If you enjoy reading novels by William S. Burroughs then you might also like the following authors:
Allen Ginsberg, a major voice in the Beat Generation, shared a rebellious and raw energy that fans of William S. Burroughs might appreciate. His book “Howl and Other Poems” shook up the literary world with its bold style and themes.
Another key work, “Kaddish and Other Poems,” dives into personal grief and memory. If you enjoy Burroughs’ unfiltered approach, Ginsberg’s works offer that same push against convention.
Jack Kerouac’s writing carries an energy that feels raw and restless. If you enjoy William S. Burroughs, you might like how Kerouac captures a sense of freedom and rebellion.
“On the Road” dives into wild journeys across America, while “The Dharma Bums” explores spiritual seeking and counterculture. “Big Sur” shows a darker, more reflective side of him, dealing with isolation and inner struggles.
His style is loose and rhythmic, creating a feeling of movement and spontaneity.
Hunter S. Thompson had a wild, chaotic style that might catch the eye of someone into William S. Burroughs. His books dive into the messy underbelly of American culture. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a whirlwind of drugs, madness, and the crumbling of the American Dream.
Another standout is “Hell’s Angels,” which takes you into the world of the infamous biker gang. His work doesn’t hold back and has the kind of raw energy that feels unapologetic and dangerous.
Charles Bukowski wrote with a raw, unfiltered style that cuts straight to the point. His work often explores the gritty and chaotic sides of life. If you enjoy William S. Burroughs, you might appreciate Bukowski’s honesty and the way he lays bare the struggles of the outsider.
In “Post Office,” he captures the grind of dead-end jobs, and in “Women,” he lays out a messy, unapologetic view of relationships. “Ham on Rye” strips everything back to his upbringing, showing how it shaped his view of the world.
Bukowski doesn’t sugarcoat anything—he lays it all out in a way that hits hard.
Kathy Acker’s work feels untamed and chaotic, often pulling apart traditional ideas of storytelling. Fans of William S. Burroughs might enjoy her raw, fragmented style and the way she challenges conventions.
In “Blood and Guts in High School,” she blends dreamlike prose with wild imagery. “Empire of the Senseless” tears into ideas about identity and power, creating something both unsettling and fascinating. Her writing often feels like a rebellion, refusing to stick to any rules.
Thomas Pynchon creates strange and chaotic worlds that bend the rules of reality. If you enjoy William S. Burroughs, you might connect with Pynchon’s style, which blends paranoia, clever humor, and wild storytelling.
“Gravity’s Rainbow” is packed with conspiracy and surreal moments, while “The Crying of Lot 49” explores hidden systems of control. His writing feels unpredictable and full of energy, pushing ideas to their limits.
If you’re into William S. Burroughs, you might find J.G. Ballard’s work intriguing in its own way. His novel “Crash” explores the darker sides of human obsession and technology, creating a world where car crashes become a disturbing form of erotic connection.
In “The Atrocity Exhibition,” he plays with fragmented narratives and bizarre imagery, reminiscent of Burroughs’ experimental style.
For a different kind of unease, “High-Rise” imagines social collapse within the confines of a luxury apartment building, turning everyday life into chaos. Ballard doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable, and his stories stick with you.
Jean Genet wrote raw and edgy stories that pushed boundaries, much like William S. Burroughs. His novel “Our Lady of the Flowers” dives into the underworld of thieves and drag queens.
“The Thief’s Journal” explores identity and rebellion through his own experiences with crime and exile. Genet’s work doesn’t shy away from dark themes, offering something bold and subversive for fans of Burroughs’ gritty style.
Bret Easton Ellis has a dark style that plays with themes of excess and detachment. If you like William S. Burroughs, you might find something familiar in novels like “American Psycho” and “Less Than Zero.”
Both explore disturbing characters and twisted worlds, where humanity feels stripped back to its rawest, ugliest form. There’s an unapologetic bluntness to his work that can feel unnervingly real.
Henry Miller writes with rawness and freedom that fans of William S. Burroughs might appreciate. His novel “Tropic of Cancer” broke boundaries with its explicit content and unfiltered honesty.
Another work, “Black Spring,” dives into fragmented stories influenced by his life and thoughts. For something introspective yet chaotic, “The Air-Conditioned Nightmare” offers sharp observations of America and its culture.
Miller doesn’t hold back, and his work feels alive on every page.
Chuck Palahniuk’s work often feels raw and unfiltered, which might remind you of William S. Burroughs. His novel “Fight Club” explores rebellion and identity through brutal honesty. “Invisible Monsters” takes a twisted look at beauty and self-destruction, full of shocking turns.
If you’re into darker, offbeat stories, “Survivor” offers a strange dive into cults and fame.
Tristan Tzara had a chaotic, rebellious energy that might appeal to fans of William S. Burroughs. His work tosses aside traditional structure, diving into fragmented and surreal territory.
Books like “Handkerchief of Clouds” and “Seven Dada Manifestos” tear apart conventional expectations, embracing absurdity and a raw, experimental style. If you enjoy unpredictable and subversive writing, Tzara’s work offers that same untamed spirit.
Norman Mailer had a bold voice and wasn’t afraid to test the boundaries of form and content.
If you enjoy the raw energy and subversive nature of William S. Burroughs, you might be drawn to works like “The Naked and the Dead,” a gritty take on war and human frailty, or “An American Dream,” a feverish dive into violence, sex, and ambition.
“The Executioner’s Song” is another one to check out, tackling obsession and the darker corners of the human condition. Mailer didn’t hold back.
Anaïs Nin wrote in a way that feels deeply personal and experimental. If you’re into William S. Burroughs, you might connect with her unfiltered approach and focus on inner worlds. Her novel “House of Incest” is dreamlike and surreal, pushing boundaries like Burroughs does.
“A Spy in the House of Love” explores desire and identity in ways that feel raw and honest. Nin’s work challenges conventions and dives into emotions with intensity.
If you’re into William S. Burroughs, Philip K. Dick might feel like a strange, worthwhile detour. He explores warped realities and fractured minds, often questioning what’s real. In “A Scanner Darkly,” he blends paranoia with a story about surveillance and identity.
“Ubik” takes you into a world where time itself breaks down, leaving everything uncertain. His books often feel hallucinatory, giving you that same surreal, unsteady vibe.