E. E. Smith, affectionately known as "Doc," was a pioneer of early science fiction literature. He popularized the space opera genre with imaginative adventures like The Skylark of Space and the ambitious Lensman series.
If you enjoy reading books by E. E. Smith then you might also like the following authors:
Edmond Hamilton's style is fast-paced and adventurous, filled with fantastic worlds and imaginative technology. Readers who love E. E. Smith's sweeping space scenarios will find Hamilton's thrilling scenes of cosmic battles and galaxy-wide drama enjoyable.
His novel The Star Kings captures this sense of wonder as ordinary John Gordon exchanges consciousness with a prince from a distant galaxy, getting caught up in interstellar intrigue.
Jack Williamson creates exciting science fiction adventures full of bold ideas, advanced technology, and thrilling action. His storytelling has a pulpy charm similar to E. E. Smith, bringing a grand scale to his novels filled with heroes to root for and dangers to overcome.
In The Legion of Space, Williamson mixes heroic teamwork, strange alien threats, and daring rescues, perfect for fans of classic space opera.
John W. Campbell Jr. combines strong character-building with inventive scientific concepts, usually placing humanity against mysterious and daunting challenges. Fans of E. E. Smith will find something familiar in Campbell's sense of optimism, adventure, and human determination.
A great example is his novel The Black Star Passes, presenting humanity's encounter with advanced alien technology and the dramatic struggle for survival.
Robert A. Heinlein excels at mixing adventure stories with thoughtful explorations of society and humanity. While his themes are more philosophical than Smith's, his engaging storytelling, clear prose, and likable heroes make him appealing for fans of classic Sci-Fi.
The novel Starship Troopers offers thrilling military action while also exploring broader themes of citizenship, leadership, and responsibility.
Isaac Asimov writes clear narratives driven by fascinating scientific concepts and thoughtful speculation on humanity's future.
Compared to Smith's action-heavy approach, Asimov offers more cerebral and carefully structured plots, focusing on possibilities of science and social evolution.
His classic series starting with Foundation portrays the rise and fall of galactic empires through storytelling that highlights cleverness, logic, and the power of knowledge.
If you appreciate E. E. Smith's big ideas and adventurous style, A. E. van Vogt might be just what you're looking for. Van Vogt often writes about imaginative futures, powerful technologies, and heroes facing overwhelming odds.
His novel The Voyage of the Space Beagle follows the journey of a spaceship exploring unknown dangers, highlighting his inventive storytelling.
Poul Anderson offers exciting stories filled with thrilling space adventures, realistic worlds, and well-crafted characters, similar to Smith's approach. He often combines exciting plots with thoughtful explorations of human nature and societies in his works.
His book Tau Zero describes a spaceship caught on a perilous mission to survive, masterfully balancing scientific detail and gripping adventure.
Fans of Smith's sweeping space sagas might enjoy Larry Niven's imaginative approach and engaging storytelling style. Niven excels at creating vivid worlds and blending detailed science with action-packed stories.
In Ringworld, he explores a strange artificial world wrapped around a distant sun, offering adventure and mystery on an epic scale.
If you like Smith's tales of heroic battles and larger-than-life characters, David Weber's books could be a perfect match. Weber is known for exciting military science fiction filled with dramatic battles, tactical detail, and intriguing character dynamics.
His successful series, beginning with On Basilisk Station, introduces Honor Harrington, a tough captain taking on complex missions and fierce enemies.
Peter F. Hamilton crafts expansive, imaginative sci-fi novels filled with detailed futuristic settings and intricate plotting. Like E. E. Smith, he writes stories full of adventure, epic battles, and far-ranging narratives.
His notable work Pandora's Star sweeps readers into a thrilling conflict involving space exploration, mysterious alien threats, and intriguing human drama.
Alastair Reynolds is a must-read if you enjoy epic space adventures on a grand scale, full of advanced civilizations and intricate science. Reynolds combines hard sci-fi concepts with imaginative storytelling, creating expansive universes full of mystery and danger.
His novel Revelation Space is a good example—it follows a tense, fascinating mystery involving ancient alien technology and humanity's future across the stars.
Iain M. Banks creates expansive, imaginative stories filled with advanced AI, gigantic starships, and intriguing societies. He often mixes adventure with thoughtful explorations of power, philosophy, and the impact of technology.
A great place to start with Banks is his novel Consider Phlebas, the introduction to his popular Culture series, featuring intelligent machines and tense galactic conflicts.
Dan Simmons blends space opera with literary storytelling, making his books both thrilling and thought-provoking. He writes vividly drawn characters placed against richly imagined futuristic backgrounds.
For readers who enjoy grand sci-fi tales with depth, Simmons' Hyperion is recommended. It blends human drama, alien mysteries, and epic journeys, creating a memorable and moving story.
C. S. Friedman's novels often explore humanity's limits and complex moral decisions, with a style that balances deep character insights and engaging plots. Her worlds feel alive, combining strong fantasy and sci-fi elements and featuring unique and powerful forces.
One of Friedman's best-known works is In Conquest Born, a compelling depiction of rivalry, war, and complex societies set within a richly detailed galaxy.
Fans of classic space adventures with dynamic characters and exciting, action-filled worlds will enjoy Leigh Brackett. Her stories often involve gritty heroes, distant planets, and fast-moving plots.
Her work is great for readers who like their sci-fi with pulp-style excitement and energy. Try The Sword of Rhiannon, filled with thrilling action on an ancient Mars, showcasing Brackett's compelling storytelling in an otherworldly yet accessible setting.