Oh for that sensawonda!
In some cases you could think you were getting a glimpse of a real, different world, a bit of the feeling you get when you become involved in the 'reality' of Middle Earth!
Sensawonda...that's the word! Those books (to me) seemed rather "joyous" about exploring the universe and meeting new species. I haven't really been looking at the new SF that's coming out now. I got rather discouraged by all the "gloom and doom" or people's "issues" that I found the last time I looked. Either that or there's nothing original and the work is just...ho hum rehashes.
Now I'll have to go raid the old library again. Just can't beat that "sensawonda!"