The Algebraist

qntm, There is no antimemetics division. Tamsin Muir, Gideon the Ninth Iain M Banks, The Algebraist D F Jones, Colossus James S A Corey, The Mercy of Gods

I'll stand by most of the other recommendations here that I've read, here are some books I liked that I haven't seen here yet: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is a pretty good and campy series. The Dresden Files series is also good, I tried to get into it but I hated the mumbly voice actor on Audible unfortunately. Iain Banks is good, especially Player of Games, Consider Phlebas and The Algebraist. Use of Weapons put a bad taste in my mouth. Good luck! EDIT: Forgot to mention Isaac Asimov, I've yet to see anything bad by him. Still trying to get through the Foundation series.

The Algebraist is my favourite Iain M. Banks book too - the breadth of imagination in it is amazing I think Surface Detail is my favourite Culture novel. Many Iain Banks books (regular fiction as well as sci-fi) are really just wish-fulfillment stories, but they're so stylish and fun to read that I love them (plus there's usually at least one very insightful rant by a minor character to be found in nearly every book)

The only book I ever force on people is "A Deepness in the Sky", by Vernor Vinge. If you haven't read it, please do. I've really been enjoying David Weber's Honor Harrington series, if you're open to military sci-fi. It's not on the Amazon site, but it's easy to get from the Baen Webscriptions site. Iain M. Banks - "Algebraist" was a lot of fun, easily the best visualization of a gas-giant alien society I've ever read. I read "Matter" a while ago, and keep feeling pulled back to re-read it sometime soon. For classic sci-fi, I would recommend Bester's "The Stars My Destination" and Miller's "Canticle for Leibowitz". Don't forget to check out all the free public domain books that are available in the Kindle Store. All the Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, etc that you can eat, at no charge.