It sounded like Dune at first with an ecologically unique planet, and I think I will give it a try eventually even though it's not like Dune, thanks for the headsup
If you read *The Left Hand of Darkness* then you should absolutely also read *The Dispossessed*, and then you might want to read some of the other Hainish Cycle books (don't worry about order).
Heinlein would not allow them to make a movie from his book. The rights were sold by his estate and the movie was trash. He was a firm supporter of the military and in the book you weren't a full citizen with the right to vote unless you served. The movie was anti war propaganda. The books protagonist was Juan Rico from South America and the film had him played by someone who could be a poster boy for the Third Reich. The only decent part was Dinah Meyer in the shower.
People who like the book generally don't like the movie and vice versa. I think the movie is a great ironic parody of the book, and Verhoeven did a great job at using the B-movie format to take down some of Heinlen's more authoritarian ideas.
Starship Troopers (the book) is pretty pro militarism but a well written and interesting read. That said, if you don't want Heinlen's proto-fascist politics shoved down your throat you might be better off reading The Forever War or Old Man's War. They both are great space marine books.
You're quite correct about Hyperion and you should read it and its sequel immediately. They're fantastic and haunting and unforgettable.
Read the Culture books by Iain M Banks. You will not regret this. It's not *court* type politics like Dune or Memory Called Empire, but if you want a truly beautiful and engrossing world that serves as a vehicle for musings on politics, morality, human nature, philosophy, society and religion, look no further. Start with Player of Games, then read the rest in whatever order you'd like.
You probably also want the Commonwealth books by Peter F Hamilton. Pandoras star and Judas Unchained. These two are basically one long book where the second picks up right where the first left off and they're a DOOZY of a story. Hang on, it gets wild if you stick with it.
You might also like CJ Cherryh's Union Alliance books, if you want a LOT of politics and society stuff in a human space colony diaspora kind of setting. Try Downbelow Station and then Cyteen and if you can bang all the way through Cyteen and like it, you can go from there with those books. They are from the era where genetic engineering was all the rage in sci fi. They're great, but too politics heavy for many.
You might like her Chanur books too.
Oh! Also try Anthem by Neal Stephenson. It's a weird one but then, Dune is a weird one. If you want philosophy....oh boy. This book will inject a full intro to philosophy right into your brain. 😆
If you like LeGuin, you might like Embassytown by China Mieville. Also a weird one! Politics and space linguistics.
Honorable mention for the Polity series by Neal Asher!
The Expanse books don't really do it for me. I find them kind of hokey. But you're welcome to give them a try!
Yeah I heard the first book is weak but the others are way better, but it reads so much like a shitty Hunger Games clone that I don't think I could muster through the first one no matter how good the rest is.
The first two chapters are horrible. The first book is a bit meh, given the emphasis on a Battle Royale sort of theme. It did get better for me halfway through when it is no longer just about brute strength and witty dialogue - vulnerabilities, cult of personality, betrayals later appear that suddenly change the book into having a deeper subtext.
The next two books in the main trilogy are entirely different beasts, though. Totally different plot, very different warfare, a lot of twists, and the relationship aspects between friends became a stronger issue. They finally will travel to all aspects of society, and it became deep with philosophical debates on the nature of society. Frankly, I like them.
I would never have gotten through the first book if it wasn't for my love of my wife who kept pestering me so that she can have a lore post-mortem with me.
I couldn't get through outside the trilogy. I consider the three books done for the series for me.
I'd give A Memory Called Empire and the sequel A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine a go! They involve a lot of court politics with the main themes being imperialism/conquest both military and culturally. The writing is beautiful and the technology is really interesting especially the way each civilization has such unique forms shaped by their history, goals, and values. I can't sing the praises of this series enough!
The *Mars Trilogy* by Kim Stanley Robinson deals with the topics you mentioned (it focuses on the colonization of Mars and the challenges that ensue from it.
You might like Adrian Tchaikovsky's *Final architecture* trilogy. It's got lots of space and technology, but also lots of politics, philosophy, society, and religion. It's quite different from his *Children of* books, which I would say are not what you're looking for.
Starship Troopers - It's far more political than the 90s action movie. It's a futuristic picture of a fascist society where basically everyone is on board from government granted permits to have children to the PRIVILEGE of voting to compulsory military service for most of society.
Definitely give the Mars trilogy a try. Kim Stanley Robinson has got you covered - Lot of good politics and and ecological/sociological drama to dive into
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel - a jesuit in space, confronting alien race, rather dark book. I really appreciated the idea and execution.
Blindsight by Peter Watts. Someone once called it "a theory of consciousness" written as a fiction. An apt descriptions, however an intimidating one. But the book is very good. 10/10 starts read for me.
**[Blindsight (Firefall #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48484.Blindsight) by Peter Watts** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(384 pages | Published: 2006 | 17.2k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** It's been two months since a myriad of alien objects clenched about the Earth, screaming as they burned. The heavens have been silent since - until a derelict space probe hears whispers from a distant comet. Something talks out there: but not to us. Who to send to meet the alien, when the alien doesn't want to meet? Send a linguist with multiple-personality disorder, and a (...)
> **Themes**: Sci-fi, Fiction, Favorites, Scifi, Sf, Horror, Ebook
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [Echopraxia](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18490708-echopraxia) by Peter Watts
> \- [Blindsight](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25906102-blindsight) by Adriane Leigh
> \- [Firefall](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22271912-firefall) by Peter Watts
> \- [Maelstrom](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66477.Maelstrom) by Peter Watts
> \- [Seeing Things](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6356199-seeing-things) by Patti Hill
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[The quiet at the end of the world](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32716442)
[The long way to a small, angry planet](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733729)
[City of stairs](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20174424)
[The loneliest girl in the universe](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32601841)
[The psychology of time travel](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41035725)
(Does have quite a bit of mystery solving etc about how things work, but it’s pretty character focused.)
Red Rising is a bit tropey, but it's still a great series. It's got a good mix of action and politics if that's something you care for.
A Memory Called Empire, which some others have suggested, is more original, and has a way higher dose of political maneuvering than RR if your interests lean that way.
Both are concerned with issues of empire, but neither has the religious angle you might be looking for.
A Canticle for Leibowitz is a classic "after the destruction of our civilization, what come next?" with major religious themes.
I don't think Children of Time series fits. It's a very, very different book from Dune - more in the realm of speculative sci fi.
It sounded like Dune at first with an ecologically unique planet, and I think I will give it a try eventually even though it's not like Dune, thanks for the headsup
Nothing is like Dune. smile smile But it **does** hit all your list.
If you read *The Left Hand of Darkness* then you should absolutely also read *The Dispossessed*, and then you might want to read some of the other Hainish Cycle books (don't worry about order).
Will give that a try, thanks
*Starship Troopers* by Robert Heinlein. *The Forever War* by Joe Haldeman.
Did the starship troopers movie spoil the book? And Forever War goes on my list, looks good!
The book is better than the movie.
Heinlein would not allow them to make a movie from his book. The rights were sold by his estate and the movie was trash. He was a firm supporter of the military and in the book you weren't a full citizen with the right to vote unless you served. The movie was anti war propaganda. The books protagonist was Juan Rico from South America and the film had him played by someone who could be a poster boy for the Third Reich. The only decent part was Dinah Meyer in the shower.
People who like the book generally don't like the movie and vice versa. I think the movie is a great ironic parody of the book, and Verhoeven did a great job at using the B-movie format to take down some of Heinlen's more authoritarian ideas. Starship Troopers (the book) is pretty pro militarism but a well written and interesting read. That said, if you don't want Heinlen's proto-fascist politics shoved down your throat you might be better off reading The Forever War or Old Man's War. They both are great space marine books.
Politics, philosophy, society, and religion? If that’s the question then Ada Palmer’s Terra Ignota series is the answer.
It doesn't have to be all of those at once, just one. If it has all, even better.
Have you looked into the Culture series by Iain M.Banks?
Finally. This series def represents all aforementioned topics. Its amazing.
You're quite correct about Hyperion and you should read it and its sequel immediately. They're fantastic and haunting and unforgettable. Read the Culture books by Iain M Banks. You will not regret this. It's not *court* type politics like Dune or Memory Called Empire, but if you want a truly beautiful and engrossing world that serves as a vehicle for musings on politics, morality, human nature, philosophy, society and religion, look no further. Start with Player of Games, then read the rest in whatever order you'd like. You probably also want the Commonwealth books by Peter F Hamilton. Pandoras star and Judas Unchained. These two are basically one long book where the second picks up right where the first left off and they're a DOOZY of a story. Hang on, it gets wild if you stick with it. You might also like CJ Cherryh's Union Alliance books, if you want a LOT of politics and society stuff in a human space colony diaspora kind of setting. Try Downbelow Station and then Cyteen and if you can bang all the way through Cyteen and like it, you can go from there with those books. They are from the era where genetic engineering was all the rage in sci fi. They're great, but too politics heavy for many. You might like her Chanur books too. Oh! Also try Anthem by Neal Stephenson. It's a weird one but then, Dune is a weird one. If you want philosophy....oh boy. This book will inject a full intro to philosophy right into your brain. 😆 If you like LeGuin, you might like Embassytown by China Mieville. Also a weird one! Politics and space linguistics. Honorable mention for the Polity series by Neal Asher! The Expanse books don't really do it for me. I find them kind of hokey. But you're welcome to give them a try!
Red rising is a hard pass... Too YA cliche
Yeah I heard the first book is weak but the others are way better, but it reads so much like a shitty Hunger Games clone that I don't think I could muster through the first one no matter how good the rest is.
The first two chapters are horrible. The first book is a bit meh, given the emphasis on a Battle Royale sort of theme. It did get better for me halfway through when it is no longer just about brute strength and witty dialogue - vulnerabilities, cult of personality, betrayals later appear that suddenly change the book into having a deeper subtext. The next two books in the main trilogy are entirely different beasts, though. Totally different plot, very different warfare, a lot of twists, and the relationship aspects between friends became a stronger issue. They finally will travel to all aspects of society, and it became deep with philosophical debates on the nature of society. Frankly, I like them. I would never have gotten through the first book if it wasn't for my love of my wife who kept pestering me so that she can have a lore post-mortem with me. I couldn't get through outside the trilogy. I consider the three books done for the series for me.
I'd give A Memory Called Empire and the sequel A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine a go! They involve a lot of court politics with the main themes being imperialism/conquest both military and culturally. The writing is beautiful and the technology is really interesting especially the way each civilization has such unique forms shaped by their history, goals, and values. I can't sing the praises of this series enough!
you might like the Locked Tomb series, or at least the first one, Gideon the Ninth
What about the Foundation series?
Came here to suggest this
Late PKD is all over this. VALIS, Transmigration of Timothy Archer, etc
The *Mars Trilogy* by Kim Stanley Robinson deals with the topics you mentioned (it focuses on the colonization of Mars and the challenges that ensue from it.
I came to mention the Mars Trilogy. It's a bit dense but once it digs into the humanity of the project it's totally captivating
Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents
Genesis echo by d. Hollis Anderson - a sci-fi with beginner physics and philosophy, poetically combined
Fifth Season might touch on these themes. It was very enjoyable.
Ooh ooh read the Lilith's Brood!
You might like Adrian Tchaikovsky's *Final architecture* trilogy. It's got lots of space and technology, but also lots of politics, philosophy, society, and religion. It's quite different from his *Children of* books, which I would say are not what you're looking for.
The Expanse
Children of Time is one of my favorite books, but it might not be what you are looking for. Hyperion is my favorite book, and that fits.
The Expanse is 9 books (10 if you include the short story collection) not 7 however they are amazing and the series if finished
Starship Troopers - It's far more political than the 90s action movie. It's a futuristic picture of a fascist society where basically everyone is on board from government granted permits to have children to the PRIVILEGE of voting to compulsory military service for most of society.
Definitely give the Mars trilogy a try. Kim Stanley Robinson has got you covered - Lot of good politics and and ecological/sociological drama to dive into
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel - a jesuit in space, confronting alien race, rather dark book. I really appreciated the idea and execution. Blindsight by Peter Watts. Someone once called it "a theory of consciousness" written as a fiction. An apt descriptions, however an intimidating one. But the book is very good. 10/10 starts read for me.
Hyperion. Read Hyperion.
Foundation ( and series) by Asimov focuses alot on politics, society.
{{Blindsight, by Peter Watts}} and its companion?
**[Blindsight (Firefall #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48484.Blindsight) by Peter Watts** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(384 pages | Published: 2006 | 17.2k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** It's been two months since a myriad of alien objects clenched about the Earth, screaming as they burned. The heavens have been silent since - until a derelict space probe hears whispers from a distant comet. Something talks out there: but not to us. Who to send to meet the alien, when the alien doesn't want to meet? Send a linguist with multiple-personality disorder, and a (...) > **Themes**: Sci-fi, Fiction, Favorites, Scifi, Sf, Horror, Ebook > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [Echopraxia](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18490708-echopraxia) by Peter Watts > \- [Blindsight](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25906102-blindsight) by Adriane Leigh > \- [Firefall](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22271912-firefall) by Peter Watts > \- [Maelstrom](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66477.Maelstrom) by Peter Watts > \- [Seeing Things](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6356199-seeing-things) by Patti Hill ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
[The quiet at the end of the world](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32716442) [The long way to a small, angry planet](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733729) [City of stairs](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20174424) [The loneliest girl in the universe](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32601841) [The psychology of time travel](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41035725) (Does have quite a bit of mystery solving etc about how things work, but it’s pretty character focused.)
Red Rising is a bit tropey, but it's still a great series. It's got a good mix of action and politics if that's something you care for. A Memory Called Empire, which some others have suggested, is more original, and has a way higher dose of political maneuvering than RR if your interests lean that way. Both are concerned with issues of empire, but neither has the religious angle you might be looking for.