Some friends have brought me into a sci-fi ttrpg game and I'm looking for inspiration to pull from, plus a good time besides.
I'm more of a fantasy fan myself, but I'm not completely new to the genre. Some series I've read and liked so far include Will Wight's The Last Horizon, Brando Sando's Skyward, and of course Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide.
What I'm looking for doesn't need to have fantasy tropes, YA style, or satire. I'm trying to branch out a bit. However, I'm not opposed to some more of the same. I would appreciate forewarning if a recommendation is really grim, but I have no specific triggers or anything.
I'm not looking for cyberpunk, dystopia, invasion, or alternate history stories. I think I prefer soft science over hard, but that's open to debate. I'm not impressed by romance, but if it isn't the only focus, I can enjoy it.
Bonus Points if the book has:
* good sequels
* been written in the past 30 years
* A neat gimmick
* detailed worldbuilding (or I guess galaxybuilding?)
* political intrigue
* some philosophical themes
* a ton of talking aliens
* a cast of idiots who love each other, whether they admit it or not.
Audiobooks are a must. I don't have much time to sit down and read, but my work lets me listen most days. Any platform is fine.
And yes, I have read Dungeon Crawler Carl, but I think it's a tad too far away from what I'm looking for to help. 🙂
Thank you for your consideration.
by supersatyr001