Ken Liu, recognized in speculative fiction, combines historical realities with science-fiction creativity. His novel The Grace of Kings and short story collection The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories offer readers memorable, imaginative storytelling.
If you enjoy reading books by Ken Liu then you might also like the following authors:
Books by N.K. Jemisin offer imaginative worlds, nuanced characters, and thoughtful explorations of society, power, and identity. If you’ve enjoyed Ken Liu’s mix of speculative elements and meaningful stories, Jemisin might catch your interest as well.
Her novel The Fifth Season is set in a land frequently shaken by catastrophic earthquakes and climate upheavals. The story centers around Essun, a woman whose life falls apart after her husband commits a horrifying crime and kidnaps their daughter.
As Essun goes on a journey across a dangerous, ever-changing land, Jemisin weaves themes of oppression, survival, and resilience with vivid storytelling and rich detail.
It’s a novel layered with emotional stakes and inventive concepts that linger long after you’ve closed the final page.
Ted Chiang is an American science fiction author known for his thought-provoking short stories. If you’re a fan of Ken Liu’s ideas about technology and human emotions, Chiang’s work offers similar themes.
His collection, Stories of Your Life and Others, features the story Story of Your Life, which inspired the movie Arrival. The story follows a linguist named Louise Banks who must figure out how to communicate with aliens visiting Earth.
As she learns the aliens’ language, she starts experiencing reality differently, leading her to rethink everything she knows about free will, choice, and time itself. Chiang’s straightforward yet poetic writing style guides readers smoothly through complex concepts.
Readers who enjoy Ken Liu’s thoughtful storytelling and skillful blending of human emotion with speculative themes may want to explore works by author Cixin Liu.
Cixin Liu is a celebrated Chinese science fiction author whose imaginative novels explore humanity’s relationship with technology and the cosmos.
One particularly intriguing book is The Three-Body Problem, which centers on the mysterious interactions between Earth and an alien civilization facing extinction.
The novel combines intellectual puzzles, suspenseful situations, and intricate concepts from physics and astronomy.
Its distinctively detailed world-building and careful exploration of how humans might react to the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life can captivate fans of thoughtful, idea-driven science fiction.
Readers who enjoyed Ken Liu’s thoughtful blend of speculative fiction and cultural insight might also appreciate the work of Ann Leckie. Her novel Ancillary Justice follows Breq, a soldier once part of a vast starship’s artificial intelligence.
After betrayal leaves her isolated in a single human body, she embarks on a personal quest for revenge. Breq navigates complex political tensions across different worlds while struggling with identity, loyalty, and morality.
Leckie creates an intelligent, thought-provoking space opera with richly drawn societies and memorable characters, making it easy for readers to get deeply involved in the story.
Hao Jingfang is a Chinese science fiction author known for imaginative storytelling and thoughtful exploration of social issues. Readers who enjoy Ken Liu might appreciate Hao Jingfang’s work, especially her short story Folding Beijing.
This story depicts a futuristic version of Beijing divided into three separate spaces structured by class. Each section becomes active for a certain part of the day while the others fold away out of sight.
Within this fascinating setting unfolds the life of Lao Dao, a humble waste worker who struggles between worlds to provide for his daughter. Hao uses this clever premise as a sharp lens to examine inequality, ambition, and the invisibility of certain groups in society.
If you enjoy speculative fiction rooted in human experiences and societal themes, Hao Jingfang deserves your attention.
Books by Neal Stephenson often combine detailed storytelling with intriguing concepts of science, technology, and society. If you enjoyed Ken Liu’s take on future possibilities and cultural themes, Neal Stephenson might catch your interest too.
His novel Snow Crash is a fast-paced cyberpunk adventure set in a future America fragmented into corporate-run districts and private enclaves.
The book follows Hiro Protagonist, a freelance hacker and swordfighter who discovers a dangerous virus affecting both digital systems and human minds. The story mixes virtual reality, ancient mythology, and sharp observations about modern society.
It’s a smart, action-packed exploration that’s entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time.
Books by Greg Egan offer deep dives into fascinating questions about technology and the nature of consciousness. His novel Permutation City explores what happens when people can copy their minds into virtual realities.
The story follows Paul Durham, a programmer who creates virtual worlds where human minds can exist independently from their bodies.
As these digital realities become more complex, strange and unexpected consequences occur, leading characters to confront profound questions about identity, existence, and the limits of reality.
Readers who enjoy Ken Liu’s blend of science fiction and thought experiments will appreciate how Egan tackles similar themes with original and provocative ideas.
Books by Charlie Jane Anders often blend science fiction’s imaginative wonder with nuanced, thoughtful storytelling. If you’ve enjoyed Ken Liu’s The Paper Menagerie, her novel All the Birds in the Sky might appeal to you.
It’s a tale about two childhood friends who reconnect as adults—one a gifted scientist and the other a powerful witch. They both try to save our world from environmental disasters and conflicts.
Charlie Jane Anders crafts their relationship carefully, highlighting their differences and common ground, as magic meets technology in unexpected ways.
The story draws you in with rich characters, clever ideas, and moments of humor, exploring how people connect and find meaning in complex times.
Books by Mary Robinette Kowal often appeal to fans of Ken Liu, thanks to her ability to blend history, science fiction, and humanity into seamless narratives.
Her novel The Calculating Stars follows Elma York, a skilled mathematician and pilot, after a devastating meteor strike alters Earth’s future. Set in an alternate 1950s, it portrays society’s struggles as humanity works urgently toward space colonization.
Kowal weaves scientific accuracy and historical detail with a heartfelt exploration of personal relationships and social challenges. If Ken Liu’s storytelling resonates with you, Mary Robinette Kowal’s characters and vivid alternate realities may also draw you in.
Alastair Reynolds is a British science fiction author, best known for his imaginative space opera and thought-provoking themes. If you enjoy Ken Liu’s works that blend future technology with compelling human stories, you might find Reynolds appealing as well.
A great starting point is Revelation Space, which tells the story of archaeologist Dan Sylveste. Sylveste uncovers puzzling evidence concerning the mysterious disappearance of an ancient alien civilization.
As Sylveste investigates further, he becomes entwined in a dangerous conspiracy, one that could determine humanity’s survival.
The narrative is filled with suspense, advanced technologies, and complex characters, creating a rich storyline with profound questions about our future in the universe.
Ada Palmer is a historian and science fiction writer, whose imaginative storytelling and intricate worldbuilding might appeal to readers who enjoy Ken Liu’s thoughtful narratives.
Her debut novel, Too Like the Lightning, introduces readers to a future society set in the 25th century, where nation-states no longer exist and humanity has crafted a seemingly utopian society built on rationality, diplomacy, and advanced technology.
Yet beneath its perfect surface lies conflict and political intrigue, as Mycroft Canner, a convicted criminal now serving as a lowly servant, becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding a stolen secret and a supernatural child who could alter the entire social order.
Palmer’s work examines complex ideas like governance, morality, and human nature, woven seamlessly into a setting that is both futuristic and grounded in recognizable philosophical themes.
If you enjoy Ken Liu’s blend of myth, technology, and human emotion, Catherynne M. Valente could be an exciting author to explore next.
Her imaginative storytelling shines in her novel Radiance, a beautifully layered tale set in an alternate universe where space travel became reality in the early 20th century.
The plot pivots around Severin Unck, a filmmaker whose disappearance during a mysterious documentary shoot leaves behind only fragmented clues.
Valente textures the narrative with interviews, scripts, diary entries, and rich visuals, creating a mesmerizing mosaic of adventure, mystery, and cinematic wonder.
Readers fascinated by unique narratives and alternative historical settings may find Radiance a delightful discovery.
R. F. Kuang is a Chinese-American author known for imaginative storytelling that blends history and fantasy. Readers who enjoy Ken Liu’s The Grace of Kings might appreciate Kuang’s novel The Poppy War.
The book follows Rin, a young woman from a poor province who manages to secure a spot at a prestigious military academy. There, she discovers a powerful talent for shamanic abilities and faces harsh realities of war, politics, and personal struggle.
Kuang explores military conflicts inspired by historical events, particularly China’s wartime past, woven together with complex characters and difficult choices. Fans of intricate political plots and rich narratives will find The Poppy War an absorbing read.
Readers who enjoy Ken Liu’s thoughtful storytelling and imaginative worlds will likely appreciate Kij Johnson’s work. Johnson combines rich narratives with emotional depth, especially in her novella The Man Who Bridged the Mist.
This story follows Kit Meinem, an architect tasked with building a bridge over a dangerous, mysterious mist-filled river. The narrative explores the connections forged between people and the quiet courage required to confront the unknown.
Johnson crafts the setting with clarity, balancing suspense with quiet reflection on human experience, similar to Ken Liu’s best stories.
Vandana Singh is an Indian speculative fiction author known for thoughtful storytelling that blends science, mythology, and human experiences.
Her story collection, Ambiguity Machines and Other Stories, introduces readers to imaginative worlds infused with cultural depth and scientific ideas.
One standout tale, Somadeva: A Sky River Sutra, follows a poet named Somadeva as he journeys across galaxies, weaving narratives that connect distant cultures through his art.
Singh’s writing reflects themes similar to Ken Liu’s works, exploring human connection and complex ideas through vivid prose and unique storytelling.