Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Red Mars' is also great. It's part of a trilogy that delves deep into the political, social, and environmental aspects of colonizing Mars. It shows how different groups of settlers with different ideologies interact and compete as they try to build a new society on the red planet.
One of the best is 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It features the desert planet Arrakis and the complex politics and ecology involved in colonizing and controlling it. The world - building is extremely detailed.
I also like 'Hyperion' by Dan Simmons. It's a complex novel that involves a pilgrimage to a mysterious planet called Hyperion. It has elements of colonization as different groups have different interests in the planet, and it also explores deep philosophical and technological ideas related to the future of humanity in space.
I really liked 'Leviathan Wakes' by James S.A. Corey. It has a great story about the colonization of the solar system and the conflicts that arise between different groups. It's full of action and interesting characters.
There might be a story where a planet is colonized, and it has a very different atmosphere. At first, the colonists think they can adapt. However, the atmosphere starts to cause mutations among them. People slowly turn into something unrecognizable, and the colony descends into chaos as they try to deal with this horror.
Well, 'Red Mars' by Kim Stanley Robinson is a great space colonization novel. It details the first steps of colonizing Mars, the political and social issues that come up. 'Dune' by Frank Herbert can also be considered. Although it's mainly set on a desert planet, it shows how humans can adapt and build a civilization in a harsh alien environment, which is relevant to space colonization. And 'A Fire Upon the Deep' by Vernor Vinge. It has a vast galactic setting and shows different levels of civilizations and how they interact, including those involved in space colonization.
There's a lesser - known book called 'Dark Colony' which tells a story of a colony on a far - off planet. They encounter a mysterious disease that spreads rapidly and turns people into violent and mindless beings. It's a very spooky read as the colonists struggle to survive and find a cure.
The 'Barsoom' series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, apart from 'A Princess of Mars', also contains many excellent sword and planet tales. The series features a hero's journey across the Martian landscape, facing off against various foes, with a good mix of sword - fighting and exploration of the alien planet.
In my opinion, 'Earth Abides' by George R. Stewart is among the best. It's about a man who survives a plague that has decimated humanity and the planet is left in a state of decay. Also, 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood. This novel shows a world that has been ruined by genetic engineering gone wrong, making it a dying planet in many ways. And 'The Stand' by Stephen King is also relevant as it deals with a post - apocalyptic world where the planet has been severely damaged by a super - flu.
Arthur C. Clarke's '2001: A Space Odyssey' is also great. It not only explores the planet Saturn's moon, Europa, but also delves deep into the evolution of human intelligence and the relationship between humans and advanced alien intelligence. The story is complex and thought - provoking, with vivid descriptions of space exploration.
A good beginner's space colonization novel is 'Ender's Game'. The first part of the book is mainly about Ender's training, which is easy to get into. And when the space colonization part comes in later, it's not too hard to follow. 'A Fire Upon the Deep' can also be a good start. Although it has a complex galactic setting, the basic ideas about different civilizations and their relationship to space colonization can be grasped by new readers.