Battle in Outer Space (1959) Gorath (1962) Barbarella (1968) Solaris (1972) Silent Running (1972) Dark Star (1974) Flesh Gordon (1974) Starcrash (1978) The Black Hole (1979) Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) The Last Starfighter (1984) Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (1985) Spaceballs (1987) Stargate (1994) The Fifth Element (1997) Galaxy Quest (1999) Titan A.E. (2000) Treasure Planet (2002) Serenity (2005) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) WALL-E (2008) John Carter (2012) Ender's Game (2013) Jupiter Ascending (2015) Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Cosmoball (2020) John Vardar vs the Galaxy (2024)
Television Space Patrol (March 1950 to February 1955) Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954) Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1955) Flash Gordon (1954–2008) Planet Prince (1958-1959) Fireball XL5 (1962–1963) Space Patrol (1962–1963) Doctor Who (1963–present) Lost in Space (1965–present) Star Trek (1966–present) Space Ghost (1966–1967) Space: 1999 (1975–1977) Blake's 7 (1978–1981) Battlestar Galactica (1978–2013) Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981) The Transformers (1984–1987) Star Wars (1985–present) SilverHawks (1986) Frank Herbert's Dune and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2000–2003) Red Dwarf (1988–present) Babylon 5 (1993–1998) Space: Above and Beyond (1995, one season) Lexx (1997–2002) Stargate (1997–2011) Shadow Raiders (1998–1999) Crusade (1999) Lavender Castle (1999–2000) FarscapeJes Battis, Investigating Farscape: uncharted territories of sex and science fiction, I.B.Tauris, 2007, , Google Print, p.219 (1999-2003) Futurama (1999–present) Zenon trilogy (1999-2004) Andromeda (2000–2005) Firefly (2002) Halo (since 2001, started from video game) Spaceballs: The Animated Series (2008–2009) Killjoys (2015–2019) Dark Matter (2015–2017) The Expanse (2015–2022) The Orville (2017–2019) Final Space (2018–2021) Another Life (2019–2022) Vagrant Queen (2020) Foundation (2021–present)
Anime
Prince Planet (1965) created by Eiken Cyborg 009 (1966) created by Toei Animation Gatchaman (1972) created by Tatsunoko Production Space Battleship Yamato (1974–present) created by Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Leiji Matsumoto Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1978-2014), Galaxy Express 999 (1978-2005), Queen Emeraldas (1998-1999), and Queen Millennia (1981-1982) created by Leiji MatsumotoMary Lynn Kittelson, The soul of popular culture: looking at contemporary heroes, myths, and monsters, Open Court Publishing, 1998, , Google Print, p.72 Gundam (1979–present) created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate Dirty Pair (1980-2018) created by Haruka Takachiho Toward the Terra (1980–2007) original manga series by Keiko Takemiya Macross (1982–present) created by Shoji Kawamori,2nd Macross Frontier Album Sells 102,000 in 1st Week, ANN, 2008-10-14 and its U.S. counterpart Robotech (1985-2013) adapted by Carl Macek Space Adventure Cobra (1982–2010) created by Buichi Terasawa Armored Trooper VOTOMS (1983–1984) created by Ryosuke Takahashi Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight (1985) created by Yoshinobu Nishizaki Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988–present) original novel by Yoshiki TanakaAnime Greenlit for Tanaka's Titania Space Opera Novels, ANN, 2008-03-05 Tenchi Muyo! (1992–2014) created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (1993–present) original light novel by Hitoshi YoshiokaIrresponsible Captain Tylor review at THEM Anime Reviews Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai (1994–1995) Martian Successor Nadesico (1996–1997) created by Kia Asamiya Cowboy Bebop (1998) created by Shinichirō Watanabe Outlaw Star and Angel Links (1998–1999) created by Takehiko Itō Crest of the Stars, Banner of the Stars, Seikai no Danshō (1999–2005) created by Hiroyuki MoriokaBanner of the Stars DVD 2: Basroil Unleashed!, review. May 23, 2003. Vandread (2000–2002) created by Gonzo and Media Factory Sonic X (2003–2004) based on Sonic the Hedgehog created by TMS Entertainment Starship Operators (2005) produced by J.C.Staff, original Manga series by Ryo Mizuno Heroic Age (2007) created by Tow Ubukata Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline (2007-2008) based on Valérian and Laureline created by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières. Tytania (2008–2009) original light novel by Yoshiki Tanaka Space Dandy (2014) Aldnoah.Zero (2014) Knights of Sidonia (2015)
Actual Play Tabletop Role-playing Games (TTRPGs) The Nautilus Ark: A Johnson Corp Odyssey (2021) Critical Role one-shot (Mothership/Alien: The Roleplaying Game homebrew) A Starstruck Odyssey (2022) Dimension 20 campaign (Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition)
Radio Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1932-1947) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978–present) Space Patrol (4 October 1952 to 19 March 1955)
Podcasts