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.