I haven't read this series, so I may need to take a look. It's been a while since I read much sci-fi. I should get back into the genre. Action-packed space operas are fine and all, but the exploration of ideas in a slower tale has its place too.

Some of the most impactful parts of The Lord of the Rings (I know, fantasy, not sci-fi) were the dialogue on the way where the characters discussed death, destiny, and the meaning of their struggles. When the films used those lines, sometimes from different characters and in different locations, it still felt more meaningful than the massive battle scenes. Consider Gandalf and Frodo discussing Gollum and pity in Moria in the film.