The Space Heroes - A Brief History This is based on what I have read and am currently familiar with. Suggestions are good. More than likely I have forgotten some. This is about characters who have had prose appearances, only, but noting their first appearance chronologically if rather different. There are lists of the relevant material afterwards that I have read, with links. I also haven't included ever single minor example that I know of, either. A few of the more esoteric or single appearances of the more superheroic variety you will find at Super Reader, for example. No particular interest in aimed at kids series, either. 1910 A Princess Of Mars [Under the Moons of Mars [John Carter]] (1912) - Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter, Virginian, ends up on Barsoom and the rest is history, along with Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, a lot of offspring and some supervillains. There's a Venusian counterpart series, as well. Barsoom : 01 A Princess of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 02 The Gods of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 04 Thuvia, Maid of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 05 The Chessmen of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 06 The Master Mind of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 07 A Fighting Man of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 08 Swords of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 09 Synthetic Men of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 10 Llana of Gathol - Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom : 11 John Carter of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter Of Mars : 1 John Carter and the Giant Of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter Of Mars : 1 Skeleton Men Of Jupiter - Edgar Rice Burroughs 1920 Armageddon 2149 AD [Buck Rogers] (1928) - Philip Francis Nowlan The advent of Buck Rogers, as Anthony Rogers wakes up in the future and team sup with Wilma Deering for some military action. Buck Rogers : 01 Armageddon 2419 AD - Philip Francis Nowlan Buck Rogers : 02 The Airlords of Han - Philip Francis Nowlan Buck Rogers : The Man from the 25th Century - Glen A. Larson Buck Rogers : That Man on Beta - Glen A. Larson Buck Rogers : Arrival - Abigail Irvine Arrival : 1 Armageddon 1995 - Flint Dille Arrival : 2 The Homecoming - Robert Sheckley Arrival : 3 Triple Cross - Abigail Irvine Arrival : 4 Tryst of Fate - M. S. Murdock Arrival : 5 Two Barneys - Ulrike O'Reilly Arrival : 6 The Relic - Flint Dille Arrival : 7 Adversary - Jerry Oltion Crashing Suns [Interstellar Patrol] (1928) - Edmond Hamilton The first of the stories about a stalwart group of alien colleagues saving the world, solar system, galaxy or universe from immense threats, whether by massive ship battles, chases, or a bit of good old fashioned biffo. Starwolves and the Interstellar Patrol - Edmond Hamilton The Skylark Of Space [Skylark] (1929) - E. E. Doc Smith One good scientist, one girl, one bad scientist, one ship. The Skylark Of Space - E. E. Doc Smith Planet Of Peril [Grandon] (1929) - Otis Adelbert Kline The Venusian part of Kline's Planetary Romances. The Legion Of Space [Legion Of Space] (1934) - Jack Williamson A musketeeresque (among others) romp to stop the bad guys taking over your organisation, not to mention a doomsday weapon, and a woman that surprises them. A couple more books round out the series. Legion of Space : 1 The Legion of Space - Jack Williamson 1930 Shambleau [Northwest Smith] (1993) - C. L. Moore This tale of antihero Smith and a strange vampire woman of Mars is excellent, and the complete Northwest Smith has been released recently by Planet Stories. Northwest Of Earth - C. L. Moore The Swordsman Of Mars [Swordsman Of Mars] (1933) - Otis Adelbert Kline Kline's answer to John Carter of Mars. A remastered and much improved version has just been released by the Planet Stories press. Pirates Of Venus [Amtor, Carson] (1934) - Edgar Rice Burroughs ERB, keeping up with the Klineses. Amtor : 3 Carson of Venus - Edgar Rice Burroughs Amtor : 5 The Wizard of Venus - Edgar Rice Burroughs Flash Gordon (1934) - Alex Raymond The comic strip heroic polo player's adventures started in the aforementioned medium, and first appeared in prose in 1936 in a couple of publications normal mortals are never likely to find, an obscure pulp magazine, and a novel. Flash Gordon : Flash Gordon (novelisation) - Arthur Byron Cover Galactic Patrol [Lensman, Kimball Kinnison] (1937) - E. E. Doc Smith The magazine appearance of this wild space opera starring Kimball Kinnison and his crew of space axe and raygun wielding underlings. This series evolves into superpowered agents and a galaxy wide no holds barred throw planets at them kill or be killed war with space pirates. Having a varied bunch of superhuman power wielding fellow Lensman and some big brained alien mentors helps, too. Along with smart kids. Lensman : 1 Triplanetary - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : 2 First Lensman - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : 3 Galactic Patrol - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : 4 Gray Lensman - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : 5 Second Stage Lensman - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : 6 Children of the Lens - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : 7 Masters of the Vortex - E. E. Doc Smith Lensman : Pirates Of Space - E. E. Doc Smith Masters Of the Vortex : 1 The Vortex Blaster - E. E. Doc Smith Masters Of the Vortex : 2 Storm Cloud on Deka - E. E. Doc Smith Masters Of the Vortex : 3 The Vortex Blaster Makes War - E. E. Doc Smith Superman (1938) - Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster While very often Earthbound, this is not always the case for The Man Of Steel, as, along with Crisis On Infinite Earths, Elliott S. Maggin's Last Son Of Krypton novel shows. Superman and Luthor even have to team-up to get out of this deep space situation. Superman : Krypto Starwinds Howl - Eliott S. Maggin Superman : Last Son of Krypton - Eliott S. Maggin Superman : Luthor's Gift - Eliott S. Maggin Almuric (1939) - Robert E. Howard Howard's take on the Planetary Romance, as adventure Esau Cairn awakes naked and alone and ventures forth into trouble on a new planet. Unique : Almuric - Robert E. Howard Black Destroyer [Space Beagle] (1939) - A. E. Van Vogt Plucky scientist adventurers come across a powerful alien, and Alien would later be born. The Voyage Of the Space Beagle - A. E. Van Vogt 1940 The Space Emperor [Captain Future] (1940) - Edmond Hamilton A space superhero and his band of oddballs, robots, brains, included do what superhero teams do, just all over space. A couple were written by people other than Hamilton. Captain Future : 11 The Comet Kings - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 13 The Face of the Deep - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 18 Red Sun of Danger - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 21 The Return of Captain Future - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 22 Children of the Sun - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 23 The Harpers of Titan - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 24 Pardon My Iron Nerves - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 25 Moon of the Unforgotten - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 26 Earthmen No More - Edmond Hamilton Captain Future : 27 Birthplace of Creation - Edmond Hamilton The Death of Captain Future (1996) - Allen M. Steele A moving, sterling novella of a delusional ship captain taking on a new crewman, and the trouble he gets into, as well as being a homage of sorts to the titular character. Space Opera Renaissance : The Death of Captain Future - Allen Steele The Rull [Trevor Jamieson] (1948) - A. E. Van Vogt A story that would become part of a fixup collection, The War Against the Rull. Humans have to learn how to deal with aliens that don't like them much. Agent Of Vega [Vegan Agents] (1949) - James H. Schmitz The first story about this group of superpowered super space agents appeared, continuing into the next decade. Vegan Agents : Agent of Vega and Other Stories (Baen) - James H. Schmitz Queen Of the Martian Catacombs [Eric John Stark] (1949) - Leigh Brackett The adventures of the wild man of Mercury whether in our solar system, or others, begin here. Awesome stuff, as is much of her other work that is similar, Sea-Kings Of Mars, etc. Black Amazons, Enchantresses and giant Hounds await. The Eric John Stark Saga - Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton Sea-Kings Of Mars and Otherworldly Stories - Leigh Brackett The Star Kings (1949) - Edmond Hamilton Interstellar lords and conflict as an Earthman's consciousness travels to inhabit the body of a space prince, and later he gets the full body treatment. Stark and the Star Kings and Other Stories - Leigh Brackett Stark and the Star Kings - Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton The Eric John Stark Saga - Leigh Brackett 1950 Scanners Live In Vain [The Instrumentality Of Mankind] (1950) - Cordwainer Smith The beginning of Smith's brilliant and strange Future History, which would not see the recurring characters appear until the sixties. Scanners Live In Vain - Cordwainer Smith On the Gem Planet [The Instrumentality Of Mankind, Casher O'Neill] (1963) - Cordwainer Smith O'Neill appears in five other stories, titled in similar manner. The Rediscovery Of Man - Cordwainer Smith The Boy Who Bought Old Earth [The Instrumentality Of Mankind, Rod McBan] (1964) - Cordwainer Smith A sequence of tales that would culminate in the novel, Norstrilia, years later. Norstrilia - Cordwainer Smith Tiger By the Tail [Technic History, Dominic Flandry] (1951) - Poul Anderson The exploits of a Bondesque flamboyant interstellar agent trying to slow the decline of the Terran Empire into barbarism begins here. Flandry : Ensign Flandry - Poul Anderson Flandry : 4 Agent of the Terran Empire - Poul Anderson David Starr, Space Ranger [Lucky Starr] (1952) - Isaac Asimov Kids series, it would seem. From Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter - Isaac Asimov From Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus - Isaac Asimov Star Rangers [Central Control] (1953) - Andre Norton A down and out space patrol have to try and do something about a super telepath. Star Rangers - Andre Norton Med Service [Med Service] (1957) - Murray Leinster The adventures of an interstellar medical agent and his alien animal partner with its useful abilities. Med Ship - Murray Leinster The Interstellar Patrol [Federation Of Humanity, Interstellar Patrol] (1958) - Christopher Anvil His long series of stories started here, about agents recruited for their fast and lateral thinking abilities to get out there in the galaxy and solve problems. Interstellar Patrol - Christopher Anvil Interstellar Patrol II - Christopher Anvil The Legion Of Super-Heroes (1958) - Otto Binder Edmond Hamilton would write a chunk of this. This team of young people, all with different superpowers of some sort continue to have wild space adventures and fight off alien invasions and supercriminals to this day. The Legion do appear in Crisis On Infinite Earths and presumably there will be a Final Crisis book, too. They certainly deserve a novel. Dorsai! [Childe Cycle] (1959) - Gordon R. Dickson A series about the splintering of humanity, the Dorsai mercenaries, and a superhuman leader or two, with a varying cast of lead characters that reappear. Dorsai : 01 Dorsai! - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : 02 Necromancer - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : 03 Soldier, Ask Not - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : 04 Tactics of Mistake - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : 07 The Final Encyclopedia - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : 08 The Dorsai Companion - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : 09 The Chantry Guild - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : Spirit of Dorsai - Gordon R. Dickson Dorsai : Soldier, Ask Not [short story] - Gordon R. Dickson Green Lantern [Hal Jordan] (1959) - Gil Kane Original 1940s Green Lantern Alan Scott has a magic ring, not one bequeathed upon him by a dying alien that makes him a galaxy-faring space patrolman, as is the case with Hal Jordan, and those that follow after him. Green Lantern : Hero's Quest - Dennis O'Neil Green Lantern : 1 Sleepers 1 - Christopher Priest and Mike Baron Chance Encounter [John Grimes] (1959) - A. Bertram Chandler The beginning of the large role that Grimes' exploits would play in Chandler's Rim Worlds Future History. There are many novels and stories to be found in this series. A bit of a selection is below. Chance Encounter - A. Bertram Chandler Beyond the Galactic Rim - A. Bertram Chandler Alternate Orbits - A. Bertram Chandler Catch the Star Winds - A. Bertram Chandler The Commodore At Sea - A. Bertram Chandler The Far Traveller - A. Bertram Chandler Grimes and the Gaijin Daimyo - A. Bertram Chandler The Hard Way Up - A. Bertram Chandler The Rim Gods - A. Bertram Chandler The Rim Gods - A. Bertram Chandler The Rim Of Space - A. Bertram Chandler Space Mercenaries - A. Bertram Chandler The Lady In the Tower [Tower and the Hive] (1959) - Anne McCaffrey Space travel requires the use of those with immense psychic abilities. The Rowan - Anne McCaffrey Damia - Anne McCaffrey 1960 Diplomat-At-Arms [Jaime Retief] (1960) - Keith Laumer An action man interstellar diplomat stuck in a Yes Minister style service, with sneaky alien opposition. Retief! - Keith Laumer The Fantastic Four (1961) - Stan Lee and Jack Kirby The new Marvel Age arrives with this team of astronaut adventurers getting a dose of too much radiation in space, and becoming a family superteam. The X-Men (1961) - Stan Lee and Jack Kirby An origin born of radiation, for these mutants. However, in the 1970s the New X-Men would certainly do their share of space adventuring, particularly in The Dark Phoenix Saga and with the space pirate Starjammers. There are many X-Men novels and anthologies. An obvious book to include here is the X-Men/Star Trek crossover novel. Planet X - Michael Jan Friedman The Stainless Steel Rat [Stainless Steel Rat] - Harry Harrison The story that started the long series about interstellar thief Slippery Jim di Griz and his wife, forced to behave and do what they do best, somewhat for good. Stainless Steel Rat : 01 The Stainless Steel Rat - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 02 The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 03 The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 04 The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 05 The Stainless Steel Rat for President - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 06 A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 07 The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 08 The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 09 The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : 10 The Stainless Steel Rat Joins the Circus - Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat : The Stainless Steel Rat Stainless Steel Rat : The Return Of the Stainless Steel Rat Novice [Hub, Telzey Amberdon] (1962) - James H. Schmitz Legacy [Hub, Trigger Argee] (1962) - James H. Schmitz Schmitz's Hub universe contains the adventures of the TnT pair of Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee. Whether with psionics or pistols they get the job done, whoever the opponent. Contained most concisely in the various Baen collections. Hub : Telzey Amberdon - James H. Schmitz Telzey Amberdon : 2 TNT: Telzey and Trigger - James H. Schimitz Trigger Argee : 1 Trigger and Friends - James H. Schimitz Hub : Trigger and Friends 1 Harvest Time [Trigger Argee] - James H. Schmitz Dune [Paul Atreides, Jessica Atreides, Duncan Idaho] (1963) - Frank Herbert A planetary romance with space opera scale if you like, given how important Arrakis is to the overall story. One of the best science fiction novels ever, of course, as this tale religiopolitical plotting to breed a superhuman comes undone in spectacularly martial fashion when Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica survive to get the jump on those out to get or use them. Dune : 01 Dune - Frank Herbert Dune : 02 Dune Messiah - Frank Herbert Dune : 03 Children of Dune - Frank Herbert Dune : 04 God Emperor of Dune - Frank Herbert Dune : 05 Heretics of Dune - Frank Herbert Dune : 06 Chapterhouse Dune - Frank Herbert Dune : 07 House Atreides - Brian Herbert Dune : 08 House Harkonnen - Brian Herbert Dune : 09 House Corrino - Brian Herbert Dune : 10 The Butlerian Jihad - Brian Herbert Dune : 11 The Machine Crusade - Brian Herbert Dune : 12 The Battle of Corrin - Brian Herbert Dune : 13 The Road to Dune - Brian Herbert Dune : 14 Hunters of Dune - Brian Herbert Sandworms of Dune - Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson Dune : Nightime Shadows on Open Sand - Brian Herbert Dune : Sea Child Dune : Treasure In the Sand The Star King [Demon Princes] (1963) - Jack Vance A young man's interstellar mission to take down five crimelords, in revenge. Star King - Jack Vance The Killing Machine - Jack Vance The Palace Of Love - Jack Vance The Face - Jack Vance Warrior of Llarn [Alan Morgan] (1964) - Gardner Fox Fox's go at a Burroughs-style Planetary Romance of sword wielding champion and space princess. Would also do plenty of space hero comics work. Llarn : 1 Warrior of Llarn - Gardner Fox Doctor Who (1965) - Various There are heaps. Novelisations, original adventures, short stories, and more. See Doctor Who Reference Guide I read quite a few when was a kid but haven't written about them all, and have likely forgotten some. Doctor Who and the Ark In Space - Ian Marter Doctor Who and the Ribos Operation - Ian Marter Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment - Ian Marter Doctor Who and the Tenth Planet - Gerry Davis Doctor Who and the Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles Doctor Who and the Ice Warriors - Brian Hayles Doctor Who and the Sea Devils - Malcolm Hulke Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters - Malcolm Hulke Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke Doctor Who and the Daemons - Barry Letts Doctor Who and Warrior's Gate - John Lydecker Doctor Who Terminus - John Lydecker Doctor Who Full Circle - Andrew Smith Warriors Of Mars [Eternal Champion, Warriors Of Mars, Michael Kane] (1965) - Michael Moorcock Moorcock's take on a John Carter of Mars style story. City of the Beast [Warriors Of Mars] - Michael Moorcock The Lord of the Spiders [Blades Of Mars] - Michael Moorcock Masters of the Pit [Barbarians Of Mars] - Michael Moorcock Neutron Star [Known Space, Beowful Shaeffer] (1966) - Larry Niven The stories about a rogue and his dealings with the puppeteers. A dodgy bloke gets into dodgy situations requiring his talents to extricate himself. N-Space - Larry Niven Crashlander - Larry Niven The Silver Surfer (1966) - Jack Kirby. A man gives up his humanity in order to lead a planet eating being away from his own world and lover, and of course, to Earth and the Fantastic Four. Silver Surfer : The Ultimate Silver Surfer - Stan Lee The Goddess Of Ganymede [Ganymede] (1967) - Mike Resnick This first of two Burroughs-style planetary romances. Star Trek 1 [Star Trek TOS] (1967) - James Blish The first of the novelisations of the Trek series. Obviously there are many, many of these books now. I have read more than I can remember way back in the past, and a few of the newer series, too. Star Trek Log One - Alan Dean Foster Star Trek The Motion Picture - James Blish Proud Helios - Melissa Scott Starwolf [Starwolf, Morgan Chane] [1967] - Edmond Hamilton Three novels chronicling the adventures of an ex-star raider and superhuman antihero after a falling out with his fellow pirates. Starwolves and the Interstellar Patrol - Edmond Hamilton Weyr Search [Dragonriders of Pern, Lessa] (1967) - Anne McCaffrey A story of the colonisation of a planet and the genetic engineering of the lifeforms there to allow a low-tech society to combat nasty stuff falling from space. Nice to have dragons that are telepathic, teleporting, time travelling firemen and women, really. A series that still continues. Dragonrider - Anne McCaffrey Weyr Search - Anne McCaffrey The White Dragon - Anne McCaffrey Moreta Dragonlady of Pern - Anne McCaffrey A Gift Of Dragons - Anne McCaffrey Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey Dragonsinger - Anne McCaffrey Dragonsdawn - Anne McCaffrey Dragonrider - Anne McCaffrey The Ship Who Sang [Helva] (1969) - Anne McCaffrey The story of those are are too crippled for physical existence, but have the brainpower to run a spaceship, and their adventures with their fully human pilot partners. The Ship Who Sang - Anne McCaffrey Enterprise Stardust [Perry Rhodan] (1969) - K. H. Scheer This series of German origin and still going obviously has been written by many people due to its frequency. Some of the English language reprints are below. Rhodan was just an astronaut on a space mission from a very troubled Peacelord Perry is on a mission to change the world. He is also the leader of a band of mutant superheroes on a quest through space for immortality, along with his alien allies. Perry Rhodan : 001 Enterprise Stardust - K. H. Scheer Perry Rhodan : 002 The Third Power - Clark Darlton Perry Rhodan : 003 The Radiant Dome - K. H. Scheer Perry Rhodan : 004 Twilight of the Gods - Clark Darlton Perry Rhodan : 005 Galactic Alarm - Kurt Mahr Perry Rhodan : 006 The Mutant Corps - W. W. Schols Perry Rhodan : 007 Invasion from Space - Clark Darlton Perry Rhodan : 008 Base on Venus - Kurt Mahr Perry Rhodan : 009 The Wasp-Men Attack - W. W. Schols Perry Rhodan : 010 Space Battle in Vega Sector - K. H. Scheer Perry Rhodan : 011 Mutants in Action - Kurt Mahr Perry Rhodan : 012 Secret of the Time Vault - Clark Darlton Perry Rhodan : 013 Fortress of the Six Moons - K. H. Scheer Perry Rhodan : 014 The Galactic Riddle - Clark Darlton Perry Rhodan : 015 Quest through Space and Time - Clark Darlton Perry Rhodan : 016 The Ghosts of Gol - Kurt Mahr The Winds of Gath - E. C. Tubb The first of a series of novels detailing the adventures of a lost adventurer with superhuman reflexes and agility trying to get back to Earth. The Winds of Gath - E. C. Tubb 1970 Ringworld [Ringworld, Known Space, Louis Wu] (1970) - Larry Niven A puppeteer assembles a disparate group to journey to an amazing structure. Problems, travel, and puzzles await, as do sequels. Ringworld - Larry Niven The Ringworld Engineers - Larry Niven The Ringworld Throne - Larry Niven Transit To Scorpio [Dray Prescott] (1972) - Kenneth Bulmer Writing as Alan Burt Akers this is your sword wielding stalwart and space princess planetary romance flavored story. Whether it changes by book 45, only those who have read that far would know. Dray Prescot : 01 Transit to Scorpio - Kenneth Bulmer Jandar of Callisto [Callisto] (1972) - Lin Carter Carter's take on Burroughsian interplanetary adventure. Galaxy Of the Lost [Cap Kennedy] (1973) - E. C. Tubb Written under another name, a series about a super space agent. Enemy Within the Skull - Gregory Kern Star Wars [Star Wars, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa] (1976) - Alan Dean Foster The novelisation of the movie, credited to George Lucas was written by Foster. This of course helped to spawn an industry and a legion of novels. A few of the earlier variety are listed here. Han Solo At Star's End - Brian Daley Han Solo And the Lost Legacy - Brian Daley Han Solo's Revenge - Brian Daley Splinter Of the Mind's Eye - Alan Dean Foster Star Wars - Alan Dean Foster The Empire Strikes Back - Donald F. Glut Return of the Jedi - James Kahn Blake's Seven (1977) [Blake's 7] - Trevor Hoyle Novelisations and a continuation of some of the tv series of rebels trying to bring down an evil federation with the aid of advanced alien ship technolog. Blake's Seven - Trevor Hoyle Blake's Seven Scorpio Attack - Trevor Hoyle Blake's 7 Afterlife - Terry Nation Midnight At the Well Of Souls [Well World, Nathan Brazil, Mavra Chang] (1977) - Jack L. Chalker The story of conflict centred on the Well World, and its various caretakers. A place that if you visit, you change form to suit one of the many small enclaves found within. A machine of awesome power, in other words. Midnight At the Well Of Souls - Jack L. Chalker Quest For the Well Of Souls - Jack L. Chalker Exiles At the Well Of Souls - Jack L. Chalker The Return of Nathan Brazil - Jack L. Chalker Twilight At the Well Of Souls - Jack L. Chalker Vicinity Cluster [Cluster] (1977) - Piers Anthony A series about interstellar agents who travel thanks to their extremely strong Kirlian auras, enabling them to take over the minds of locals when they have problems to fix. Vicinity Cluster - Piers Anthony Chaining the Lady - Piers Anthony Kirlian Quest - Piers Anthony Thousandstar - Piers Anthony Viscous Circle - Piers Anthony Battlestar Galactica [Battlestar Galactica] (1978) - Glen A. Larson Novelisation of the start of the original mormons, space vipers and robot dogs story. Battlestar Galactica - Glen A. Larson Strontium Dog (1978) - John Wagner A creation that moved to 2000 AD. After a nuclear war, with lots of people wiped out, mutants arrive, and endure racism. They are allowed to be intergalactic bounty hunters - which is where we find Johnny Alpha and his superhuman band. Strontium Dog : 1 Bad Timing - Rebecca Levene Strontium Dog : 5 A Fistful of Strontium - Steve Lyons and Jaspre Bark Lord Valentine's Castle [Majipoor, Valentine] (1979) - Robert Silverberg A return for Silverberg, and the start of a long running series that would expand into book form, as the amnesiac apprentice juggler Valentine discovers his destiny and a shapeshifting alien plot in this science fantasy. Lord Valentine's Castle - Robert Silverberg The Majipoor Chronicles - Robert Silverberg Valentine Pontifex - Robert Silverberg 1980 Serpent's Reach [Alliance-Union] (1981) - C. J. Cherryh I am not familiar with Cherryh, but I will not there is a Chanur series, so presumably the character in these stories is of interest, for multiple appearances. Hellburner - C. J. Cherryh Santiago [Birthright, Santiago] (1982) - Mike Resnick Looking at who is a hero, and who is a bad guy depends on which side you are on. Santiago : 1 Santiago A Myth of the Far Future - Mike Resnick Crisis On Infinite Earths [DC Universe] (1985) - Marv Wolfman This conflict between the Monitor and the Anti-Monitor spans the full range of space, time, and the multiverse, and everybody in the DC Universe, including the major characters, and even continues now. There are novelisations of both of the completed series so far. DC Universe : Crisis On Infinite Earths - Marv Wolfman DC Universe : Infinite Crisis - Greg Cox DC Universe : 1 Last Sons - Alan Grant Five Twelfths Of Heaven [Silence Leigh] (1985) - This strange combination of space pirate rebels and logical magical space travel continued into trilogy form. The Blackcollar [Blackcollar] (1986) - Timothy Zahn A group of elite warriors are the only hope for Earth's conquered future, if they even exist any more. The Blackcollar - Timothy Zahn The Borders Of Infinity [Miles Vorkosigan] (1987) - Lois McMaster Bujold A young man crippled thanks to a poisoning in the womb turns out to be your military space genius hero type in this romance flavored series. Borders Of Infinity - Lois McMaster Bujold Brothers In Arms - Lois McMaster Bujold Ethan of Athos - Lois McMaster Bujold Labyrinth - Lois McMaster Bujold Shards of Honor - Lois McMaster Bujold The Warrior's Apprentice - Lois McMaster Bujold Consider Phlebas [1987] - Iain M. Banks Consider Phlebas - Iain M. Banks The State of the Art - Iain M. Banks The Player of Games - Iain M. Banks Use of Weapons - Iain M. Banks Dawn For A Distant Earth [Forever Hero] (1987) - L. E. Modesitt A more than human extremely long lived man devotes a lot of time and work to getting the Galactics to restore a ravaged Earth. Forever Hero : 1 Dawn For a Distant Earth - L. E. Modesitt Forever Hero : 2 The Silent Warrior - L. E. Modesitt Forever Hero : 3 The Endless Twilight - L. E. Modesitt Four Hundred Billion Stars [Four Hundred Billion Stars, Dorothy Yoshida] (1987) - Paul J. McAuley A talented telepath investigates and uncovers. Four Hundred Billion Stars - Paul J. McAuley Eternal Light - Paul J. McAuley The Secret Of the Lona [Dr Bones] (1988) - Stephen Leigh An eighties take on a space hero series, written by multiple authors. An archaeologist scientist type more in the Doc Savage/Indiana Jones vein. Dr Bones : 5 Nightmare World - David Stern A Talent For War [Alex Benedict] (1989) - Jack McDevitt A story of uncovering past war propaganda and leadership. A Talent For War - Jack McDevitt 1990 Calendar of Chaos [Hartigan O'Reilly] (1991) - G. David Nordley A couple more stories after this, haven't found any yet. Poles Apart [Trimus] (1992) - G. David Nordley Likewise, there are two more of these. Poles Apart - G. David Nordley Oracle [Birthright, Oracle] - Mike Resnick A young woman with mental powers, those out to get or use her, and her protectors appear in a trilogy. Oracle : 1 Soothsayer - Mike Resnick Oracle : 2 Oracle - Mike Resnick Oracle : 3 Prophet - Mike Resnick On Basilisk Station [Honor Harrington] (1993) - David Weber Your naval battles in space type story as a new officer gets the political shaft and with a crew of misfits and untested gear turns the tables on such attempts at skullduggery, then goes on to star in a whole heap of sequels and the odd prequel. Ms Midshipwoman Harrington - David Weber On Basilisk Station - David Weber Field of Dishonor - David Weber Flag In Exile - David Weber The Honor Of the Queen - David Weber The Short Victorious War - David Weber Hunting Party [Familias Regnant, Herris Serrano] (1993) - Elizabeth Moon Your military SF space marine type of protagonist to be found here. Haven't read them, but the spousal unit vouches for the first series. Sister Alice [Sister Alice] (1993) - Robert Reed The conflicts between families and within of posthumans with staggering powers, and the affects upon the galaxy and the normal human populace. Sister Alice - Robert Reed Light and Shadow [Skolian Empire] (1994) - Catherine Asaro Asaro deliberately melds SF and romance, as such, I am likely to read little of it, but have seen a couple of stories. Major characters, etc., I couldn't tell you. Anyone else, feel free. The Ruby Dice - Catherine Asaro Aurora In Four Voices - Catherine Asaro The Remoras [Marrow] (1994) - Robert Reed The adventures on a Great Ship while travelling the Galaxy, and the strange long-lived inhabitants, including one woman who remembers what it was like to be pretty basic, back on Earth. Marrow - Robert Reed The Remoras - Robert Reed Night Of Time - Robert Reed River Of the Queen - Robert Reed Camouflage - Robert Reed Hoop-of-Benzene - Robert Reed The Caldera of Good Fortune - Robert Reed The Man With the Golden Balloon - Robert Reed The Engines Of God [Priscilla Hutchins] (1994) - Jack McDevitt Bored space pilot Hutch ends up specialising in rescuing interstellar exploration teams, over more mundane work. The Engines of God - Jack McDevitt Chindi - Jack McDevitt Deepsix - Jack McDevitt Odyssey - Jack McDevitt Omega Hedgehogs - Jack McDevitt Deathstalker [Deathstalker] (1995) - Simon R. Green The titular character is a more than human warrior and rich guy, and puts together a group of (and is put together by a group of) crazed colorful characters to oppose your Evil Galactic Empire. Green is good at making up the outre, and I was joking with the spousal unit that robot space zombies would make a fun story. Green, of course, had some already. Deathstalker : 3 Deathstalker Rebellion - Simon R. Green Voices [Babylon 5] (1995) - John Vornholt The first of five original Babylon 5 novels. There would be some more series following later about Psi-Cops, Technomages, etc. Voices - John Vornholt Accusations - Lois Tilton Blood Oath - John Vornholt Clarke's Law - Jim Mortimore The Touch Of Your Shadow the Whisper of Your Name - Neal Barrett The Reality Dysfunction [Confederation, Joshua Calvert, Ione Saldana] (1996) - Peter F. Hamilton Hamilton's Confederation Universe appeared in a short story earlier on, but the main event was the Night's Dawn trilogy, with the roguish young Teelaesque space captain, and his version of a space princess. Then add in the dead coming back and trying to take over the universe, because being dead sucks quite a lot. The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F. Hamilton The Neutronium Alchemist - Peter F. Hamilton The Naked God - Peter F. Hamilton A Second Chance At Eden - Peter F. Hamilton Stargate SG-1 [Stargate SG-1] - Ashley McDonnell Novels are still being produced, the first is a novelisation of the pilot. The Prodigal Sun [Evergence, Morgan] (1999)- Sean Williams and Shane Dix Morgan is a woman with a serious talent for AI work. When she finds out why, all she has to do is choose which species of human lives, and which dies. Evergence : 1 The Prodigal Sun - Sean Williams Evergence : 2 The Dying Light - Sean Williams Evergence : 3 The Dark Imbalance - Sean Williams 2000 The Boid Hunt [Coyote] - (2000) Will become part of the fixup Coyote, chronicling the lives of a group of colonists that steal the starship Alabama to escape a fascist USA and settle on another planet. The major characters being Captain Robert E. Lee, Wendy Gunther, and Carlos Moreno, a resistance leader in later work when their old friends from Earth come calling. The third Coyote collection is Coyote Frontier. Coyote - Allen M. Steele Coyote Rising - Allen M. Steele Great Wall Of Mars [Revelation Space, Neville Clavain] (2000) - Alastair Reyonlds The major feature character in Reynolds' Revelation Space Universe appears first in this pick sides, bad escape choices with the superhuman girl story. Other characters appear multiple times. Great Wall of Mars - Alastair Reynolds Glacial - Alastair Reynolds Redemption Ark - Alastair Reynolds Absolution Gap - Alastair Reynolds Other material starts with : Dilation Sleep [Revelation Space] (1990) - Alastair Reynolds. This is in the Galactic North collection. An appearance in Interzone likely missed by almost all of us that heralded the appearance of the pre-eminent master of the space opera. Although a character here may reappear, most definitely not of the heroic variety. The Revelation Space setting is worthy of note, itself, however. Chasm City - Alastair Reynolds Diamond Dogs Turquoise Days - Alastair Reynolds Galactic North - Alastair Reynolds Paradox [Nulapeiron, Tom Corcoran] (2000) - John Meaney A literally physically stratified society, as well as on a class level is changed when a young poor boy is found to have intellectual gifts, as is given a gift to hide by a dying Mu-Space pilot. Paradox - John Meaney Context - John Meaney Resolution - John Meaney House Of Cards [Farscape] - Keith R. A. DeCandido A novel based on the tv series. There are others, and short stories. Chains Of Freedom [Chains, RJ] (2001) - Selina Rosen A geneticall enhanced woman builds a rebel army to take on a galactic empire. Chains Of Freedom - Selina Rosen Crossover [Cassandra Kresnov] (2001) - Joel Shepherd An advanced android defects because she is sick of fighting, and just wants a normal life with shagging and spicy takeaway. Not to be, as her military masters want her back, and she ends up with an important position. Spies and space fleets are out to get her. Crossover - Joel Shepherd Breakaway - Joel Shepherd Killswitch - Joel Shepherd Gridlinked [Polity, Ian Cormac] (2001) - Neal Asher A New Space Opera take on the intergalactic super agent. Ian Cormac has robot sidekicks, unlike Dominic Flandry or Perry Rhodan. He does have his own developing super powers in this grows into conspiracy of AI overlords series. Cormac : 1 Gridlinked - Neal Asher Cormac : 2 The Line of Polity Cormac : 3 Brass Man - Neal Asher Cormac : 4 Polity Agent - Neal Asher Cormac : 5 Line War - Neal Asher The Golden Age [Golden Age] (2002) - John C. Wright A very far future story of rebellion against the conservative forces of the day. Including his dad. With plenty of odd posthumanity and wild technology. The Golden Age - John C. Wright The Phoenix Exultant - John C. Wright The Golden Transcendence - John C. Wright The Risen Empire [Succession] (2003) - Scott Westerfeld A little of the Warhammer flavour here I suppose, as dead people still hang around, and a ship captain decides to break with tradition and discovers that something is rotten at the heart of this living zombie empire. The Killing of Worlds - Scott Westerfeld The Risen Empire - Scott Westerfeld Red Thunder [Red Thunder] (2003) - John Varley Varley goes all retro-Heinlein as a group of young people, a past it astronaut and a broken genius cobble together a spaceship. Red Thunder - John Varley Singularity Sky [Singularity Sky, Rachel Mansour] (2003) - Charles Stross An agent of a powerful AI is sent to investigate rulebreaking on a restrictive planet, when a visit by those with the gift of replicating technology throws a spanner in the works. Singularity Sky - Charles Stross Iron Sunrise - Charles Stross Hammered [Jenny Casey] (2004) - Elizabeth Bear A veteran soldier gets mixed up with the AI and starships crowd, as well as Earth politics. Hammered - Elizabeth Bear Scardown - Elizabeth Bear Worldwired - Elizabeth Bear Old Man's War [Old Man's War, John Perry, Jane Sagan] (2005) - John Scalzi Scalzi joined Varley in a bit of retro-Heinleining with a bit more Haldemaning than the former, but this time of the adult military variety, not the young people do cool stuff strain. Here, the septuagenarian protagonist signs up to become a rejuvenated, transplanted, sexed-up, lean, mean, green killing machine in an interstellar war. Or more likely, chopped green laser cannon fodder. The Sagan Diary - John Scalzi Old Man's War - John Scalzi The Ghost Brigades - John Scalzi The Last Colony - John Scalzi Starship Mutiny [Starship, Wilson Cole] (2005) - Mike Resnick A military officer is so peeved with his by the book ineffective superiors, he goes rogue, and takes with him the square peg crew he was assigned to be in charge of for earlier misdemeanours. Starship Mutiny - Mike Resnick Starship Pirate - Mike Resnick Battlestar Galactica [Battlestar Galactica New] (2006) - Jeffrey A. Carvern The first of the new novelisations of the tv series. Pandora's Star [Confederation, Paula Myo] (2006) - Peter F. Hamilton Hamilton would be back with another series after some standalones, that is still continuing in short stories and novels. Rather than horror, we have an alien infiltration plot as space detective Myo looks into the lawbreaking activities of a group of rebels trying to raise awareness about the problem. The Dreaming Void jumps this Future History 1000 or so years ahead into another scenario. Judas Unchained - Peter F. Hamilton Pandora's Star - Peter F. Hamilton The Dreaming Void - Peter F. Hamilton Crystal Rain [Pepper] (2006) - Tobias S. Buckell A planetary adventure story of Aztecs and with a Carribean flavour turns into a space opera of alien overlords, interstellar trainline type travel, and your superpowered warrior type in Pepper, who seems to be the link between the novels and short stories set in this universe, in general. Crystal Rain - Tobias S. Buckell Ragamuffin - Tobias S. Buckell Resistance - Tobias S. Buckell The Sky People [Lords Of Creation] (2006) - S. M. Stirling The main pair from the above novel cameo in the second, as Stirling provides an excellent update on the inhabited and livable solar system planetary romance, first Venus, then Mars. Plus dinosaurs on Venus. Plus Chessmen on Mars. You get the idea. :) Lords Of Creation : 1 The Sky People - S. M. Stirling Lords Of Creation : 2 In the Court Of the Crimson Kings - S. M. Stirling Sun Of Suns [Virga, Venera Fanning] (2005) - Karl Schroeder Schroeder produces his own sort-of-planetary romance, or mini planet romance, of towns surrounding artificial suns, with skyships, speeder bikes, spies and swords. The story continues into a third book, with changing protagonists. Sun Of Suns - Karl Schroeder Queen Of Candesce - Karl Schroeder APPENDICES Series just beginning that may be of interest Sentients Of Orion - Marianne de Pierres The Entire and the Rose - Kay Kenyon Astropolis - Sean Williams John Hamilton - Paul Cornell Others of possible interest The Rest Of the Technic History - Poul Anderson Foundation - Isaac Asimov Xeelee sequence - Stephen Baxter The Eon Series - Greg Bear Great Sky River et. al. - Gregory Benford The Uplift Sequence - David Brin The Black Star Passes et. al. - John W. Campbell Viagens Interplanetarias - L. Sprague de Camp Schild's Ladder - Greg Egan The Forever War et. al. - Joe Haldeman Future History - Robert A. Heinlein Ekumen stuff - Ursula K. Le Guin Engines Of Light - Ken MacLeod The Fall Revolution - Ken MacLeod Galactic Milieu - Julian May (do the perseus spur) Confluence Series - Paul J. McAuley Heechee stories - Frederik Pohl SF stories - R. Garcia y Robertson (see http://notfreesflist.blogspot.com for list) Berserker Series - Fred Saberhagen Hyperion - Dan Simmons Shaper/Mechanist - Bruce Sterling Accelerando - Charles Stross Titan trilogy - John Varley The Snow Queen et. al. - Joan D. Vinge Zones Of Thought - Vernor Vinge Orphans Of Earth - Sean Williams and Shane Dix References The Space Opera Renaissance - David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer The Good Old Stuff - Gardner Dozois The Good New Stuff - Gardner Dozois Planet Stories - Erik Mona Super Reader - Blue Tyson Author bibliographies Kevin J. Anderson Poul Anderson Piers Anthony Christopher Anvil Catherine Asaro Neal Asher Isaac Asimov Iain M. Banks Stephen Baxter Elizabeth Bear James Blish Leigh Brackett Tobias S. Buckell Lois McMaster Bujold Kenneth Bulmer Edgar Rice Burroughs John W. Campbell Lin Carter Jeffrey A. Carver Jack L. Chalker A. Bertram Chandler C. J. Cherryh Clark Darlton Keith R. A. De Candido Gordon R. Dickson Shane Dix Alan Dean Foster Gardner Fox Simon R. Green George Griffith Edmond Hamilton Peter F. Hamilton Harry Harrison ?Robert A. Heinlein Brian Herbert Frank Herbert Robert E. Howard Trevor Hoyle Glen A. Larson Keith Laumer Stan Lee Murray Leinster Rebecca Levene Steve Lyons Elliot S. Maggin Kurt Mahr Paul J. McAuley Anne McCaffrey Jack McDevitt John Meaney L. E Modesitt, Jr. Elizabeth Moon Michael Moorcock C. L. Moore Larry Niven G. David Nordley Andre Norton Alex Raymond Dennis O'Neil Robert Reed Mike Resnick Alastair Reynolds Selina Rosen John Scalzi K. H. Scheer James H. Schmitz Karl Schroeder Melissa Scott Joel Shepherd Robert Silverberg Cordwainer Smith E. E. Doc Smith Allen M. Steele Bruce Sterling S. M. Stirling Charles Stross Lois Tilton E. C. Tubb A. E. Van_Vogt Jack Vance John Varley John Vornholt David Weber Scott Westerfeld Sean Williams Jack Williamson Marv Wolfman John C. Wright Timothy Zahn