If you enjoy reading books by Alex Garland then you might also like the following authors:
Michel Faber is an author who writes stories that feel vivid and thought-provoking. One of his standout books, “Under the Skin,” follows Isserley, a strange and mysterious woman driving through Scotland, picking up hitchhikers.
At first, her behavior seems odd, but as the story moves forward, it becomes clear that her actions conceal something far bigger than anyone could guess. The book blends an unsettling atmosphere with sharp, insightful observations on humanity and life.
Fans of Alex Garland’s unique approaches to storytelling may find Faber’s style equally intriguing.
David Mitchell is an author known for weaving interconnected stories that often span different timelines and places. His novel “Cloud Atlas” plays with structure by stacking six stories, each set in a different time and genre.
There’s a 19th-century travel journal, a dystopian future with a cloned worker trying to escape her fate, and even a post-apocalyptic tale of survival. The stories seem separate at first but are connected in surprising ways.
Mitchell’s writing explores how actions echo across time and how lives intersect in unexpected patterns.
Kazuo Ishiguro is a writer who often explores human emotions and the passage of time in deeply personal ways. His book “Never Let Me Go” tells the story of Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth, who grow up in a seemingly normal boarding school called Hailsham.
The students find out their lives are far from ordinary, and the truth of their purpose changes everything. The novel has a quiet tension, as the characters grapple with love, friendship, and the weight of their fate.
If you enjoy stories where the world feels a little off but the focus is on the people in it, Ishiguro might be a perfect choice.
Michel Houellebecq is a French author known for exploring the darker sides of modern life with stark, direct prose.
His novel “The Elementary Particles” follows two half-brothers, Michel and Bruno, whose lives are shaped by contrasting approaches to love, sex, and the search for meaning.
Michel is a detached scientist focused on genetic research, while Bruno is consumed by his hedonistic desires. The book paints a bleak picture of loneliness and societal decay, but it deeply examines how people cope in a world that feels empty.
China Miéville writes stories that often bend the rules of traditional genres, creating worlds that are strange but fascinating. One of his books, “Perdido Street Station,” is set in a massive, chaotic city called New Crobuzon.
In this place, humans live alongside bizarre creatures, and science and magic collide in unexpected ways. The story starts with a scientist named Isaac being hired to assist a strange, winged creature.
From there, things spiral into danger when a terrifying monster is unleashed in the city. The mix of unique characters and unpredictable events makes the world feel alive and full of possibilities.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author known for her thought-provoking stories that explore society and human behavior through speculative scenarios.
Her book, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is set in a dystopian society ruled by a theocratic regime where women are stripped of their rights. It follows Offred, a woman forced into servitude as a Handmaid to produce children for the ruling class.
The story reveals glimpses of her life before the regime took over, shaped by tension, control, and survival. Atwood’s storytelling creates a world that feels disturbingly close to reality, pulling readers into Offred’s fight to hold onto her identity and hope.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for weaving strange and surreal elements into everyday life, creating stories that feel both familiar and otherworldly. One of his standout books is “Kafka on the Shore.”
The story follows a boy named Kafka who runs away from home and an elderly man, Nakata, who has a mysterious ability to speak to cats. Their lives cross in strange and unexpected ways, wrapped in mysteries that blur the line between dreams and reality.
If you enjoy stories with unique characters and a sense of mystery that unfolds piece by piece, this book might catch your interest.
J.G. Ballard is an author known for creating stories that explore human behavior in strange and unexpected settings. His novel “The Drowned World” is set in a future where global warming has turned the Earth into a flooded, tropical landscape.
Cities are submerged, and humanity clings to survival in scattered communities.
The story follows a biologist named Kerans as he becomes drawn to the increasingly uninhabitable environment, facing both the brutal reality of nature and the deeper, unsettling changes it causes in himself and others.
It’s a thought-provoking take on survival and the human connection to the world around us.
Chuck Palahniuk writes stories that dive into the dark corners of modern life, often with blunt and shocking honesty. One of his best-known books, “Fight Club,” tells the story of an everyday man who feels trapped in his dull, consumer-driven life.
He meets Tyler Durden, a charismatic and rebellious soap maker, and together they start an underground fight club that grows into something far more dangerous. The book explores identity, freedom, and chaos in a way that challenges the reader.
If you enjoy narratives that question society and personal limits, this might be something worth checking out.
Cormac McCarthy is known for writing dark and thought-provoking stories with sharp, stripped-down prose. One of his most well-known books, “The Road,” follows a father and his son as they journey through a bleak, post-apocalyptic world.
The landscape is dead, and survival is a daily battle against hunger and danger. Along the way, the bond between the two keeps them going while the ruins of humanity surround them.
It’s a story that digs into love, sacrifice, and what people cling to when everything else is gone. Fans of Alex Garland’s work might appreciate the stark atmosphere and the way McCarthy explores human nature under extreme circumstances.
Neal Stephenson is an author who blends science, technology, and human behavior into intricate stories. One of his standout books, “Snow Crash,” takes readers into a dystopian future where corporations run the world, governments are weakened, and the internet is fully immersive.
The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a skilled hacker and swordsman, as he uncovers the truth behind a mysterious digital drug called Snow Crash.
Along the way, the book weaves in ancient Sumerian mythology, modern tech, and a fast-paced adventure that raises fascinating questions about society and identity.
Fans of Alex Garland’s sharp and thought-provoking narratives will likely appreciate the creative world-building in Stephenson’s work.
Ian McEwan is known for writing stories that explore human emotions and moral dilemmas in a raw and direct way. His novel “The Children Act” is a great example.
It follows Fiona Maye, a family court judge, as she navigates a case involving a teenage boy refusing a life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons. The story also examines Fiona’s personal struggles with her marriage, which begins to fall apart.
McEwan writes in a way that pulls you into the characters’ conflicts and makes you feel the weight of their choices.
William Gibson is known for creating futuristic stories filled with vivid worlds and fascinating technology. His book, “Neuromancer,” is a cornerstone of cyberpunk. It follows Case, a washed-up computer hacker hired for a mysterious and dangerous mission.
The story explores a world of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and shadowy figures pulling the strings. You’ll meet characters navigating a culture shaped by technology and corporations.
The gritty atmosphere and fast-paced storytelling create a world that feels alive, full of sharp edges and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Paolo Bacigalupi is an author who often explores dystopian worlds shaped by environmental collapse and corporate control.
In his novel “The Windup Girl,” he tells the story of a future Thailand fighting to maintain independence in a world where genetically engineered food and bio-engineered viruses dominate.
The story follows Emiko, a genetically modified being known as a “windup,” who is treated as less than human by society. Her journey intersects with a driven businessman and a corrupt official, creating a tense and dangerous web of survival and power.
The book dives into questions about humanity and exploitation while painting a vivid and haunting future.
With novels like “Station Eleven,” Emily St. John Mandel presents post-apocalyptic worlds filled with hope and humanity. Her talent for crafting compelling narratives rich in emotional and thematic content appeals greatly to fans of Alex Garland.