As an example, I love the Martian, and I think a lot of older books from authors like Asimov are heavily into engineering / competence porn. Other favs in this category include the standalone novel Rendezvous with Rama to leave you wishing for more, most of the Culture series for happy utopian vibes, Schlock Mercenary for humor, Dahak series for fun mindless popcorn.

Edit: I’m so happy to have found a replacement for r/books and the rest of them.

  • wax
    4·
    2 days ago

    Just finished Exodus: The Archimedes Engine on audible. Space opera with a lot of world building. A bit slow to get started, but I really enjoyed it.

    Edit: not sure if I would classify it as engineering porn though, although there is an emphasis on use of technology

    • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.worksOP
      1·
      2 days ago

      Argh. Peter Hamilton. Don’t all his books end with deus ex machinas? I got so annoyed at how Night’s Dawn ended that I’ve avoided all his books ever since.

      • Timbo1970@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        I’ll agree on Night’s Dawn, but his Pandora Star series is still one of my favourite series and good competence porn. The characters aren’t stupid and actually solve problems and predict events.

      • wax
        1·
        2 days ago

        First book by him for me, so can’t comment on his overall style. The main plot didn’t resolve in this one, it leaves it to a sequel. There’s definitely a tendency to introduce technology from ancient races in the plots which may be used in that way. Didn’t feel jarring to me in this book though.