Most Popular Space Opera Books of the 1980s

The Culture #2

The Player of Games

Iain M. Banks

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1988

The Culture #1

Consider Phlebas

Iain M. Banks

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1987

Uplift #2

Startide Rising

David Brin

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Hugo Award · Locus Award · Nebula Award

1983

Vorkosigan

Shards of Honor

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Military Science Fiction · Space Opera

June 1986

Star Wars: Episode V

The Empire Strikes Back

Donald F. Glut

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Movie · Star Wars

1980

Crisis of Empire #3

The War Machine

David Drake, Roger MacBride Allen

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1989

Crisis of Empire #2

Cluster Command

David Drake, William C. Dietz

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1989

Crisis of Empire #1

An Honorable Defense

Thomas T. Thomas, David Drake

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1988

Uplift

Earthclan

David Brin

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Collection

1987

Cyteen #1

Cyteen

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Hugo Award · Locus Award

1988

Tuf Voyaging

George R. R. Martin

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Short Stories

1986

The Starfishers Trilogy #3

Stars' End

Glen Cook

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1982

The Starfishers Trilogy #2

Starfishers

Glen Cook

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1982

The Starfishers Trilogy #1

Shadowline

Glen Cook

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1982

Vorkosigan

Brothers in Arms

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Space Opera

January 1989

Uplift #3

The Uplift War

David Brin

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Hugo Award · Locus Award

1987

Vorkosigan

Borders of Infinity

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Short Stories

October 1989

Vorkosigan (omnibus editions)

Test of Honor

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Military Science Fiction · Space Opera · Collection

1987

Vorkosigan

The Warrior's Apprentice

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Military Science Fiction · Space Opera

August 1986

The Chanur Novels #1

The Pride of Chanur

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1982

Alex Benedict #1

A Talent for War

Jack McDevitt

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1989

The Alliance-Union Universe

Cuckoo's Egg

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1985

The Chanur Novels #4

Chanur's Homecoming

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1987

Liaden Universe #1

Agent of Change

Steve Miller, Sharon Lee

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1988

The Chanur Novels #3

The Kif Strike Back

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1985

The Chanur Novels #2

Chanur's Venture

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1984

The Alliance-Union Universe

Forty Thousand in Gehenna

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1983

Vorkosigan

Falling Free

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Nebula Award

April 1988

The Alliance-Union Universe

Rimrunners

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1989

The Dragon Never Sleeps

Glen Cook

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1988

Star Rigger #3

Panglor

Jeffrey A. Carver

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1980

The Alliance-Union Universe

Serpent's Reach

C. J. Cherryh

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1980

The Snow Queen Cycle #2

World's End

Joan D. Vinge

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1984

Liaden Universe #3

Carpe Diem

Steve Miller, Sharon Lee

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1989

Vorkosigan

Ethan of Athos

Lois McMaster Bujold

Science Fiction · Space Opera

December 1986

The Culture

The State of the Art

Iain M. Banks

Science Fiction · Space Opera

1989