[Closed] Post Dune reading?

The Culture series.

They are good, but I've read most of the Ian M Banks novels and all of the Peter F Hamilton stuff as well. The last books that remind me a bit of Dune was the Hyperion novels. Are the other in the Dune series as good as the first?

Have you read the Endymion novels? They follow on the story after Hyperion.

Ann Leckie's Ancillary series is good, as is Hugh Howey's Wool series. They may not be quite as heavy going as Dune though. Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy is great too.

Are the other in the Dune series as good as the first?

The second and third books are worth reading, but it disappears up it's own arse somewhat after that. I think I got as far as book five before giving up. The first one is the only one I've felt compelled to re-read thereafter.

all good offerings above
Love Dune/Cultire/Hyperion/hammilton
Alistair Reynolds revelation space series gotta be next!

The enders game books to are OK, (though i bought s/h so as not to reward the bigot)

[url= https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9780340938348 ]Stranger in a Strange Land[/url]
[url= https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9780450058400 ]Job[/url]
[url= https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9780450055492 ]Friday[/url]
All by Robert A. Heinlein and all excellent books but different in their own way.

Are the other in the Dune series as good as the first?

I became disappointed very quickly - wouldn't really bother. I guess you've read Foundation Trilogy?

Dune, one of my favourite books (if not THE book), TBH I never got on with any of the other Dune series, which is a total shame. Definitely do not try any of the prequels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson... dire is too good a recommendation

I'd add to the recommendations above with David Brin's Uplift sage

I have read the Ancillary novels and they were enjoyable enough, I thought they got better with each one. I haven't read any of the other ones though - I'll check them out. Thanks.
I think I've enjoyed Dune so much as it's all about power and deceit at every level with a bit of the unknown as a backdrop. I like how allot of important things things aren't explained in any detail so you make your own judgements.

The Left Hand of Darkness.
Neuromancer.
A Clockwork Orange.
Brave New World.
Ready Player One.
Lock In.

Not epic in Dune sense, but each one very much worth a read.

EDIT: Second Foundation, Culture, P.f.Hamilton, and Hyperion, Rev. Space series. All good too.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

I never really got on with the Alistair Reynolds stuff, but it has been a long time since I read any so I might dust off a couple on the shelf. I have read Asimov stuff in the distant past but I don't recall really wanting to go back to them. I do have urge to read a bit more Philip K Dick but I think you've got to be in the right frame of mine for that.

I do have urge to read a bit more Philip K Dick but I think you've got to be in the right frame of mine for that.

Or rather, completely out of any frame of mind as he often was.

Some great PKD stories to read. Ubik is very good.

Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars is quite marmite I think, for me it's the best science fiction I've ever read. but it does taste very different to Dune (which honestly, I didn't much like) Old scifi has a pretty different character.

Revelation Space series is, uh. Well, I absolutely love it when it's good, and that was enough to have me read through endless ****-all happening. Vast and cool and unsympathetic but it does have an imperious style about it.

Foundation? Random leftfield option, Roger Zelazny's absolutely mental Lord of Light might work for you from what you said about not spelling everything out.

Old William Gibson also has that feeling of a story happening in a world that's never really explained, you just see it and have to work it out.

Mount Analogue by Rene Daumal and Micromegas by Voltaire are both amazing if a tiny bit shorter than Dune...

Don't laugh - the Horus Heresy series by Games Workshop (various authors). Very, very grimdark science fiction. And from the same universe, the Eisenhorn trilogy by Dan Abnett.

NW Just read the synopsis of Lord of Light and I'm putting that on the list for sure. Quite a few good suggestions. I did work my way through quite a few SF Masterworks a while a go but I missed that one. I'd agree that some old SF that relies too much on tech for its backdrop can age badly and cloud the actual story.

David Brin creates some fascinating worlds, plays with laws of physics a bit, the practise effect is one that stood out.

Robert forwards dragons egg makes you think too....

personally Im still hooked on old school larry niven (the known space/ringworld stuff)

If you like Dune then Julian May's Saga of the Exiles should appeal.
You might also like The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever

Bobiverse is a good romp as is Expeditionary Force. Fun, brainless sci-fi. Definitely read the Culture novels.

BBSB Saga of the Exiles looks interesting and quite a involved read, Chronicles might be one for another time.

Thanks all.

Neil Asher's books all fit into the "Polity" universe. I overdid them a few years ago and need to give them a bit of space now, but some are very enjoyable.
I got stuck halfway through Hamilton's The Reality Disfunction, but the Neutronium Alchemist was good.
For a giggle - Harry Harrison's Stainless steel Rat series?

Chronicles might be one for another time.

Probably, I'd recommend Saga over Chronicles anyway

I read all of the Polity novels straight before Dune. By the end of them I wasn't really enjoying them tbh. I thought they were all fairly linear... threat - almost lose to threat - overcome threat.... without much depth outside the single plot. I did like the universe ruled by AI's idea though.

Any of the early Ken Macloed books, long time since i read them but they were excellent at the time

The Star Fraction (1995; US paperback ISBN 0-7653-0156-3) – Prometheus Award winner, 1996; Clarke Award nominee, 1996[8]
The Stone Canal (1996; US paperback ISBN 0-8125-6864-8) – Prometheus Award winner, 1998; BSFA nominee, 1996[8]

personally Im still hooked on old school larry niven (the known space/ringworld stuff)

Quicksilver trilogy by Neal Stephenson - historical fiction with a definite cyberpunk feel to it.

Not SciFi but epic reads none the less, Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson: https://brandonsanderson.com/books/the-stormlight-archive/

You certainly get your monies worth as they are all massive. Third one isn't out yet but I reckon you'd be safe to start now and it'll be out by the time you get to it.

I like Philip K Dick's novels for a bit of sci-fi / alternate realities.

* Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
* Total Recall (a bunch of short stories)
* The Man in the High Castle

Isaac Asimov's I-Robot

Citizen of the Galaxy (I read it two decades ago it may or may not be as good as I remember)

Niven the mathematician, Asimov the chemist, Clark the electrical engineer: I think it showed in their work. Whereas anyone can write 'soft' SF. Niven's known space, which someone mentioned, has a consistent and expanding common content so the series is best read in order. Lucifer's Hammer is superb, the joint author worked at NASA. And it shows.

Whereas to me the Dune series became a pot-boiler.

became a pot-boiler.

You set fire to it to boil some pasta?

Roadside picnic by Arkady Strugatsky is amazing. Quite short but sticks with you for a long time. SF masterpiece series so can get cheap in places.

Really enjoyed Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and Borne by Jeff Vandermeer recently too. Both very different but easy reading.

Rendezvous with Rama, along with the sequels which are also great. keep meaning to read it again.

The Forever War is good, only short but good.

Pretty much everything Zelazney ever wrote is worth a read, although much is no longer in print, but worth the effort in tracking down.
I'm reading Neil Stephenson's [i]Interface[/i] which is proving remarkably current, as it involves the use of technology to manipulate a presidential election via brain implants and other means, some coming close almost to 'fake news'...
His earlier books, [i]Zodiac, Snow Crash,[/i] and [i]The Diamond Age[/i] are all very good reads as well.

Love those last 3- Diamond Age might fit the OP's bill very nicely actually.

"Interface" - I managed to get a copy of that abut 20 years ago under the Stephen Bury byline. Ig you like it then also try "Cobweb" also published as Stephen Bury - it has down-home good-natured fighting of terrorists and meetings between cultures.

The Emberverse series by SM Stirling - Dies the Fire is the first one.

I'm re-reading this again and enjoying it immensely.

Richard Morgan - Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs series)

I enjoyed reading dune as a teenager, curiosity getting the better of me after hearing iron maidens "to tame a land".

Likewise I also enjoyed reading the "tripod" books that the BBC tv series were based on.

Lots of great suggestions - should keep me entertained for quite a while. Cheers all.

Simon R Green's Deathstalker series is entertaining. Big space opera type with scary monsters.
Peter F Hamilton's Naked God series. Read this multiple times and still enjoy.

I was blown away with how good Dune was - read it when I was older, as well, so passed the age where you easily fall in love with these type of books. Not hard to see how it's stood the test of time.
Just seems to do so many different things really well to a level that I think is pretty rare, and will be hard to find in other SF books - works on the epic, universe-busting scale as well as the claustrophobic, personal level of characters and dialog. Plus really creative world-building and ideas throughout.

To throw another title out there David Zindell's [i]Neverness [/i]is sort of Dune-like in scale and ambition. Not in the same league, but it's v readable with great world-building. Deserves to be better known ISTM - as a first novel it's an exceptional effort, really, but his next ones didn't develop past it much. So also Dune-like in that regard.

I'd say the next three are very well worth a read and deserve shelf space.

The ones that followed are all a bit silly but still better than a lot of the rubbish out there - but wouldn't go out of my way to read especially if I had to buy them. That said, they do make a nice accomplished arc.

Ian McDonald Luna: New Moon and Wolf Moon. Company politics on the moon. So kind of similar to Dune. Good reads anyway.

Its been many years since reading the Dune series, really liked the immersive feel of a story across multiple books.

From memory the other series I really liked at the time was the Amtrak Wars.

Following all the suggestions in this post I've now managed to get read Roadside Picnic, Isle of the dead & Eye of the Cat - all really good in their own way. Probably my favourite being Isle of the Dead. Next up is Snow Crash.

Snow crash is one of my favourites 🙂

Gene Wolf's shadow of the torturer. Followed by the rest of the New sun series.
I've been back to read it & listen to it several times.
Also a big Asimov fan. Caves of steel etc. Old but great.

I'd say read the next two Dune books but give up after that.

Lots of good ideas on here though.

Just read The Expanse series by James SA Corey (who is actually two blokes). Not as wonderful as Dune but a good yarn anyway. There are 6 books although only 5 out so far.

Just read The Expanse series by James SA Corey (who is actually two blokes).

This is the SF version of Game of Thrones. Easy reading, easy concepts. It's entertaining but forgettable pulp. And vomit zombies. Cos the world needs more zombies. 😆

I read Snow Crash on holiday this year and thought it was terrific. Couldn't believe it was 25 years old. I also loved his most recent book, Seveneves.
I've got pretty much everything Zelazny wrote, and I love it, but it does tend towards the pulp end of stuff. The Amber series is fun, but I still have a soft spot for Roadmarks.
And if you like your weirdness particularly weird, Samuel R. Delany's Dhalgren is my favourite book ever. I've read it several times over the last 40 years, still don't have a clue what it's about.

Great thread! All, most of the above are worth a read, pretty sure I have nearly all of the above and a few others. Will have a look through and put some up.

I forgot - Cixin Liu's The Three Body Problem and its sequels are really good.

IdleJon - Member
Just read The Expanse series by James SA Corey (who is actually two blokes).
This is the SF version of Game of Thrones. Easy reading, easy concepts. It's entertaining but forgettable pulp. And vomit zombies

Totally disagree about it being forgettable and being as vomit zombies make only a very brief appearance, I'm left wondering if you've actually read them all.
Though I really don't get the Zelazney thing either, tried two and just didn't enjoy them or find them at all readable (or humorous), only ground my way though them to see if I was missing something, but were all different with different tastes - otherwise a great thread.
Bobiverse is great fun pulp, missed the recommendation but found it anyways

Totally disagree about it being forgettable and being as vomit zombies make only a very brief appearance, I'm left wondering if you've actually read them all.

Only read the first. It didn't put me off and I will continue reading them (if I see them reduced!), but it wasn't really comparable to Dune.

Also Simon Morden's [url= https://www.orbitbooks.net/metrozone/ ]Metrozone [/url]series

If you liked Dune, Asimov's Foundation Series is a similar theme. Dystopian future, politics, power, science and technology.

If you liked Dune, Asimov's Foundation Series is a similar theme.

The difference between Asimov and Herbert is that Asimov's writing is driven by the Tech and characters are generally somewhat of an afterthought, whereas Herbert's writing focuses on People and the tech is there to support the story.

I wouldn't say that's entirely true of Foundation, especially in regard to the tech, it's more about supporting the narrative of the story.

imp999 - Member
Gene Wolf's shadow of the torturer. Followed by the rest of the New sun series.
I've been back to read it & listen to it several times.

Another vote for Borne by Vandermeer, Annihilation is good too but the second book of that trilogy is probably the most boring thing I have ever had the displeasure to read. Didn't bother with the third book.

Anything by Cordwainer Smith is my top pick. Quite out-there space-y mid 20th century sci-fi (aka the best kind). Start with The Rediscovery of Man.

Bookmarked for holiday reading.

onewheelgood - Member

And if you like your weirdness particularly weird, Samuel R. Delany's Dhalgren is my favourite book ever. I've read it several times over the last 40 years, still don't have a clue what it's about.

Alistair Reynolds revelation space series gotta be next!

I started this a few weeks ago. Stalled. It's readable, but meh. It's as if some normal non-genius read a Culture novel and thought 'yeah I'll have a crack at that'.

IdleJon.... but it wasn't really comparable to Dune.

Totally agree, I've not read anything, again I've read loads of the suggestions on this thread, that encompasses so much in such a small (or single) book

molgrips - Member

Alistair Reynolds revelation space series gotta be next!

I started this a few weeks ago. Stalled. It's readable, but meh. It's as if some normal non-genius read a Culture novel and thought 'yeah I'll have a crack at that'.

Every time anyone on here talks about Reynolds I make the same comments. I found Revelation Space almost unreadable, and gave up on it after a while. I thought the same as your last comment.

Back on topic and trying to be less critical 😆 , I've been subscribing to Asimovs bimonthly mag for a while - some good stuff in there, although it can be variable. (And I don't read SF poetry!)

Not comparable to Dune but classic in their own respect, I'd recommend Vance's Dying Earth books and Vernor Vinge's A Deepness in the Sky.

Recently read and enjoyed '[i]The Collapsing Empire[/i]' from John Scalzi, author of 'Old Man's War' series.
First novel in a new series, again not really comparable to early Dune, but vastly better written than Hamilton's stuff, with a nice premise.

Which Scalzi should I start with? (Preferably not a series, if possible.)

I really enjoyed Scalzi's fuzzy nation & agent to the stars or maybe red shirts stand alone books, far from serious books but good fun.

Wool by Hugh Howey and it's sequels. Very good.

Just finishing
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25499718-children-of-time

Most enjoyable , probably not for arachnophobes !

(I do love a book that starts with someone waking from cryosleep)

+1 for the "children of time", really enjoyed it too, very different from where I (you) initially think it may go(& kept this up!), and a great ending. Which when you can see the book becoming very thin you worry about it being crap/glib or even needing to read (wait for) the sequel.
Unfortunately I was saddened to find it's his first Sci-fi book, but am tempted to check out his fantasy series, as I enjoyed it so much

Try the Field Series (One and Two out now) by Simon Winstanley. I think you either love or hate them because of the writing style, but it's done deliberately and they're really clever. Waiting on book three now...

Also, Wool from Hugh Howey (followed by Shift and Dust). Brilliant.

I read quite a few of these when the series first came out, certainly worth a try:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=SF+Masterworks+i

Edit: The full original series:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks#Numbered_paperback_series_.281999-2009.29

The SF Masterworks are a good source of decent reading, though it's fair to say that some have aged better than others. I've not long finished and enjoyed Snowcrash - well written and a interesting story environment. I've now moved onto Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson, not sure the writing style is appealing to me so far.

Anyone mentioned Elisabeth moon yet? Both series are very good.

Anybody want a thousand or so paperbacks - mainly golden era stuff?