Dune

The Expanse

James S. A. Corey

A space opera series exploring political tensions between Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt. Like Dune, it features complex interplanetary politics and resource conflicts. The story follows multiple characters navigating a potentially explosive political situation. It offers rich world-building and intricate plot dynamics.

Foundation

Isaac Asimov

An epic science fiction saga about a galactic civilization and the prediction of its future through advanced sociological mathematics. Similar to Dune, it features complex political intrigue and a sweeping narrative of human civilization. The story follows Hari Seldon's plan to preserve human knowledge and reduce the coming dark age after the fall of the Galactic Empire. It explores themes of power, prediction, and large-scale social dynamics.

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card

A science fiction novel about a young prodigy trained to become a military leader in an interstellar war. Like Dune, it explores complex themes of strategy, leadership, and human potential. The story follows Ender Wiggin as he is recruited into a military training program to defend humanity against an alien threat. It features intricate world-building and a protagonist thrust into a pivotal role in humanity's survival.

Red Rising

Pierce Brown

A science fiction novel set in a stratified solar system society with intense political conflict. Similar to Dune, it features a young protagonist rising against a oppressive system. The story follows Darrow, a low-born miner who infiltrates the ruling class to bring about revolution. It combines elements of rebellion, strategy, and personal transformation.

Childhood's End

Arthur C. Clarke

A science fiction novel about alien intervention in human civilization. Similar to Dune, it explores large-scale transformation and human potential. The story follows the arrival of mysterious aliens who fundamentally change human society. It offers philosophical insights into evolution, civilization, and cosmic change.

Hyperion

Dan Simmons

A complex science fiction novel with multiple narrative perspectives set in a vast interstellar civilization. Like Dune, it features intricate world-building and philosophical depth. The story follows seven pilgrims on a journey to the mysterious Time Tombs on the planet Hyperion. It blends elements of science fiction with deeper explorations of human nature and destiny.

Neuromancer

William Gibson

A pioneering cyberpunk novel that revolutionized science fiction. Like Dune, it presents a richly detailed future world with complex political and technological systems. The story follows a washed-up computer hacker hired for an mysterious job in a high-tech global society. It explores themes of technology, identity, and power in a transformative narrative.

The Martian

Andy Weir

A science fiction novel about survival on an alien planet. Like Dune, it features detailed environmental challenges and human adaptability. The story follows an astronaut stranded on Mars, using scientific problem-solving to survive. It combines technical detail with human resilience and ingenuity.

Ancillary Justice

Ann Leckie

A science fiction novel about an AI seeking revenge in a vast interstellar empire. Similar to Dune, it explores themes of identity, power, and complex societal structures. The story follows a ship's AI inhabiting a human body, seeking to understand its own nature and purpose. It offers innovative perspectives on consciousness and political systems.

The Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

A groundbreaking science fiction novel exploring cultural and gender dynamics on an alien world. Similar to Dune, it offers deep anthropological and sociological insights into an alien civilization. The story follows a human envoy attempting to understand a planet of androgynous beings. It provides a nuanced exploration of politics, culture, and human adaptation.