Book Discussion Favourite sci-fi/fantasy books or authors?

[Digiquo]

From what I've heard, David Lynch had a great start, but later faced funding cuts, which meant he couldn't finish the movie the way he originally wanted to.
The Denis Villeneuve films have been more successful, partly because, I think, he had a much bigger budget and an entire “army” behind him. Great films based on great books....

The first 2 books, 'Dune' and 'God Emporer of Dune', I think should be mandatory reading for anybody trying to walk a more spiritual path. Yes, the sci fi elements are cool and the politics are intriguing, both of which have proven to translate excellently to film by a competent director, but what those films fail to capture that I think is the most important part of the whole shebang is the underlying spiritual currents that Paul is thrust into, and grappling with whether he's really in control of what's happening or not. I won't spoil anything for those who haven't read them, but there's a good reason people have been talking about the books for decades despite the (up till very recently) middling success of its adaptations.

 

[Eldros]

The first 2 books, 'Dune' and 'God Emporer of Dune', I think should be mandatory reading for anybody trying to walk a more spiritual path. Yes, the sci fi elements are cool and the politics are intriguing, both of which have proven to translate excellently to film by a competent director, but what those films fail to capture that I think is the most important part of the whole shebang is the underlying spiritual currents that Paul is thrust into, and grappling with whether he's really in control of what's happening or not. I won't spoil anything for those who haven't read them, but there's a good reason people have been talking about the books for decades despite the (up till very recently) middling success of its adaptations.

Yeah, I’ve actually read the whole Dune series - except for the books his son continued -and that spiritual side is probably what is so interesting.
I’ve always wondered how much control Paul really has once he can see what’s coming.
./And the Bene Gesserit are such a cool part of it too --their training almost feel like a kind of occult tradition.
That’s probably why I think Dune fits so well with conversations about magic and spirituality. There’s just so much underneath the sci-fi and politics.

 

[Jsinclair]

My favorite authors in the sci-fi and fantasy genres are Clive Barker, Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, JG Ballard, and Julian May. Imajica is my favorite book.

Really? I mean.... seriously? Imajica is your favorite book? I have literally never heard that a single time before this. Cool for you, but I had to do something I very rarely do and simply stop reading it about 300 pages in. I just did not give half a f*ck about a single one of the characters. And, to me, the world(s) were as impressive and immersive as a trip to a dentist office in an otherwise abandoned strip mall. Thing is though, the overall concept and the magical society angle and even the smuggling etc. were very cool. It all just, somehow, fell apart in Clive Barker's usually captivating imagination and writing style.

Now, Coldheart Canyon... definitely in my personal top 5 favorite novels ever. But freaking IMAJICA....I just have to ask...in all seriousness...why?