This post was originally published in my September 24th newsletter. It’s re-posted here with minor changes. If you haven’t yet signed up for my newsletter, you really, really should. It’s fun, it’s once every four weeks (with an occasional special issue), and it’s the best way to stay in touch. Sign up here.

Most readers, and writers too, have quirks when it comes to what they like, and I’m no exception. There are certain popular space opera tropes I tend not to favor:

1. Instantaneous (or at least very fast) travel between stellar systems via gates, or portals, or wormholes, or whatever. The distance between stars is vast. It’s really, really vast. It’s my personal quirk that I like to celebrate that fact, as anyone who’s read my far-future fiction will know.

2. Far-future monarchies/galactic empires. A great thing about the original Star Trek was that the writers thought we humans could do better, that we could “grow up” and not need to be ruled by queens and kings. I like to think so too, though I grant you, looking around at the world these days, it’s getting ever harder to hold on to that point of view.

3. Interstellar war between human cultures: because seriously, what are you fighting for? How many planets does anyone really need? Given that you command the energy-intensive ability to travel between the stars, surely you could employ some of that energy and ability to improving your home system instead of destroying other peoples’ lives? (I know. I’m an idealist at heart.)

All of this is background that’s necessary for you to know when I tell you that I recently finished the audiobook edition of a space opera with instantaneous travel between stellar systems, far-future monarchies, and interstellar war. Three strikes against it. Even so, I’m going to tell you, with enthusiasm, that it was BRILLIANT!

I’m talking about Kate Elliott’s newest novel, Unconquerable Sun — a gender-swapped far-future take on Alexander the Great. This novel is really well done on so many levels. Fantastic engaging characters, stellar writing, a riveting story — and the audiobook has excellent narration. I’m not going to review it for you, because this newsletter is already too long (and I’m lazy), but you’ll find an excellent write up at a blog called The Quill To Live.

Okay, the bad news: Unconquerable Sun came out this past July from Tor Books, and they’re asking $15 for the ebook and more for print. If you can bear that price, I hope you’ll give it a try. If you do, let me know what you think about it!