Note: I just reread your post mentioning you read Hitchhikers and Dungeon Crawler Carl and started Discworld. Leaving those in anyway because idk maybe someone else will benefit from the recommendations. Plus I’ve already taken the time to write this.
The Expanse by James S A Corey has to be my favorite sci-fi series. Fantastic space drama about humanities spread among the stars in a galaxy left behind by an extinct alien civilization.
We Are Legion (We Are Bob), aka Bobiverse by Dennis E Taylor is a very light and silly sci-fi about a nerdy dude who becomes a sentient AI and spreads out like a god among worlds.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a very detailed sci-fi written by a guy who loves entomology. It’s about humanities rise up to its space exploration and terraforming peak, and subsequent fall back to the Stone Age, and the simultaneous evolution of new life on the worlds it abandoned.
Dune by Frank Herbert of course is a must if you’re into heavy world building, deep lore, and discussions about politics, religion, and government.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and the follow up sequel by Eoin Colfer (author of Artemis Fowl) is also of course a wonderful satire on sci-fi and space. Easy read you won’t want to put down.
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Discworld by Terry Prachett is a massive “series” that can be read in no particular order. Books all exist in the same world but are independent of each other, but there’s a timeline to them for people who read a lot of them. Personally I liked the first two books, The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, but many say not to start there as the author was still figuring out his writing. Probably Guards, Guards would be a better choice. Maybe other people have different opinions. He’s the best satirical fantasy author out there.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, and finished by Brandon Sanderson (author of the Cosmere novels) is a massive series that has a similar feel to Tolkien at its start. Every book has you wondering how the next one could possibly get any better. 13 books and my only regret is that I can’t experience it for the first time again. Sanderson does a decent job of wrapping things up based on Jordan’s notes, tho you can tell where Sanderson adds his own touches (and characters).
Mistborn & The Stormlight Archives aka The Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson is a bunch of different series of books that all tie together as they exist within the same universe. Sort of a Marvel style setup where at some point they will all come together for a massive conflict. You don’t actually have to read all the different series, but they’re really enjoyable and make you want to read the others. Each has its own unique setting and writing style and each world he creates has its own unique magic system. Definitely recommend. Great for light reading.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. Absolutely read these. High entertaining. Absolutely fantastic on audiobook as well. Soundbooth Theater does such a great job on these that they will ruin you for audiobooks. Next book comes out in May and it’s being adapted into a TV show, which I’ve always felt it was really written for. Humanity is gone in the blink of an eye, aliens mine the Earth for resources, and the survivors are given a choice: live on an Earth wiped clean of all traces of civilization, or participate in a game show complete with powers, leveling, and loot for the entertainment of the wider universe.
——————- Other mentions, because I’m actually supposed to be working so I’ll be brief:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman Good Omens by Neil Gaiman Both are great for interesting fantasy’s about gods, devils, and angels.
It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis If you want something that predicted the current dystopia we are living in over 60 years ago
Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein Enjoyed them all for their world building.
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein note it’s very different from the movies
Armor by John Steakley Interesting to compare with Starship Troopers, but it takes a very different approach. A great sci-fi.
Vampire$ by John Steakley the $ is important in the book title do not buy a copy that doesn’t have that. Some bs with royalties where a publisher stripped that out. Spaghetti western with vampires and vampire hunting. Think there was a movie adaptation of this too, tho I never saw it.
Weird. I hadn’t seen this at all until after I saw your post and scrolled down a bit further.
Reported. Hopefully lemmy.world mods do something about this.