Looking for sweeping space opera

[Terry]

I am looking for something similar to Frank Herbert’s Dune and David Zindell’s Neverness and Requiem for Homo Sapiens trilogy: far future space opera with baroque world-building of a far, far future of humanity in an interstellar diaspora that combines elements of medieval and pre-industrial societies with ‘magical’ technology and gleaming ships that fold space; ideally it will also have bizarre human enclaves so that societies of warrior-poets, pilot-mathematicians, scientist-philosophers, autist-savants, and priest-kings all rub shoulders in a bewildering and colourful throng.

Both works tend to have a fair amount of philosophical content re: the purpose of human existence, the implication of ‘super powers’ or advanced technology on human society (and individuals), and the proper way in which societies are organized. Tied in with this latter point is the fact that they also both have a fairly high political content with various agendas being promoted by differing powers, back-room intrigue and plots proliferating, and a highly structured social strata that often mirrors that of older political regimes on earth (esp. of the medieval aristocratic/monarchic type).

In many ways I’d characterize these kind of books as ones who take many of the tropes and conventions of epic fantasy and apply them to wide-screen science fiction. Not really looking for Peter F. Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, or Iain M. Banks if that helps (already checked them out and am looking for something new and a little different than what they offer).

[Betsy]

Have you considered David Weber's Honorverse? It's generally considered space opera, but it may be more concentrated on war than you want. It's a complex universe, but also may not be as "far, far future" as you'd like. Definitely rooted in current version of humanity. There are some other sentient species, but that's not central.

Lots of war. LOTS of politics, mirroring various regimes from our time, but not exactly. Issues of genetic engineering.

They are exciting space adventure, but Weber is sometimes criticized for the amount of technical detail about the hardware (i.e. space ships) and politics. On rereads, I sometimes skip those sections, but I think they're important on first read for understanding and feel of the society.

Many interesting, well written characters, both sympathetic and not -- and sometimes that changes.

It's a long series, not finished yet. There are 14 books in the main Honor Harrington series. And there are two peripheral series with two books each that you really should read. There are other short stories and a new YA series that are less important to the main thread.

I love them, even though I usually don't go with space war.

[Christy]

I'd also recommend checking out James S.A. Corey's work.

[Alexa]

Not sure, but Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan universe might meet this description.

[scherzo♫]

Hyperion
The Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
The Rise of Endymion

[Grey]

Simon R Green's Deathstalker series maybe?