Top 6 Space Opera Books That Make Perfect Gifts for Dad

I can still remember the hush that settled over the living room every Saturday night when my dad would pull out a hefty novel from his bookshelf and hand it to me with a knowing smile. He’d lean back in his armchair, and together we’d embark on voyages through star-studded galaxies and tangled political intrigues between alien empires. As a kid, those moments felt nothing short of magical—my imagination igniting at the thought of solar sails unfurling against crimson nebulae or vast fleets of starships duking it out in the void. Those evenings weren’t simply about turning pages; they were about bonding over the thrill of the unknown, as if each story whispered, “Anything is possible beyond the next horizon.” It’s that same spark of awe and nostalgia that makes space opera such an enduring gift—especially for dads who introduced us to its wonders and helped nurture our sense of adventure long before we ever learned to pilot real ships or chart real stars.

Among the many space operas I’ve devoured, Sergey Snegow’s Humans as Gods still stands out as the one that rewrote my understanding of scale and consequence. This Russian epic story, with speciel technologies, like personal force fields and philosophical musings on humanity’s place among the stars, transported me in ways I hadn’t felt since those formative evenings with my dad.

Recommending books like this for Father’s Day—or any day, really—is about more than gifting a novel, it’s about passing along a bridge to memories, and reminding our dads of all the worlds they helped us discover as kids. Whether they first introduced us to pulsars and warp drives or simply shared a love for epic storytelling, these top space opera picks are the perfect way to say, “Thanks for lighting our imaginations on fire.”

What Are The Top Space Opera Sci-fi Books to Gift?

Battlefield Earth, by L. Ron Hubbard (2016)

In the year 3000, Earth is a wasteland ruled by the Psychlos—massive, brutal aliens who have enslaved what’s left of humanity for over a thousand years. Civilization is gone, and small tribes of humans live in ignorance and fear, barely surviving in remote mountain villages. But Jonnie Goodboy Tyler is not content to wither away. Driven by curiosity and courage, he sets out to find answers beyond the horizon, only to be captured by the Psychlos and taken to a massive mining complex where humans toil under alien command.

Rather than surrender, Jonnie studies his captors—learning their language, technology, and weaknesses. His intelligence and defiance catch the attention of a scheming Psychlo named Terl, who plans to use Jonnie for a secret plot of his own. What follows is a long and daring campaign of rebellion, sabotage, and leadership as Jonnie tries to unite scattered human survivors and fight back against a foe with vastly superior firepower and no concept of mercy. With high-stakes battles and clever twists, Battlefield Earth is an action-heavy epic of human endurance and the will to reclaim a lost planet.

A Desolation Called Peace (Teixcalaan Book 2), by Arkady Martine (2021)

An alien armada lurks at the edge of the Teixcalaan Empire, annihilating whole colonies without warning. In desperation, Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus requests a diplomatic envoy to attempt communication with the mysterious attackers. Enter cultural liaison Three Seagrass, who slips away from the Imperial court and enlists her old friend Mahit Dzmare – Lsel Station’s young ambassador – to help decipher the enemy. Mahit, caught in political turmoil at home, seizes the chance for adventure even as she carries secret orders to thwart any peace deal that might strengthen the Empire’s hand.

On the front lines, Mahit and Three Seagrass find themselves trying to talk to an alien hive mind that views individual humans as insignificant insects. Every attempt at dialogue could spell disaster, especially with trigger-happy commanders and shadowy conspirators undermining the ceasefire. As the two women work together – rekindling the close bond they forged earlier – they must navigate high-stakes negotiations, treachery within the fleet, and their own growing affection. This book delivers first-class space opera full of tense diplomacy, cunning spycraft, and truly alien encounters on a galactic scale.

Nophek Gloss (The Graven Book 1), by Essa Hansen (2020)

Fourteen-year-old Caiden lives a simple life on a backwater farming planet – until the day it’s destroyed in a sudden, brutal act of genocide. His entire colony is slaughtered before his eyes, and Caiden only survives by fleeing aboard a mysterious starship. The vessel turns out to be a one-of-a-kind sentient ship with a mind of its own, and its crew is a motley band of alien misfits who take the traumatized teenager under their wing. Stricken by grief and rage, Caiden fixes his focus on one thing: finding whoever was responsible for killing his people and making them pay.

Thus begins Caiden’s plunge into a vast bubble-multiverse that he never knew existed outside his small world. As the young mechanic voyages across bizarre new planets and pocket universes, he encounters advanced technologies and unfathomably powerful foes that will test him beyond his years. With his loyal if quarrelsome crew by his side (and his living starship bonded to him), Caiden sets out for vengeance against the ruthless slavers who annihilated his home. Along the way, he wrestles with the mysteries of his own origin and the immense, dangerous potential he carries.

Last Watch (The Divide Book 1), by J S Dewes (2021)

At the outermost rim of the galaxy lies the Divide – a vast darkness at the edge of the universe, where reality frays. It’s here that a ragtag company of soldiers stands guard aboard an aging ship called the Argus, watching for a cosmic threat long thought vanquished. But now the unimaginable is happening: the very fabric of the universe is collapsing, and the Divide is beginning to fail. If it falls, everyone and everything in existence could be wiped out. The only ones in position to respond are the Sentinels on the Argus – a mix of court-martialed misfits and exiles that the rest of the military threw away.

Adequin Rake, a battle-hardened commander with a haunted past, leads this skeleton crew at the universe’s end. She has no resources, no backup, and a ship falling apart around her. Into this tense situation comes Cavalon Mercer – a flippant, genius prince demoted to the edge of space as punishment for his crimes. Cavalon’s irreverent attitude belies the key knowledge he holds, knowledge that might just be the ace up Rake’s sleeve. When the stars themselves begin to blink out, Rake and Cavalon must rally the outcasts aboard the Argus to make a last stand for humanity.

Winter's Orbit, by Everina Maxwell (2021)

Prince Kiem, the charming black-sheep of the Imperial family, is abruptly ordered to marry Count Jainan, a soft-spoken diplomat from a vassal planet. The alliance marriage is meant to secure peace in the galaxy: their star system faces an audit by the mysterious Resolution, and only a united royal couple can renew the crucial treaty that keeps the Empire safe. The wrinkle? Jainan’s last spouse – Prince Taam of Iskat – died only recently in a shuttle “accident,” and whispers suggest it may have been murder. Now Kiem and Jainan must prove not only that their hastily arranged relationship is genuine, but also uncover the truth behind Taam’s death before interplanetary tensions erupt.

At first, the playboy prince and the strait-laced scholar can barely navigate a conversation, let alone a convincing marriage. Kiem fumbles through formalities he’s never been serious about, while Jainan hides behind duty and grief. But as they spend time together, trust and tenderness begin to blossom. The unlikely pair join forces to investigate the suspicious circumstances of Taam’s demise, following a trail of political secrets and hidden threats. From imperial palaces to remote moon bases, Kiem and Jainan face down assassins and conspiracies, discovering that their growing bond may be the key to saving both their relationship and their world.

The First Sister (The First Sister trilogy Book 1), by Linden A. Lewis (2020)

In the far future, two superpowers battle for control of the solar system: the Icarii, who embrace cybernetic enhancements, and the Geans, who reject augmentation in favor of strict tradition. Caught in this galaxy-spanning war are two young protagonists on opposite sides. Lito sol Lucius is an elite Icarii soldier, genetically engineered and trained since childhood. After his trusted partner Hiro betrays the Icarii and vanishes, Lito is dispatched on a top-secret mission to hunt down his former friend – and execute them for treason. Meanwhile, aboard a Gean warship, a nameless priestess called the First Sister serves as a morale guide and “companion” to the troops, bound by oath to never speak. When the fleet’s celebrated new captain, Saito Ren, assumes command, the First Sister is ordered by her convent superiors to spy on Captain Ren and report her every secret.

As Lito and the First Sister each grapple with their impossible orders, their stories unfold in tandem, revealing the moral gray areas in a conflict painted as black-and-white. Lito must confront the true reason Hiro turned rogue, which shakes his loyalty to the Icarii. The First Sister becomes torn between obeying her ruthless handlers and her growing admiration for the courageous Captain Ren. In the shadows, a third faction stirs: the Asters, a genetically oppressed underclass despised by both Icarii and Geans. Their emergence threatens to tip the balance of power. Through twists of espionage, shifting loyalties, and explosive battle sequences, this is a sweeping space opera saga of love and betrayal.

Final Thoughts

Your dad doesn’t have to be a lifelong sci-fi fan to enjoy these. These space opera adventures bring sharp characters, tense decisions, and the kind of high-stakes storytelling that makes a book hard to put down. Each one digs into themes of leadership, survival, and what it takes to push back when the odds are overwhelming.

They’re more than just stories set in space. They explore how people adapt, lead, and make meaning in chaos. If he enjoys smart rebellion, unlikely heroes, or the thrill of turning the tide, there’s something here he’ll appreciate—and maybe even reread.

Also feel free to check our ranked sci-fi book collection.