If you're drawn to the work of Don DeLillo, with his sharp exploration of contemporary culture and its discontents, you might find the following authors interesting.
These writers often touch on themes of modern life, identity, and the chaos that can bubble beneath the surface of everyday existence.
Thomas Pynchon and Don DeLillo are often seen as similar authors because they both explore complex themes related to modern society and technology.
If you’re into Don DeLillo’s storytelling, you might find Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49” worth checking out. It’s a mysterious ride following Oedipa Maas, who stumbles upon a conspiracy involving mail delivery.
The book grabs you with its quirky characters and odd situations. There’s a faded rock star named Mucho Maas, plenty of strange symbols, and a secret society called Tristero.
Philip K. Dick wrote stories that explore reality, identity, and the strange possibilities of the future.
One of his famous books, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, takes place in a world where Earth has been damaged by war, and most people have left for off-world colonies.
The story follows a man named Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who tracks down lifelike androids that have escaped to Earth. The book raises questions about what it means to be human as Rick faces unexpected challenges.
It’s a thought-provoking read wrapped in a gripping sci-fi setting.
David Foster Wallace is an author known for his sharp observations and unique perspective on modern life. His novel “Infinite Jest” takes place in a near-future world where corporations name calendar years.
It’s centered around a dysfunctional family, a tennis academy, and a recovery center. The story weaves together addiction, entertainment, and the search for meaning in a society saturated with distractions.
The sense of dark humor and the messy humanity of the characters create an unforgettable reading experience.
Paul Auster is an author known for blending ordinary life with strange, unexpected events. In his novel “The New York Trilogy,” he tells three separate stories that all explore themes of identity and mystery.
One of the stories, “City of Glass,” follows a writer named Daniel Quinn, who gets a phone call meant for a detective. He decides to take on the case himself, which pulls him into a bizarre sequence of events where nothing is as it seems.
The book plays with ideas about how people see themselves and how much control they really have over their lives. It’s a story that keeps you questioning what’s real and what isn’t.
Bret Easton Ellis is an author known for exploring dark and unsettling sides of modern life, often setting his stories among characters who are wealthy or privileged yet deeply flawed.
In his novel “American Psycho,” readers meet Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street professional whose life appears polished and enviable on the surface. Beneath that, he hides a chilling secret—he is also a violent killer.
The book paints a sharp portrait of 1980s consumer culture and examines how obsession with status and image can mask something far more sinister. The contrast between Bateman’s professional world and his horrifying deeds makes the story both shocking and unforgettable.
J.G. Ballard is known for writing stories that often explore the strange ways technology, society, and human behavior intersect.
One of his standout novels is “Crash,” which follows a group of people who become obsessed with car accidents and the idea of eroticism tied to technology and violence.
The story focuses on a man named James Ballard who, after a serious car crash, gets pulled into this subculture. The characters are fascinating as they push boundaries and explore desires that are both unsettling and mesmerizing.
Ballard’s writing captures a modern, almost detached world that can feel eerily familiar at times. Fans of Don DeLillo might find a similar sense of provocative and thought-provoking storytelling here.
Joan Didion has a sharp and observant style that captures the mood of uncertain times. In her book “Play It As It Lays,” she takes readers to the sun-scorched landscapes of California and Nevada.
The story follows Maria Wyeth, a struggling actress navigating a world of emptiness and disconnection. The book explores her fragmented relationships, her time driving aimlessly through Los Angeles, and her troubled inner life.
Didion paints a picture of Hollywood and its hollow promises, showing the cost of chasing something that never feels real. Fans of Don DeLillo might find her detached, precise prose and themes of alienation engaging.
Cormac McCarthy writes with a stark and stripped-down style that pulls readers deep into raw and unfiltered worlds. One of his most well-known novels, “The Road,” tells the story of a father and son traveling through a desolate, post-apocalyptic landscape.
They face constant dangers, from starvation to threats from other survivors. The bond between them is at the heart of the book, providing glimmers of humanity in a brutal setting.
McCarthy’s writing doesn’t sugarcoat anything, yet the story holds moments of deep connection and hope amid the devastation. Fans of Don DeLillo might appreciate the way McCarthy explores isolation and survival with an unflinching eye.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for stories that slip between the everyday and something strange. His novel “Kafka on the Shore” follows two characters on separate but connected journeys.
Kafka, a teenager, runs away from home and ends up in a small seaside town, where he meets peculiar strangers who seem tied to his past. Meanwhile, Nakata, an older man with the ability to talk to cats, searches for something he doesn’t fully understand.
The book weaves together mysterious events, surreal encounters, and questions about fate and memory. If you enjoy the layered narratives and offbeat characters in Don DeLillo’s work, Murakami’s storytelling might be your next discovery.
Chuck Palahniuk writes stories filled with raw energy and sharp observations about modern life.
In his book “Fight Club,” he tells the story of an unnamed narrator who struggles with insomnia and finds himself drawn to underground fight clubs led by the charismatic and mysterious Tyler Durden.
The story explores themes of identity, consumerism, and the darker sides of human nature. It’s full of unexpected twists and moments that feel both unsettling and unforgettable.
Fans of Don DeLillo’s explorations of modern existence might find Palahniuk’s writing to be an exciting discovery.
Richard Powers is an author who writes stories that connect the personal with the larger world. His book “The Overstory” is about people whose lives are deeply shaped by trees. In the novel, characters come to see the life of the forest as something vast and interconnected.
For example, one character has a family that keeps photographing a chestnut tree through generations, while another grows up in a house surrounded by an ancient mulberry.
The book weaves their experiences together in unexpected ways and explores how humans can impact, and be impacted by, the natural world.
Kurt Vonnegut writes with a sharp wit and a sense of irony that cuts through the absurdities of modern life. In his novel “Slaughterhouse-Five,” he tells the story of Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes “unstuck in time” and experiences moments from his life out of order.
During the book, Billy is a soldier in World War II, survives the firebombing of Dresden, and is abducted by aliens called Tralfamadores who see time in a completely different way.
The story mixes dark humor with moments of surreal reflection, always keeping you off balance but fully engaged. If you enjoy Don DeLillo’s exploration of the strangeness of human existence, you might find Vonnegut’s voice intriguing.
Jonathan Franzen is an author known for exploring family dynamics and societal changes. His novel “The Corrections” follows the lives of the Lambert family as they try to come together for one last Christmas holiday.
Each member of the family struggles with personal flaws and challenges, from Chip’s failed academic career to Denise’s complicated relationships.
The book examines the personal and cultural shifts of late 20th-century America while staying anchored in the messiness of the Lamberts’ lives.
It’s full of tension and sharp observations that might remind readers of the way Don DeLillo writes about individuals caught within larger systems.
Martin Amis writes stories that explore dark humor, flawed characters, and the complexities of modern life.
One of his well-known books, “Money: A Suicide Note,” follows John Self, an out-of-control ad executive addicted to all the worst habits—drinking, junk food, gambling, and more. The story takes a sharp look at greed, excess, and consumer culture through John’s chaotic life.
It pulls you into the chaos of 1980s London and New York, where John’s debauchery eventually collides with his unraveling sense of reality. Readers who enjoy Don DeLillo’s focus on contemporary culture might find a similar intensity in Amis’s sharp writing and dark humor.
Ian McEwan is known for writing novels that explore human relationships and moral dilemmas in tightly focused settings. One of his books, “Saturday,” follows a day in the life of Henry Perowne, a successful neurosurgeon living in London.
The story takes place on a single Saturday filled with unexpected events.
As protests fill the city streets, Henry encounters a violent man named Baxter, setting off a tense chain of events that forces him to confront fear, guilt, and his responsibilities as a husband and father.
The way the novel weaves personal and societal tensions makes it a fascinating read. Fans of Don DeLillo might enjoy McEwan’s ability to capture inner conflict against a backdrop of wider cultural unease.