The Owner trilogy by Neal Asher takes place in a near future dystopia – Earth is overpopulated, under-resourced, and ruled from a space station by the tyrannical Committee. Using hard sci-fi to explore the furthest reaches of the possible, Asher’s visceral Orwellian vision is a must-read for fans of Peter F. Hamilton, or classic writers such as Isaac Asimov. Fast paced and political, this series is a great entry point for readers new to Neal Asher – start with The Departure.