Best of all, we’ve seen more space operas centering queer characters published in recent years than before. I’ve rounded up eight of the best space opera novels written by and about LGBTQ people. These epic reads are packed with adventure and, best of all, incredibly queer. To help you find books that fit what you’re looking for, I’ve organized this list into two sections for adult and YA books. Looking for more queer speculative fiction? After you read through these top space opera reads, check out this list of the 15 best queer sci-fi novels. Or, if you’re needing a mood boost, take a look at these 10 best hopeful queer sci-fi and fantasy novels. Plus, if you’re ready for a deep dive into the sub-genre, this round-up of the 25 best space opera novels (with adult and YA picks) is an excellent place to start.
Adult Queer Space Opera Books
Queer YA Space Opera Books
For even more mind-blowing speculative fiction, check out these 20 must-read science fantasy novels. But a chance at succeeding means teaming up with the undead tactician Shuos Jedao — who, in life, supposedly went mad and whose loyalty is dubious at best. The Tangled Axon is no ordinary ship, and amidst the chaos, Alana finds herself falling for its captain. But when she discovers that Nova is in grave danger, Alana will risk anything to protect her sister. Of course, that also makes them prime suspects. It’s up to Nax and these survivors to expose the truth and protect themselves from being framed. But the cargo ship reveals more about their enemies than they expected, and, if they want to stop the Tholosian Empire, they must learn to work together.
