That's interesting. I hadn't thought to check out non-english work. I would suppose translations are freely available.
I'm not familiar with Silverberg or Pohl.
Any recommendations?
I get what you mean a bit about the constructed complex huge new worlds.
It's a bit much to handle sometimes. Like the whole xenobiology angle of the enders game series, toward the end of them -- when Ender is out traveling at light speed to new worlds, etc.
Took me a decent amount of time and multiple attempts to really feel the strength of that book.
I remember reading Silverbeg's 'Sailing to Byzantium' and liking it a lot.
Frederick Pohl has written a lot of short stories, besides his books, a good way to take a taste.
I usually prefer short stories, novellas and standalone books. Reading a three or a five book series seems to big of a 'commitment' and time is often limited.
I did enjoy reading some of the 'Dune' books, though not all of them.
Translations of non-us works are very interesting because they are set in a real context of another culture. Check women sci-fi writers from India if you want something refreshing, i don't remember titles unfortunately.