The author Peter f.Hamilton wrote a trilogy of space books in the late 1990's called The Nights Dawn.
Three books titled; The Reality Function.
The Neutronium alchemist
The naked God.
Three really good reads, if your into nano technology, planet hopping and futuristic worlds it's a must.
While this trilogy of books are heavy tome's it's worth ploughing through them a lot of detail into living space crafts! Lost civilisations, and a planet called tranquility with a living conscience that has telepathic connections to it's inhabitants.
I read all three books a few years ago now but with the way our earth is today it's no so different!!
I have started reading them again wow! what insight.