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15 Authors like Lois McMaster Bujold

Lois McMaster Bujold is known for her compelling science fiction and fantasy novels. She created the popular Vorkosigan Saga and won numerous Hugo and Nebula awards, including for The Vor Game and Paladin of Souls.

If you enjoy reading books by Lois McMaster Bujold then you might also like the following authors:

  1. C.J. Cherryh

    C.J. Cherryh writes thoughtful science fiction, focusing on complex characters and realistic human-alien relationships. Her stories explore themes such as identity, political intrigue, and the challenges of cross-cultural understanding.

    Readers who enjoy Lois McMaster Bujold’s detailed settings and character depth will appreciate Cherryh’s Foreigner, in which a human diplomat navigates delicate relations between humanity and an alien civilization.

  2. Elizabeth Moon

    Elizabeth Moon creates engaging stories with strong, believable characters and authentic military settings. Her novels often involve themes of personal growth, morality, and honor, handled with emotional honesty.

    Fans of Bujold might especially enjoy Moon’s The Speed of Dark, a thought-provoking tale about identity and acceptance, told through the eyes of an autistic protagonist.

  3. Ann Leckie

    Ann Leckie constructs immersive worlds filled with distinctive cultures and carefully crafted social structures. Her novels are known for exploring identity, artificial intelligence, and complex ethical questions.

    If you appreciate the thoughtful character exploration and engaging storytelling of Lois McMaster Bujold, you'll likely enjoy Leckie's award-winning novel, Ancillary Justice.

  4. Martha Wells

    Martha Wells combines lively storytelling with engaging characters, humor, and action. She often focuses on themes like identity, autonomy, and the challenges of fitting into society.

    Readers who appreciate Bujold's witty dialogue and character-driven narratives might love Wells' All Systems Red, featuring Murderbot, an endearingly sarcastic security android struggling to navigate human interactions.

  5. Ursula K. Le Guin

    Ursula K. Le Guin creates imaginative, thoughtful narratives set in beautifully realized worlds. She expertly explores deep moral questions, cultural clashes, and issues of identity and self-discovery.

    Fans of Lois McMaster Bujold's depth and philosophical insight might particularly enjoy Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, a novel examining themes of gender identity, politics, and friendship within an alien society.

  6. Becky Chambers

    Becky Chambers writes science fiction that's thoughtful and warm, focusing on character relationships and imaginative societies. She often explores themes like belonging, diversity, and human connection.

    Her novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet introduces fascinating alien cultures while following a spaceship crew as they navigate friendships, new worlds, and personal growth.

  7. Tanya Huff

    Tanya Huff creates fast-paced, character-driven stories blending adventure, humor, and rich world-building. She frequently features strong protagonists facing tough moral choices, often mixed with action and military themes.

    Her novel Valor’s Choice offers readers an exciting military sci-fi tale that follows Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr as she leads a diverse crew of soldiers on a dangerous diplomatic mission.

  8. David Weber

    David Weber writes epic space adventures with detailed military conflicts and intricate storytelling. His novels often portray strategic battles, political intrigue, and compelling leaders dealing with tough decisions.

    In On Basilisk Station, the first novel of his popular Honor Harrington series, Weber introduces Commander Honor Harrington as an intelligent and capable character thrust into high-stakes political and military challenges.

  9. John Scalzi

    John Scalzi combines sharp wit with lively pacing and engaging characters to create a fun, thought-provoking reading experience. His writing often includes humor, clever dialogue, and fresh takes on classic sci-fi concepts.

    Old Man's War is a great entry point, exploring themes of aging, identity, and war, following an elderly man who joins the army and receives a rejuvenated body to fight humanity's battles in space.

  10. N.K. Jemisin

    N.K. Jemisin crafts imaginative stories with compelling worlds, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes involving issues like power, race, and identity. Her fiction offers deep emotional resonance while also tackling challenging social questions.

    Her Hugo-winning novel The Fifth Season brings readers into a vividly-realized setting marked by disaster and turmoil, showing people struggling to survive amidst devastation through gripping storytelling and memorable characters.

  11. Megan Whalen Turner

    Megan Whalen Turner writes stories full of clever characters, subtle humor, and political intrigue. Her style is understated yet smart, and readers who enjoy Lois McMaster Bujold's intelligent dialogue and intricate politics will likely enjoy her book The Thief.

    This story features Gen, a sarcastic yet endearing thief who is drawn into royal plots and schemes. Turner skillfully keeps readers guessing as alliances shift and true motives reveal themselves.

  12. Tamsyn Muir

    Tamsyn Muir is an author known for her sharp wit, unique blend of science fiction and fantasy, and vivid, memorable characters. Fans of Bujold's character-driven dramas and sharp dialogue might enjoy Muir's novel Gideon the Ninth.

    It's a story about necromancers in space with twists, dark humor, and intriguing mysteries. Gideon's irreverent narration and Muir's dynamic storytelling create an engaging read.

  13. Sharon Lee

    Sharon Lee, alongside co-author Steve Miller, creates expansive, character-centered space adventures with thoughtful world-building and appealing protagonists.

    Readers who love Lois McMaster Bujold's light-hearted yet emotionally resonant space adventures may find Lee's novels delightful. A great starting point is Agent of Change, part of the Liaden Universe series.

    It combines adventure, romance, political intrigue, and detailed cultural themes.

  14. Jo Walton

    Jo Walton writes gracefully constructed novels that often blend historical settings, fantasy, and speculative fiction concepts. Like Bujold, Walton emphasizes thoughtful characterization, complex themes, and human emotions.

    Her novel Among Others is an insightful reflection on growing up, family, and the love of books, carrying emotional depth and subtle magical elements. Readers who value Bujold's emphasis on character growth and emotional resonance will appreciate Walton's storytelling.

  15. Arkady Martine

    Arkady Martine crafts narratives of political complexity, cultural clashes, and the nuances of identity.

    Her writing is thoughtful, exploring characters navigating imperial courts and societal expectations, similar to Lois McMaster Bujold's nuanced exploration of political maneuvering and diplomacy.

    Martine’s debut novel, A Memory Called Empire, features intriguing court politics, cultural tension, and richly crafted worlds.

    Readers who appreciate the careful attention Bujold gives to character-driven politics and clever storytelling will find Martine’s work equally rewarding.