You want Jack Chalker's "Rings of the Masters" series. Ask me or Charlie Tango about any Jack Chalker works, we're big fans. You'd probably also like the "Four Lords of the Diamond" series. I also highly recommend the first three of the "Well of Souls" series, and the "Quintara Marathon".
Chalker's books are all about transformation in one form or another.
Did you know David Wingrove made a restart on the "Chung Kuo" series? The 8th book in the original version is ... disappointing, but his publisher had originally promised him 9 books, then after 7 books told him "one more, that's it." The rewrite starts earlier in the piece. Despite the ending, Chung Kuo is a flawed masterpiece, with original world-building.
And do try and find "The Final Reflection", a TOS Star Trek book written by John Ford, who wrote "How much for just the planet?". They're the only two TOS novels I've bothered to keep. Read "The Final Reflection", and weep for what the Klingons could have been portrayed as.
And yes, few things equal Dune.
I approve heartily of your reading list! :thumbsup: :wheelchair: