For something different, incredibly gripping and very very dark, I recommend the Gap series by Stephen donaldson. Endorse the murderbot series and Adrian Tchykovsky. The culture series by Ian m banks is another modern classic. But also recommend going back to the roots - Isaac Asimov - all the robot stories and the foundation series. Yes Dune. But also other frank herbert books.
I like both heady adult sci fi that makes me think and also more fun teen sci fi that you can devour and is fun to read.
Teen/fun ones:
I LOVE the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Think sarcastic cyborg robot security guard becomes aware, shirks control programming so it can watch trashy TV, reluctantly saves people as a result. Very funny, great tone, satisfying action/plot. https://www.goodreads.com/series/191900-the-murderbot-diaries
Similar tone are the Bobiverse novels by Dennis E. Taylor. Man gets turned into an AI in a ship and traverses the galaxy. Interesting science and riddled with nerd jokes, but just really fun. https://www.goodreads.com/series/192752-bobiverse
An epic series that had me the most gripped of late was The Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. Kinda Greek/Roman themes in spaaaaaaace. Amazing plots and world-building, had me HOOKED. Part teen sci-fi, part fantasy-style, part adult sci-fi. https://www.goodreads.com/series/117100-red-rising-saga
The two Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky are also super fun space opera that borders on teen sci-fi with really interesting ideas about evolution and are just super enjoyable. https://www.goodreads.com/series/247630-children-of-time
Dune of course, but I read it as a teenager, re-read it ahead of the film last year and parts of it don't hold up any more, but a classic for sure.
If you only read one book from this list read The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Translated from Chinese, and it is super interesting and unique, one scene with a ship in a canal (I'll say no more) totally messed me up. Think Chinese history enmeshed with ideas of a completely unique idea of alien life and then sorta doomsday effects on human history. I've read the first three books in the series, essential: https://www.goodreads.com/series/189931-remembrance-of-earth-s-past .
For something different, incredibly gripping and very very dark, I recommend the Gap series by Stephen donaldson. Endorse the murderbot series and Adrian Tchykovsky. The culture series by Ian m banks is another modern classic. But also recommend going back to the roots - Isaac Asimov - all the robot stories and the foundation series. Yes Dune. But also other frank herbert books.
I like both heady adult sci fi that makes me think and also more fun teen sci fi that you can devour and is fun to read.
Teen/fun ones:
I LOVE the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Think sarcastic cyborg robot security guard becomes aware, shirks control programming so it can watch trashy TV, reluctantly saves people as a result. Very funny, great tone, satisfying action/plot. https://www.goodreads.com/series/191900-the-murderbot-diaries
Similar tone are the Bobiverse novels by Dennis E. Taylor. Man gets turned into an AI in a ship and traverses the galaxy. Interesting science and riddled with nerd jokes, but just really fun. https://www.goodreads.com/series/192752-bobiverse
An epic series that had me the most gripped of late was The Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. Kinda Greek/Roman themes in spaaaaaaace. Amazing plots and world-building, had me HOOKED. Part teen sci-fi, part fantasy-style, part adult sci-fi. https://www.goodreads.com/series/117100-red-rising-saga
The two Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky are also super fun space opera that borders on teen sci-fi with really interesting ideas about evolution and are just super enjoyable. https://www.goodreads.com/series/247630-children-of-time
The Skyward series are teen space opera at its best. Just super fun: https://www.goodreads.com/series/247635-skyward
More adult ones:
The Hyperion novels by Dan Simmons are classic, a must-read. Well, I've only read the first two so far. https://www.goodreads.com/series/40461-hyperion-cantos
Dune of course, but I read it as a teenager, re-read it ahead of the film last year and parts of it don't hold up any more, but a classic for sure.
If you only read one book from this list read The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Translated from Chinese, and it is super interesting and unique, one scene with a ship in a canal (I'll say no more) totally messed me up. Think Chinese history enmeshed with ideas of a completely unique idea of alien life and then sorta doomsday effects on human history. I've read the first three books in the series, essential: https://www.goodreads.com/series/189931-remembrance-of-earth-s-past .
I recently just finished the Broken Earth Series by N.K. Jemisin, and it was an enjoyable story. A kinda interesting take on supernatural powers set in the future https://www.goodreads.com/series/112296-the-broken-earth
My goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6419349-joe-garlick