More like A Gift from Earth

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The OutposterNovel
Gordon R. Dicksonstandalone novel1972
Space opera, about survival, set in space.
“If your number came up, you joined the rest of the losers marked for exile from overcrowded Earth.”
from the catalogue
The Dosadi ExperimentNovel
Frank Herbertstandalone novel1977
Space opera, about political intrigue and survival.
“Dosadi is rumored to be an experimental planet, and the experimenters are the froglike Gowachin, whose culture is founded upon a strange legal system in which McKie is the only human ever trained.”
from the catalogue
DuneUniverse
universe78 books1963
Space opera, about political intrigue.
“The desert planet, where empire runs on a single substance: the spice melange, which folds space, prolongs life, and unlocks prescience, and which exists nowhere else in the known universe.”
from the catalogue
Start with Dune →
includes Dune, Dune Prequels, Heroes of Dune, Dune Sequels, Background of the Dune Universe
CoDominiumUniverse
universe98 books1971
Military science fiction.
“The body of work runs along a few hard threads rather than one line.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Mote in God's Eye →
includes Moties, Laurie Jo Hansen, Falkenberg's Legion, War World
Tunnel in the SkyNovel
Robert A. Heinleinstandalone novel1955
Adventurous in tone, about survival and coming of age.
“As the final test of a survivalist/explorer class, teenagers are dumped on an alien planet to use their skills while awaiting pickup.”
from the catalogue
The Status CivilizationNovel
Robert Sheckleystandalone novel1960
Dystopia, about prison escape and amnesia.
“On Omega, his only chance to advance himself -- and stay alive -- is to commit an endless series of violent crimes.”
from the catalogue