I've been reading the Stardoc series by S.L. Viehl and have been enjoying it. I was hoping to find something similar. I haven't really read any science fiction before starting these books, so I am not familiar with any authors in the genre.

I used to be a big Voyager and DS9 buff, I've seen every episode, and I'm kinda looking for something like that. A space setting but nothing that's going to be over my head or difficult to understand. Something that follows one or a group of characters through many books. Stardoc is written in first-person perspective, but that's not necessary for a series I'll read. Suggestions would be helpful!

I am not familiar with the series that you have read, but if you will supply more information about 'setting & situation' perhaps I and others can point you in a good direction :)

Katcha

Sure. Here's the first book in the series: Stardoc (Stardoc, Bk 1) So it starts out with a terran woman, one of Earth's brightest doctors who travels to the far reaches of the galaxy to work on a planet where she treats all kinds of species she's never been in contact with before (Earth has a policy not letting alien species immigrate to the planet). That's where the series starts, but the other books take her all over the galaxy.  She is trying to stay out of her "father's" reach, because she is considered non-sentient and his property - she was a genetic experiment (a genetically modified clone) and does not meet the criteria for a sentient species, and they want their experiment back. All through this she works as a doctor and comes across all kinds of strange medical cases.

There's a bit of politics (but nothing really heavy or involving), dealing with new species and their cultures, the characters have sexual relationships, and there is action and occasional violence. And it was all pretty easy reading, nothing too technical for me to understand.

Sounds interesting.  It's not a series, but have you read Friday by Robert A. Heinlein?  The main character is a genetic experiment as well, and not legally human, but makes a good undercover agent.

i've read and kept most of the StarDoc books, so i'm trying to think of other keeper sci-fi books that might be also interesting, but not overly technical. 

if you don't mind military sci-fi you might try the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell.  four of the reported six are currently released.

another series where the main character gets a lot of travelling in to different planets, along with a core group, is the Kris Longknife series by Mike Shepherd.  the main character is in the military, but also kind of royalty.  so sometimes she's doing the necessary social 'represent your family/planet' thing, and sometimes she's doing military things.

i really like the Honor Harrington books by David Weber, but that author tends to get into the nitty-gritty of how the ships are supposed to work and all that, so probably not what you're looking for.

i'd second the recommendation for Friday as well.

Elizabeth Moon: Hunting Party or Sporting Chance or Winning Colors. And then Once a Hero.

Lois McMaster Bujold: Anything in her Vorkosigian series (I'm not a fan of her fantasy - Long Live Miles!).

AC (Ann) Crispin: Starbridge (and about 5-6 after this one).

James Alan Gardner: Expendable (there's about 4-5 books after this one also).

Tanya Huff: Her Valor series.

Elizabeth Moon & Anne McCaffrey: Sassinak (2 more after this one).

Sandra McDonald: Outback Stars. The sequel is already out.

Pat Murphy: There and Back Again. Not a series, but this book is a hoot, especially if you've recently re-read The Hobbit.

You could also try Anthologies to find new authors.

I would second Elizabeth Moon, start with "Hunting Party". Also seconded are Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series and James Alan Gardner. You might also like Jack McDevitt's series with Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins...I'm not sure which is the first, try "Engines of God" but I think you can read out of sequence without too much trouble.  Someone mentioned David Weber's Honor Harrington series, I wouldn't call it real technical myself since most of that is a lot of hand-waving - but it is very heavy on military tactics. Start with "On Basilisk Station" for that.  And you could go way back  - how about C.J. Cherryh's Chanur series? Start with "The Pride of Chanur". If it's the medical aspect you liked, James White wrote the "Sector General" series. I've never gotten around to reading them so no thoughts on where to start, but I think they're pretty popular.

Sarah, if by chance The Pride of Chanur sounds interesting to you, send me a PM.  I might know a clown with an extra copy...

I put a lot of these suggestions on my reminder list, and I've ordered the first two of Bujold's Vorkosigan books, and Heinlein's Friday. I also put the first Lost Fleet book on my WL.  Keep the suggestions coming, they've been very helpful!

ETA: I forgot to mention I've read quite a few Orson Scott Card books a couple years ago, the Ender's Saga books and the one's about his brother, and Petra and Bean and really enjoyed those.