10 Riveting Sci-Fi Novels About Space Warfare

10 Riveting Sci Fi Novels About Space Warfare

10 Great Space Films

1. Hidden Figures (2016)
2. Rogue One (2016)
3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
4. Alien (1979)
5. Contact (1997)
6. Apollo 13 (1995)
7. Interstellar (2014)
8. Star Trek (2009)
9. October Sky (1999)
10. The Martian (2015)

Classic Works of Sci-Fi

The authors on this list stand on the shoulders of many famous writers who came before them and influenced the genre. Here are a few works that made science fiction what it is today:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Dune by Frank Herbert
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
• Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

How Science Fiction Can Help Predict the Future

In Depth

Space operas are stories that are often set in the distant future, where humans have achieved interstellar travel and possibly even colonized planets all across the universe. These books usually focus on the theme of intergalactic war, and they feature all sorts of characters that can range from battle-scarred veterans to mischievous outlaws. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of ten riveting sci-fi novels about space warfare. Take note that this list is done in no particular order.

First up, at #1, we have "Heart of Vengeance" by Glynn Stewart and Terry Mixon. It's the first entry of their "Vigilante" series, and it mainly revolves around a man named Brad Mantruso, the sole survivor of a brutal pirate attack. The book follows him as he hunts down the people responsible for killing his family and destroying their ship. Throughout the story, he makes a lot of new allies and powerful enemies, and he's forced to change his name to Brad Madrid in order to hide his true identity.

Next, at #2, is "Destiny Lost" by M.D. Cooper. It's a part of Cooper's expansive Aeon 14 universe, and it introduces readers to Sera, the captain of the freighter Sabrina. One day, her crew comes across a mysterious container with a woman named Tanis Richards inside it. Tanis tells them that she knows the location of the Intrepid, a colony ship that was lost millennia ago. Now, they all have to work together to find the missing ship, fighting pirates and interstellar governments along the way.

It's a part of Cooper's expansive Aeon 14 universe, and it introduces readers to Sera, the captain of the freighter Sabrina.

At #3 is "With The Lightnings" by David Drake. It's the first book of his "RCN" series, and it introduces readers to Daniel Leary, a lieutenant in the navy of the Republic of Cinnabar. The story follows Leary as he gets caught up in the constant struggle between two powerful factions, the Alliance and Cinnabar. When he comes across Adele Mundy, whose family was killed after a coup attempt on the planet of Kostroma, they team up to foil the Alliance's schemes.

Next up, at #4, we have "Soda Pop Soldier" by Nick Cole. Set in a world where corporations use online games as a way to fight over advertising space, it follows a professional gamer known only as "PerfectQuestion." Since his low income is not enough to cover his rent, he enters an illegal tournament to make more money. When he learns that someone working for a rival company is trying to kill him, he has to fight for his life in both the real and virtual worlds.

Next, at #5, is "Duel in the Dark" by Jay Allan. It serves as an introduction to Allan's "Blood on the Stars" series, which mainly revolves around the war between the Confederation and the Union. Tyler Barron is the captain of the Dauntless, a Confederate battleship. The story follows him and his crew as they investigate a disturbance in one of their mining colonies at the edge of their territory, which Barron's superiors claim is merely a distraction set by their enemies.

The story follows him and his crew as they investigate a disturbance in one of their mining colonies at the edge of their territory, which Barron's superiors claim is merely a distraction set by their enemies.

At #6 is "Imperator: Wrath of the Omnissiah." Written by Gav Thorpe, it's set in the expansive Warhammer 40K universe, which is based on the tabletop war game of the same name. It features the Casus Belli, an Imperator-class Titan that's part of the renowned Legio Metalica legion. The book follows the Casus Belli's crew as they face numerous enemies, both in and out of the giant machine.

Next, at #7, is "Empress of Forever" by Max Gladstone. Vivian Lao is an esteemed innovator who suddenly finds herself in the distant future, where a powerful empress has the ability to destroy entire planets with a mere thought. With the help of a ragtag group of spacefaring individuals, Vivian goes on an adventure to confront the empress and, hopefully, find a way back home.

Next up, at #8, we have "The Fortress in Orion" by Mike Resnick. It's the first entry of his "Dead Enders" series, which is centered on the eponymous group led by Colonel Nathan Pretorius. In this novel, Pretorius and his team are sent deep into enemy territory in order to kidnap one of the Traanskei Coalition's generals and replace him with a clone raised by the Democracy.

In this novel, Pretorius and his team are sent deep into enemy territory in order to kidnap one of the Traanskei Coalition's generals and replace him with a clone raised by the Democracy.

At #9 is "Swarm" by B.V. Larson. After suffering a devastating loss, Kyle Riggs gets abducted by a mysterious alien spacecraft. There, Kyle gets put through many dangerous tests, and when he survives all of them, he's suddenly named the ship's new captain. Eventually, he finds out that humans all over the world have gone through the same process in preparation for war against another alien race that's planning on conquering Earth.

Finally, at #10, we have "Sub-Human" by David Simpson. Set in the distant future, it's centered on the war between humans and sentient artificial intelligence. The story follows Craig Emilson, a doctor who is sent on a mission to destroy an evil A.I. that's threatening mankind. It's an action-packed tale full of twists and turns, and it presents some insight on how rapid technological advancements can affect society.