If you were captivated by the deeply detailed customs, rituals, and social structures of the grieving people in Cards of Grief, you'll be fascinated by Le Guin's Always Coming Home. Through ethnographic stories, songs, and artifacts, Le Guin brings the Kesh culture to life, immersing you in their worldview and everyday lives as thoroughly as Yolen does with her alien society.

If you appreciated how Cards of Grief delved into questions of love, loss, and cultural values through the eyes of outsiders and natives alike, The Dispossessed offers a similarly profound meditation. Follow Shevek as he challenges the boundaries of his anarchist society, exploring the costs and rewards of connection, loyalty, and sacrifice in a world with values very different from our own.

If you found yourself drawn to the nuanced and influential female characters—such as the Priestess of Grief or the Queen—in Cards of Grief, you'll appreciate the women who shape the destinies of their people in The Gate to Women's Country. Tepper crafts a world where women's choices and leadership have far-reaching consequences, and every character is layered and compelling.

If you were moved by the gradual, poignant deepening of understanding between the human anthropologist and the alien society in Cards of Grief, you'll be enthralled by the evolving relationship between Genly Ai and Estravan in The Left Hand of Darkness. The slow, careful unfolding of trust and intimacy across vast cultural divides is rendered with unforgettable tenderness.

If you loved the way Cards of Grief used its alien society to reflect on grief, ritual, and power, A Door Into Ocean will resonate with you. The all-female, ocean-dwelling Sharers live by principles of nonviolence and deep ecological balance, and the novel’s rich symbolism and allegory invite you to reflect on the meaning of conflict, community, and change.