SciFi equivalent of Game of Thrones

scorza

scorza

scorza

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Just an odd thought that crept into my head, wondering if you guys had any recommendations for Science Fiction books that were similar in style to GoT. You know how GoT is set in a fantasy universe, but concentrates on characters and their actions rather than the actual fantasy elements. I do enjoy reading SciFi, prefer them to fantasy books really, but most of the books I've read concentrate on the technology rather than characters.
 
Saga of the Seven Suns by Kevin Anderson might fit the bill? Its a space opera, easy to read books (7 of them) where the story is being told from the point of view of a specific character in each chapter like GoT. Its not heavy on the technology side of things. Plenty of twists and turns throughout the series. It wasn't an amazing series but still enjoyable imo.
 
Thanks all, keep 'em coming. Will check out the Mars trilogy.

Good call on Dune and Hyperion (/adore The Shrike), both of which I've read. I have also read Asimov's Foundation series, obviously a seminal work but not quite what I'm looking for as the characters come and go as the time shifts forward a couple of centuries at a time. Indeed, wasn't the thinking behind of Harry Seldon's theory that individuals aren't significant in the grand scheme of things?
 
Stephen Donaldson has a surprisingly gritty, brutal, and IMO rather realistic feeling series. The troubled characters were no surprise after the Covenant books but the overall story arcs were very satisfying. It's right up there with Simmons among my favourite SF reads.

The Gap Cycle. It has my favourite form of fast travel ever, and overall the cool tech isn't the star, it just serves the plots well. IMO anyway. It's not a series I see discussed very much and it took me a long time to investigate, a bit like G oT.
 
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Gooner Leroy said:
Saga of the Seven Suns by Kevin Anderson might fit the bill? Its a space opera, easy to read books (7 of them) where the story is being told from the point of view of a specific character in each chapter like GoT. Its not heavy on the technology side of things. Plenty of twists and turns throughout the series. It wasn't an amazing series but still enjoyable imo.
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I haven't read this, but I have many of the other ScFi books mentioned and while great books I don't think any are like GOT. There just isn't the same level of scheming and backstabbing going on.
 
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Andrew_McP said:
Stephen Donaldson has a surprisingly gritty, brutal, and IMO rather realistic feeling series. The troubled characters were no surprise after the Covenant books but the overall story arcs were very satisfying. It's right up there with Simmons among my favourite SF reads.

The Gap Cycle. It has my favourite form of fast travel ever, and overall the cool tech isn't the star, it just serves the plots well. IMO anyway. It's not a series I see discussed very much and it took me a long time to investigate, a bit like G oT.
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This, no doubt, is the one you are looking for. The Gap Cycle is the closest Sci-Fi I have read to Game of Thrones. Instant recommendation from me.

Still can't believe it doesn't have more recognition as one of the greats in book series.

EDIT: Just stick past the first book as things only kick off "properly" after the setup. Also, the first book is more of a novella so not too bad anyway.
 
Don't think you can get the first book on its own anymore, its usually combined with the second book in one volume.
 
Glad to see I'm not the only Gap fan. I've read the other stuff in the thread, but this feels closest to the relentless, character based drama the OP's looking for... which probably means he'll hate it. :-)

Recommending material for others is always a bit of a lottery, but sometimes it can lead us to something special. The Gap series has a tough start, but then I found GoT tough going at first, especially after the 'Spooky Monster' stuff which then disappears without trace for yonks. But I soon stopped caring about that!
 
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To be fair thought the covenant chronicles started great and I would have bought it on the first few chapter. It went terrible after that!
 
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