The Dune series, especially "Dune Messias", made me a vocal critic of organized religion. Books by Vernor Vinge made me a liberal (european meaning, pro free m

The Dune series, especially "Dune Messias", made me a vocal critic of organized religion. Books by Vernor Vinge made me a liberal (european meaning, pro free markets and individual responsibility). Ken McLeod made me aware of the rich history and valid points of communism and socialism, even when I'm still not a fan. Iain M. Banks showed me that an AI-enabled future doesn't have to be a distopia. He also made me aware of how pale and boring the often cited "Star Trek Utopia" really is.