Published Aug 1, 2026, 11:45 PM EDT
Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.
Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses.
They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer.
In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18.
Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity.
The sci-fi space opera genre is expansive with plenty of hidden gems that haven't received the attention they deserve, and these eight obscure books you've probably never heard of are your perfect next read. While many sci-fi genres have had their moment in the spotlight, space opera is probably one of the most beloved sci-fi subgenres both onscreen and in books. These stories tend to blend together soft sci-fi and fantasy elements, telling stories of space travel and intergalactic political conflicts.
Book series like The Expanse by James S.A. Corey and Dune by Frank Herbert get universal praise. They show up on nearly every best sci-fi list. However, there are plenty of space opera books that don't have that same kind of attention. Some are too new to have gained a major audience, while others from the past simply flew under the radar. Plus, some books initially did well but have completely fallen out of the pop culture zeitgeist. These eight books are virtually unknown, and they are the perfect next read if you're looking for something new.
8 Existence Equation: What Is The Price of the Stars? by Matthew Medney & Don Macnab-Stark
Set in a post-nuclear 23rd century, Existence Equation: What Is the Price of the Stars? is part philosophical coming-of-age and part space opera. At age 18, humans must make a drastic, permanent decision. They can transfer their consciousness into a feeling-less android, becoming immortal and traveling the universe. Alternatively, they can live out a human life grounded on Earth and be euthanized at 60. Our young protagonist, Liam Kerr, begins the book on the precipice of this decision.
While some of the story is grounded on Earth, it also features galactic space travel and other worlds filled with intelligent life, some of which are hostile toward the androids. It also delves into intergalactic conflicts. For this reason, it’s a great book for those who want the fun and adventure of a space opera with a deeper exploration of the human experience.
7 Outpassage by Janet Morris & Chris Morris
The 1988 book Outpassage is an action-packed and thrilling space opera that’s impossible to put down, packing in political rebellion in a time when the United States has colonized new worlds to mine ores. A high-power corporation called InterSpace Tasking, run by a character nicknamed God because of his power and complete indifference about everything.
The story centers on a soldier named Det Cox, a soldier on leave who questions his orders, and Paige Barnett, a higher-up in IST who asks too many questions. They are kidnapped and taken to another mining planet where they learn way too much about a rebellion, for which authorities are willing to destroy planets to hide, and she’s forced into labor. This space opera speaks to issues of today, such as megacorporations, late-stage capitalism, and government collusion.
6 Erebus Dawning by A.J. Super
The space opera Erebus Dawning is a thrilling read that’s perfect for fans of Becky Chambers and MD Cooper. The story centers on Nyx Marcus, a space pirate who is trying to live up to her father’s legacy and find the coveted Star of Erebus, a powerful weapon. She and her band of misfits find Erebus, but it ends up being so much more dangerous than they expected, leading to a future Nyx couldn’t have planned.
Erebus Dawning has so much to love for space opera fans. The badass characters feel three-dimensional, making them compelling and easy to root for. The world is incredibly well developed, sucking the reader into the story. What’s more, it has that adventurous feeling and moral dubiousness that comes with space pirates.
5 A Maze Of Stars By John Brunner
A Maze of Stars is a grimdark space opera with little action but plenty of stories. Humans have found six thousand hospitable planets and settled six hundred of them. A sentient spaceship, Ship, visits these settlements, developing emotions and intelligence, becoming more human while many societies lose their grasp on humanity. Each planet in the Galactic Arm has fallen into the worst parts of society.
Ship rescues humans who are in danger and then takes them to another planet. Each character has an interesting background and personality worth investing in, at least for a little while. I do feel the need to warn potential readers that this is truly a grimdark book. It is depressing. It is semi-nihilistic. As such, it won’t be for folks who want a more optimistic perspective on humanity.
4 Dark Universe, Edited by Milton Davis & Gene Peterson
Dark Universe diverges from other space operas because it is a collection of short stories following the first galactic empire, the Cassad Empire, collectively telling the story from its creation to its fall. The short stories are all written by different authors, with plenty of political intrigue, adventures, and conflicts. Each short story has a different story and style. They offer different points of view throughout the kingdom, meaning it isn’t a one-sided account.
Readers get to see all the beautiful parts of the galactic empire and all the horrors. The overarching story is refreshingly complex and nuanced. Luckily, the short stories all fit together beautifully. The only big downside is that it has so-so proofreading, and it’s better to skip the introduction, which is just a mess. However, setting aside those two issues, this space opera short story collection is worth the read.
3 The Halcyon Drift by Brian Stableford
The Halcyon Drift might be remembered by older sci-fi readers, but the classic space opera novel, which is part of the Hooded Swan series, has mostly been forgotten with time. The first book follows a sarcastic and misanthropic star-pilot named Grainger who crash-lands on a barely habitable planet and contracts a mind symbiote called The Wind. After he’s saved, he’s taken back to Old Earth, where he’s given the opportunity to pilot an experimental spaceship called the Hooded Swan into the dangerous Halcyon Drift.
This book is fast-paced and hard-boiled, making it easy to breeze through the relatively short novel. Like modern writing, the main character is more of an anti-hero than a traditional hero. The writing feels smart without being pretentious, making science concepts accessible. Luckily, for anyone who enjoys The Halcyon Drift, there are six books total in the series.
2 Nightwatch on the Hinterlands by K. Eason
The book duology How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse and How the Multiverse Got Its Revenge is relatively well-known. However, very few folks know the book Nightwatch on the Hinterlands, which is set within the Rory Thorne space opera world. While it enhances the reading experience to read the original duology, it is in no way necessary to comprehend the story. I read Nightwatch on the Hinterlands before Rory Thorne, and I didn’t struggle to understand anything.
The story follows a duo, Lieutenant Iari and Gaer, who work together to solve a murder mystery while navigating interstellar politics and a cosmic threat. Nightwatch on the Hinterlands is an interesting book in that it could just as easily be classified as a noir thriller as it could a space opera. The tone is much darker and more noir-ish than the Rory Thorne books, making it more enjoyable for adults who didn’t like the YA style of the previous duology.
1 The Eighty-Minute Hour: A Space Opera by Brian W. Aldiss
Of all the books on this list, the strangest and most surreal book is The Eighty-Minute Hour, which was part of the 1970s sci-fi New Wave era. It is a book that most readers either love or hate because it’s absolutely psychedelic and experimental. Set after World War III, nuclear weapons used cause time rifts. Rather than a single character, The Eighty-Minute Hour follows many characters, all of whom are morally gray and have hidden agendas.
Unlike other books, this novel is quite literally a space opera. The characters burst into song at random points. The storytelling is extremely theatrical with heightened emotionality. On top of that, the book jumps around frenetically, almost feeling like a fever dream at times. Because it’s such a wild and experimental book, this will not be a choice for everyone. But it’s certainly worth the read for those who don’t mind extremely out-there books.
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