Space opera series have a specific reading problem: the best ones — Dune, The Expanse — have companion novellas, prequels, and authorized continuations that are marketed interchangeably with the original books. Reading the Brian Herbert Dune prequels before Frank Herbert's original six novels is one of the most commonly reported reading order mistakes in the genre. This guide gives you the correct order and what to skip.
Quick Reference: Best Space Opera Series — Start Here
- The Expanse by James S.A. Corey — Start: Leviathan Wakes (2011)
- Dune by Frank Herbert — Start: Dune (1965)
- Culture Series by Iain M. Banks — Start: Consider Phlebas (1987)
- Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds — Start: Revelation Space (2000)
1. The Expanse by James S.A. Corey
Reading order complexity: Moderate — 9 novels, companion novellas, one prequel.
Core series reading order:
- Leviathan Wakes (2011)
- Caliban's War (2012)
- Abaddon's Gate (2013)
- Cibola Burn (2014)
- Nemesis Games (2015)
- Babylon's Ashes (2016)
- Persepolis Rising (2017)
- Tiamat's Wrath (2019)
- Leviathan Falls (2021)
Where do The Expanse novellas fit? The Expanse novellas are tightly placed in the timeline and some contain important character backstory:
- The Butcher of Anderson Station (2011) — Read before or alongside Leviathan Wakes. Introduces Fred Johnson's backstory.
- Gods of Risk (2012) — Set after Caliban's War. Bobbie Draper's nephew on Mars.
- The Churn (2014) — Amos Burton's backstory on Earth. Can be read anytime — standalone character piece.
- Strange Dogs (2017) — Set after Babylon's Ashes. Read at that point in the series.
- Auberon (2019) — Set after Persepolis Rising. Colonial administration novella.
- The Sins of Our Fathers (2022) — Post-series epilogue. Read after Leviathan Falls.
View our complete Expanse reading order and James S.A. Corey author page.
2. Dune by Frank Herbert
Reading order complexity: High — and there is a critical decision point about which books count.
Frank Herbert's original six novels (read these first and only):
- Dune (1965)
- Dune Messiah (1969)
- Children of Dune (1976)
- God Emperor of Dune (1981)
- Heretics of Dune (1984)
- Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
What about the Brian Herbert / Kevin J. Anderson prequels and sequels? These 15+ books were written by Frank Herbert's son and a co-author after Herbert's death. They are significantly more commercially accessible than Frank Herbert's original novels but are considered by most longtime fans to be inferior continuations. The recommendation: read Frank Herbert's six novels first. Then decide if you want to continue with the authorized expansions. Do not start with the prequels — they spoil elements of the original's reveals and flatten the philosophical complexity that makes Dune unique. View our complete Dune reading order and Frank Herbert author page.
Hard Sci-Fi vs. Classic Space Opera: What's the Difference?
Space opera exists on a spectrum:
- Hard end (physics-accurate): The Expanse — spacecraft require fuel, travel takes months, relativistic physics matters
- Middle ground (science as worldbuilding): Dune — science is philosophical rather than technical; faster-than-light travel is absent but the ecology, genetics, and politics are rigorously built
- Classic opera (dramatic, science as backdrop): Culture, Revelation Space — science enables the story without constraining it to current physics
The Verdict
For a new reader: start with The Expanse — Leviathan Wakes is one of the most accessible opening novels in the genre, and the Amazon Prime adaptation means the world is visually familiar before you start. For ambitious readers who want the philosophical depth of the genre's best work: Dune — but commit to finishing the first book before judging it; the first 100 pages are dense and reward patience. Browse our complete science fiction catalog for reading orders on every major series.