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[Retropunch]

So I did do a search but nothing really came up. Furthermore, this is quite a specific request as I've read pretty much all of the standard ones (Dune, Culture, Gibson, Asmiov).

I'm looking for a book or preferably series which is probably closest to 'Consider Phlebas' or Dune in style - a proper adventure. I detest the philosophical, acid trip, dream sequence-y style stuff that infects so many novels in this genre. 'The Book of the New Sun' series for instance, I just could not get into because there was so much rambling stuff about philosophy, myths and ponderings on reality, which hadn't got much to do with the plot in any concrete way. I detest this so much that I even turned to W40k books because they're so straight forward in their story telling.

I'm basically looking for a really strong 'down to earth' (excuse the pun) sci-fi adventure - any ideas? They don't need to be super science fiction, they could be more near future/cyberpunk or anything really. I'm not a massive fantasy book fan (other than the greats) but I'd be happy with something like Perdido Street Station or 'weird fiction' if nothing

[Jimmy]

I know how you feel. I gave up on the Ender's Game series when it became less about fighting aliens and more about exploring our humanity or spirituality some other rubbish.

I would suggest the Worm online serial [link]. Well written with a decent amount of action set in a sci-fi in alternate universe where humans manifest superpowers ala X-Men. Still quite a unique work despite the tropes and the main character is really compelling. Definitely going to take you a few weeks to finish too, even with reading a few chapters a day.

[Frumple]

Honor Harrington stuff? There's even some of it up for free over on baen's stuff. Could have sworn more of it was released to the wilds at some point, but maybe that got took down, I'unno.

[Flying Dice]

Seconding both Worm and Honor Harrington. Granted, the latter is full of Weber's political author-tracting, but to a lesser degree than most of his published work. Also try Harry Turtledove's paired Worldwar and Colonization series -- described as briefly as possible, alien space lizards invade Earth prior to the Normandy landing during WWII, things derail. Notably features: Otto Skorzeny as a likeable person, ginger as an addictive aphrodisiac (for aliens), a certain degree of HFY, and of course the peculiarities of the author's writing style.

As far as down-to-earth sci-fi adventures go, try Niven's Ringworld. Also, of course, Edgar Rice Burrough's various stories of Barsoom and John Carter.

[Remuthra]

I suggest the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov.

[miauw62]

Foundation series isn't really that adventurous (well, the original trilogy isn't, but the other books aren't really good imo)

I'd recommend Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds, it's pretty good.

[Frumple]

Ah, remembered the Uplift series stuff. Only read one or two of them, and I think out of order at that, but I vaguely remember it to be pretty decent.

[Retropunch]

Thanks for the outpouring of help!! Some really good suggestions and I'll definitely look into them - more are always welcome! I've read Asimov's foundation (and other works) and Revelation Space and enjoyed both.

Worm has always intimidated me on it's sheer size, although the repeated recommendations have swayed me to give it a stab. Is there an epub/emobi format anywhere? I've poked around on Google but can't find anything even half official.

[Strife26]

Strongly seconding Honor Harrington and John Carter

Depending on how military-y you are, I'd be remiss not to recommend Kieth Laumer's Bolo series. They're somewhat philosophy based at times, but all that philosophy goes through the great characters of the Bolo super-heavy tanks.

Also, take a look at The Martian, by Andy Weir. It's near future hard science fiction with a great story and enough humor to be fun. I recognized the name from a webcomic that Weir did forever ago, then bought it to read at my last field problem. Ended up reading the whole thing that night. 

[Drakale]

I kinda like the Starforce serie by B.V.Larson. I actually dislike the main character, but the story had me go through the first 4 books in a short time.

[olemars]

I came across John Scalzi's Old Man's War in a humble bundle and ended up reading three books in the series within a couple of weeks. I have the rest on my to-buy list. Not the deepest sci-fi, but very entertaining.

[DJ]

Dan Simmons, Hyperion/Endymion series.

[Jimmy]

Thanks for the outpouring of help!! Some really good suggestions and I'll definitely look into them - more are always welcome! I've read Asimov's foundation (and other works) and Revelation Space and enjoyed both.

Worm has always intimidated me on it's sheer size, although the repeated recommendations have swayed me to give it a stab. Is there an epub/emobi format anywhere? I've poked around on Google but can't find anything even half official.

The author blogged about this. He's intending to get the work published as a real book, but says it needs editing and a bit more fleshing out in the middle. Unfortunately this means official plans for an epub are on hold until this is done, though there's unofficial versions floating around. Don't let that or the length put you off reading the story though, since it's well worth the investment.

Also a big thanks to Frumple for his link. There's some solid gold sci-fi reading there.

[Lightningfalcon]

I just finished Leviathan Wakes, which is really good.  It is part horror/part noir.  It centers around a detective based on a station at Ceres, and the executive officer of an ice hauler.  They slowly unravel a conspiracy, which unravels more conspiracy, and so on.  It does have elements of the classic Sci-Fi mindfuckery, but it isn't too bad.  In the authors words, it is a working mans sci-fi, where you deal with the nitty gritty of space travel.  He said he doesn't consider it hard sci-fi, but it is definitely realistic in places (G-Forces are a bitch, and if you undergo high acceleration you have to sit in special seats while you are pumped full of drugs to prevent your insides from being turned into jelly.)
I haven't read the rest of the series yet, so I can't comment on any of the other books.
Also, how is Dune not acid tripping?  I remember it being one of the trippiest books I've ever read. 

[Vector]

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