I read the first 3 Dune books after seeing the movie and hearing about the challenges of getting that story on the screen. Love the first 2, the ending of the 3rd was ok.

I’m 3/4ths through the 4th and final Hyperion books. Absolutely incredible, I’m disappointed knowing I’ll be done with it soon. I highly recommend it if you’re at all curious. The author does an excellent job sneaking deep references into the colorful narrative; Keats and Ancient Greek mythology among them. The characters are vivid, varied, and somehow all relatable.

When I was younger I liked Vonnegut, specifically Galapagos, cats cradle, and slaughter house 5. I recently read Philip K Dicks “do androids… electric sheep” and wasn’t a fan. I loved the film blade runner, but the book kind of trudged on for me with, what I felt was, a let down of an ending. Asimov’s foundation was ok, but it lacked action and the characters seemed thin; I do like the concept a lot, it was just missing something for me.

So what’s next? I read a few classics in school and wasn’t terribly moved by most of them. I’ve considered giving Philip K Dick another chance, and possibly exploring the Dune books not authored by Herbert. I’m not a big fan of fantasy- at least in the horse riding, sword wielding, magic and sorcery vein.

Thanks for any suggestions

  • jacksilver@lemmy.world
    111·
    11 days ago

    Some of my suggestions:

    • Forever War - due to time dilation this story follows combatants that spend decades at war while on earth hundreds of years pass (inspired by the Vietnam War).
    • Stanger in a Strange Land - Story of a human raised by Martians coming to earth. Has similar religious notes as dune and hyperion, but also has a weird Ayn Rand vibe (in my opinion, also not necessarily in a bad way).
    • eightpix@lemmy.world
      4·
      11 days ago

      The Forever War is such an important and great read. I’d put it alongside Catch-22 and Johnny Got His Gun for an anti-war novel.

      • jacksilver@lemmy.world
        1·
        11 days ago

        I’m surprised I don’t hear about it more. I only stumbled upon it somewhat recently and am amazed it doesnt get brought up more. While you can feel the Vietnam War influences, it transcends that war and give a compelling story about the costs of war writ large.

    • falidorn@lemmy.world
      2·
      11 days ago

      Both of these are excellent but very different thematically. Forever War is much more “space” and “time” where Stranger in a Strange Land is a mostly an Earth story with a critical eye on the being/psychology of humanity (albeit from an “alien” perspective).

      • jacksilver@lemmy.world
        1·
        11 days ago

        Yeah, that’s why I added the descriptions. Given Dune and Hyperion, I think OP could enjoy both of those, but they are different (from each other and Dune/Hyperion).

    • JizzmasterD@lemmy.ca
      2·
      11 days ago

      If you’re going with Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was awesome too. One of the only Heinlein ones that didn’t make me feel weird after I learned more about him.