Dmitry Glukhovsky creates worlds that are dark and unforgettable. Think about the Metro novels. They take place in the tunnels under Moscow after a nuclear war. These books show humanity pushed to its absolute limits.
If you enjoy stories that are thrilling and thought-provoking, and you want to discover authors with a similar style, you might find these writers interesting.
Readers who enjoy Dmitry Glukhovsky’s imaginative worlds may also appreciate the inventive storytelling of China Miéville. Miéville creates vivid fantasy landscapes set in gritty realities.
In “Perdido Street Station,” the city of New Crobuzon teems with strange creatures, eccentric inventors, and dark secrets. Isaac, an ambitious scientist, encounters a mysterious stranger whose request leads him into a dangerous experiment.
Miéville’s city is alive with intrigue, complex characters, and morally challenging situations. For those fascinated by the layered settings and unsettling atmospheres found in Glukhovsky’s work, Miéville offers an equally bold and distinctive experience.
Hugh Howey is an American author known for science fiction with a gritty, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. If you’ve enjoyed Dmitry Glukhovsky’s “Metro 2033,” you’ll likely appreciate Howey’s novel “Wool.”
This story takes place in a future where what’s left of humanity survives in a massive underground silo, hundreds of levels deep. People live there generation after generation, bound to strict regulations and beliefs.
Leaving the silo means death, as the toxic outside world is fatal. But not everything within this silo is as it appears. The deeper you read, the more secrets and conspiracies unfold, pushing the characters—and readers—to question the truth of their world.
Books by Andrzej Sapkowski offer a fresh blend of fantasy, realism, and moral complexity—something readers of Dmitry Glukhovsky will quickly appreciate. In “The Last Wish,” we meet Geralt of Rivia, a fascinating monster-hunter known as a witcher.
Geralt travels through a gritty, war-torn world and faces tough choices, haunted by the thin line between good and evil. Through each short story, Sapkowski brings to life dark folklore-inspired creatures and flawed characters whose motives remain deeply human.
Readers are pulled into tales of betrayal, humor, and genuine humanity, all told in a realistic, straightforward tone. Anyone who enjoyed the gritty atmosphere and character depth in Glukhovsky’s “Metro 2033” will likely feel at home in Geralt’s harsh but deeply engaging world.
Readers who enjoy Dmitry Glukhovsky’s blend of immersive worlds and thought-provoking narratives should consider Dan Simmons and his novel “Hyperion.”
Simmons crafts a far-future universe that balances complex storytelling, rich character development, and profound philosophical themes. Humanity spreads across distant star systems, threatened by a mysterious entity called the Shrike.
A group of pilgrims embark on a journey to the planet Hyperion, each carrying personal secrets and motivations. The pilgrims’ stories unfold one by one, revealing powerful emotions, tense conflicts, and intriguing mysteries.
Fans of Glukhovsky’s “Metro 2033,” with its vivid portrayals of humanity’s survival and struggles, may find something similarly captivating in Simmons’ carefully woven science fiction masterpiece.
Readers who enjoy Dmitry Glukhovsky’s vivid tales of bleak futures and strange worlds might also appreciate Arkady Strugatsky, who co-wrote fascinating science fiction novels with his brother Boris.
Their book “Roadside Picnic” follows the eerie aftermath of an alien visitation, where mysterious zones become scattered with dangerous yet valuable artifacts left behind.
We see this strange new world through the eyes of Red Schuhart, a determined stalker who risks every trip into these forbidden zones, searching for treasures that could change his life.
The mix of suspense, existential questions, and dark atmosphere creates just the kind of intriguing story that readers drawn to Glukhovsky would likely find irresistible.
Boris Strugatsky was a Soviet author who wrote science fiction novels together with his brother Arkady Strugatsky. Their books often explore themes of humanity, ethics, and societal challenges through gripping stories set in imaginative yet believable worlds.
If you’re into Dmitry Glukhovsky’s blend of post-apocalyptic intrigue and sharp societal observation, consider checking out “Roadside Picnic” by the Strugatsky brothers.
The novel takes place in the aftermath of an alien visitation that leaves behind mysterious zones filled with dangerous treasures.
Characters known as “stalkers” risk their lives to retrieve these enigmatic artifacts, facing paranormal phenomena, ethical dilemmas, and government cover-ups.
The suspenseful plot and thoughtful storytelling will resonate with readers interested in deep questions beneath gripping science fiction.
Books by Cixin Liu offer a fresh take on science fiction, blending deep human questions with far-reaching cosmic scales.
His novel “The Three-Body Problem” begins against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, where a secret government project seeks contact with extraterrestrial civilizations.
Years later, strange phenomena start happening on Earth, puzzling scientists who cannot grasp the cause behind these events. Liu crafts an imaginative and thought-provoking story that pushes humanity to face its vulnerabilities amid first contact scenarios.
Those readers who enjoy Dmitry Glukhovsky’s “Metro 2033,” with its exploration of humanity’s survival instincts under stark circumstances, might find a familiar appeal in Liu’s skill at depicting civilization grappling with existential threats.
Max Brooks is an author known for his clever blend of speculative fiction, intense storytelling, and sharp social commentary. His book “World War Z” tells stories of survival after a global zombie outbreak.
Through interviews with different survivors, Brooks gives readers snapshots of panic, heroism, and humanity tested to its limits. The novel captures the gritty realism and post-apocalyptic tension readers enjoyed in Dmitry Glukhovsky’s “Metro 2033”.
Brooks explores how society reacts to a sudden collapse, what people sacrifice to survive, and whether humanity can rebuild from the ruins.
Neal Stephenson is an author known for vivid storytelling, blending futuristic concepts with believable characters. His novel “Snow Crash” is set in a fractured future America controlled by corporations.
It follows Hiro Protagonist, a hacker and skilled swordsman, who stumbles upon a deadly virtual drug called Snow Crash.
Together with skateboard courier Y.T., Hiro navigates both the real-world chaos of privatized city-states and a surreal virtual metaverse, in a fast-paced adventure filled with sharp wit, memorable inventions, and a thought-provoking look at technology’s impact on society.
Fans of Dmitry Glukhovsky’s dystopian worlds and gritty atmospheres will appreciate Stephenson’s immersive approach and detailed exploration of possible futures.
Readers who enjoy Dmitry Glukhovsky’s atmospheric storytelling and imaginative worlds might find Jeff VanderMeer intriguing. VanderMeer is known for his ecological themes and mysterious settings, notably in his novel “Annihilation.”
This book follows a team of scientists who venture into a strange, isolated zone called Area X. The place is overgrown by odd plant life and bizarre creatures, and it affects people’s minds in unpredictable ways.
The expedition quickly becomes tense and surreal as the whole team struggles to understand what is real and what isn’t in this unsettling environment.
VanderMeer’s talent is in creating vivid scenes and deep psychological tension, qualities fans of Glukhovsky’s “Metro 2033” are likely to appreciate.
Philip Reeve is an author readers of Dmitry Glukhovsky might find appealing due to his vivid dystopian worlds and imaginative storytelling.
In his novel “Mortal Engines,” cities transform into giant mobile machines that roam the earth, hunting and consuming smaller towns to survive.
This adventurous tale follows Tom Natsworthy, a young apprentice historian from London, who finds himself stranded after uncovering a dangerous secret.
Alongside the mysterious and fierce Hester Shaw, Tom must navigate this ruthless, moving landscape filled with danger, powerful enemies, and unexpected allies.
Reeve creates a powerful story of survival, hierarchy, and human resilience set against a backdrop of mechanical innovation and fractured societies.
Books by Pierce Brown often explore gritty futures and harsh survival like Dmitry Glukhovsky’s stories. In “Red Rising,” Brown presents a future where society is divided strictly by class and color. The story follows Darrow, a miner from Mars.
He believes he’s preparing the planet for eventual colonization. But after discovering he’s been deceived and his people exploited, Darrow takes drastic action to infiltrate the ruling class and bring about a revolution.
The book features brutal competitions, complex strategies, and intense power struggles. Readers who appreciate Glukhovsky’s bleak and intense visions of the future may find Pierce Brown’s work equally engaging.
If you enjoy Dmitry Glukhovsky’s imaginative storytelling and darkly futuristic settings, Vladimir Sorokin may capture your interest too. Sorokin is a prominent Russian author known for sharp satire and disturbing alternative realities.
His novel “Day of the Oprichnik” imagines Russia under a brutal, medieval-style regime set in the near future. The story follows Andrei Komiaga, an elite member of the new ruler’s ruthless security force, over the course of a single, violent day.
Through Komiaga’s eyes, readers witness a brutal world of oppressive state control, strange rituals, and unsettling visions of power. Sorokin’s book mixes political satire with dystopian fiction, recalling some of the themes and dark humor that Glukhovsky fans might enjoy.
Peter Watts is a Canadian science fiction author known for dark, gritty stories that explore humanity’s responses to extreme circumstances, themes readers of Dmitry Glukhovsky will appreciate.
In his novel “Blindsight,” Watts envisions a tense and unsettling first-contact scenario between humans and an unfamiliar alien intelligence.
A crew formed by deeply altered humans, including a vampire brought back through genetic engineering, heads to the fringes of the solar system. Their mission is to confront a mysterious entity that’s unlike anything humanity has faced before.
Watts crafts a bleak yet deeply fascinating look at consciousness, identity, and what it truly means to be human.
Readers who appreciate Dmitry Glukhovsky’s blend of dystopian worlds, social commentary, and thought-provoking storytelling might find Margaret Atwood equally engaging.
Atwood, famous for her novels that explore unsettling futures and human resilience, delivers a vivid and chilling portrayal in “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
In this novel, society collapses into a strict theocracy named Gilead, where women become commodities, stripped of their rights and identities.
Through the eyes of Offred, a woman forced into servitude as a handmaid, readers experience Gilead’s oppressive environment and the struggle to retain hope and identity.
Atwood’s storytelling captures the tension and struggles of individuals trapped by oppressive systems in ways reminiscent of Glukhovsky’s haunting narratives.