In the year of 1957, then-journalist Frank Herbert was doing research in Oregon. His task was to research and study how the US Department of Agriculture was planting certain species of plants adapted to live in desert conditions to stop dunes. Deserts greatly fascinated Herbert. He began to research them in every aspect and detail: from the sand to the socio-cultural aspects of life in the desert. The research lasted about five years and resulted not in a study but in a science fiction novel we all know. In 1965, Dune was born. But it’s not the only one; here are some more.
1. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Cixin Liu’s The Three-Body Problem is science fiction, which does not build hypothetical worlds as much as it visualizes the deadlocks of modern science. The Three-Body Problem is a very real astrophysical mystery that currently has no solution: why are the gravitational interactions of a system of three related space objects so chaotic that they leave researchers ‘outside the usual range of technical knowledge’? This is a story of Three Suns, around which a planet with an alien civilization orbits poses a threat to its existence. Intelligent creatures suddenly get a signal from Earth, sent into space from a secret military base. The aliens are planning an invasion, which some Earthlings are excited about, while others perceive as a threat to their lives.
2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness is more than just a novel. It is a journey through the fictional world of Gethen, or Winter. Unlike the desert of Dune, Gethen is an icy landscape that is equally unforgiving. When the "Envoy" from Earth, Genly Ai, is sent by the Ekumen (a coalition of planets) to the planet Gethen he is shocked. He faced a complex culture and politics, where people are “ambisexual,” meaning they don’t have fixed genders except for brief periods. Genly's struggle to understand and connect with the Gethenians, especially their unique approach to gender, becomes a central theme in the story, as he learns not only about Gethen’s society but also about himself and the nature of human connection.
3. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Hyperion is essentially a collection of interconnected short stories, with plenty happening between each tale as the characters interact along their journey. One day, a group of travelers, each with their own reasons, sets out on a pilgrimage to the Time Tombs, a scary site centered around a mysterious and powerful creature called The Shrike.
Meanwhile, the Hegemony, a vast human empire, is preparing for a looming war with the Ousters, a faction that broke away from the Hegemony hundreds of years ago. To the Hegemony’s people, the Ousters are seen as dangerous outsiders, even "barbarians." What do each of the Pilgrims hold, and can they stop the war — only Dan Simmons has all the answers in his Hyperion.
4. Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Altered Carbon, the first book in Richard K. Morgan’s acclaimed series dives into a dystopian future where consciousness can be transferred between bodies or “sleeves.” Protagonist Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier, investigates a murder in a world where death is no longer a limitation. Like Dune, this novel examines the human cost of power, technology, and immortality. For readers who enjoyed Dune’s ethical dilemmas and action-packed plot, Altered Carbon offers a similarly intense journey accompanied by a gritty exploration of the future.
Takeshi Kovacs, a former Envoy, is a highly trained military operative created to handle the complexities of interstellar warfare. Envoys are powerful, fast, and possess keen observational skills, traits that make them nearly unstoppable. Though Kovacs was killed hundreds of years ago, his consciousness was digitally stored, waiting for a time when someone would find a use for his particular skill set. That time comes when Laurens Bancroft, one of the wealthiest individuals in the galaxy, brings Kovacs back to life.
5. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
In The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, humanity clings to survival on a volatile, earthquake-prone planet known as the “Stillness,” where civilization has risen and fallen many times. Society is organized into communities or “comms” to prepare for the brutal “Seasons,” periods of intense seismic activity that throw life into chaos. Certain people, called orogenes, can control these tectonic forces, but their power makes them both feared and despised. They’re sent to a place called the Fulcrum to be trained and watched over by Guardians, who can neutralize orogenes’ abilities when necessary.
Each of these books offers a unique world and amazing narrative that will resonate with Dune fans. So, it’s now up to you to choose what kind of world you want to explore. Are you gonna visit icy-cold Gethen or fly straight to space to meet aliens? In any case, you are sure to be fascinated by the marvels of the stories these books contain. Happy reading!
