Lois McMaster Bujold the VorKosigan series. Excellent space opera. Includes those “not as special” people… miles vorKosigan, damaged in uteri is 4’10” and is following his Admiral father and Bryan born spacer explorer mother, as at 17 he manages to create the Dendari Mercenaries, and well so starts the Saga
Perry Rhodan is about the pinnacle of the genre. The original series is great but only around 120 books in the German series have been translated to English. There’s also a fantastic reboot in Perry Rhodan NEO. There’s only 16 books so far, but they’re fantastic. It’s not well known in America, but it’s worth reading if you like space opera.
Dragonriders of pern. Best space opera series
The lensman series is well worth reading. I have read it several times over the past 40 years.
Lois McMaster Bujold the VorKosigan series. Excellent space opera. Includes those “not as special” people… miles vorKosigan, damaged in uteri is 4’10” and is following his Admiral father and Bryan born spacer explorer mother, as at 17 he manages to create the Dendari Mercenaries, and well so starts the Saga
You forgot to mention Kevin J Anderson’s epic seven volume series “The Saga Of The Seven Suns” and Peter F. Hamilton’s Commonwealth series of novels!
Perry Rhodan is about the pinnacle of the genre. The original series is great but only around 120 books in the German series have been translated to English. There’s also a fantastic reboot in Perry Rhodan NEO. There’s only 16 books so far, but they’re fantastic. It’s not well known in America, but it’s worth reading if you like space opera.