Space Opera Fans discussion

Hello people of SOF. I've been here for a short while - looking around, reading and enjoying myself - but haven't had much luck in finding the next books/series to get addicted to. I decided to ask for your expert opinions. I would very much appreciate your feedback - be it threads that I should follow, relevant authors or just great book recommendations.

What I'm looking for:
My favorite author is Peter F. Hamilton, with the perfect blend of technology, big ideas, suspense, action, and great characters. Another one is Alastair Reynolds. John Scalzi is another solid choice for me, with powerful military sci-fi, technology, and tongue-in-cheek humor.

In fantasy, I like some of the more action-packed books by Brandon Sanderson, as well as Patrick Rothfuss.

It does seem I prefer sophisticated tech, fast-paced action, big far-reaching ideas, great characters, and preferably not too much gore, goo or depressing endings...

Can you please help a fellow reader? Thanks a lot in advance.

ok, read every sf richard k morgan has written and then comeback.

I'm a firm believer in the fact that you can't go wrong with Jack Vance.

I haven't read either Hamilton or Reynolds, but if you like military sci-fi, I highly recommend Honor Harrington, beginning with On Basilisk Station.

You might like Gordon Dickson’s Dorsai books. Typical starting points are Tactics of Mistake and Dorsai!.

Based on your list of likes I’d recommend:

John Varley’s Eight Worlds

Larry Niven’s Known Space

Jack L. Chalker’s Well World saga
(Also his Fantasy series Rivers of the Dancing Gods)

Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga

Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern trilogy (Dragonflight, Dragonquest, The White Dragon — there are more books but those are the best)

If you like Hamilton and Reynolds then you are sure to like Iain M. Banks.

AndrewP wrote: "If you like Hamilton and Reynolds then you are sure to like Iain M. Banks."

Definitely.

Wow! Thank you to each and every one of you for your valuable ideas.

Anything by Neal Asher. He pushes technological innovation to its natural conclusions along with a lot of sly humour.

Try Honor Harrington serie by David Weber, Star carrier serie by Ian Douglas, Elevation serie by David Brin. I second Vorkosigan saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. Very good books of Space Opera. And one my best, by the precursor, and if it's not too old for you, the Lensmen serie by Edward Elmer "Doc" Smith.

David Brin
You may enjoy also the Liaden Universe for the worldbuilding and the fact that there are a lot of books.