If you were gripped by Robinette Broadhead's desperate quest to strike it rich by exploring alien Heechee tunnels in Gateway, you'll be hooked by Gully Foyle's single-minded pursuit of vengeance across a dazzling future in The Stars My Destination. The story's high-stakes, goal-driven plot will keep you riveted as Foyle's ambitions propel him into ever greater danger.

If you found the mysterious Heechee technology and the sense of awe and confusion at their abandoned gateway compelling in Gateway, you'll be fascinated by the enigmatic ocean intelligence in Solaris. Lem's novel delves deep into the challenges of encountering a truly alien mind—one that changes the human explorers in unexpected, haunting ways.

If Robinette's struggles with guilt, trauma, and self-understanding in Gateway resonated with you, you'll appreciate Shevek's personal and emotional journey in The Dispossessed. Le Guin crafts a character whose inner life, doubts, and ambitions are as important as his scientific discoveries, making for a thoughtful, psychologically rich read.

If you enjoyed wrestling with Robinette's questionable choices and conflicted morality in Gateway, you'll be drawn to Genly Ai and Estraven in The Left Hand of Darkness. Their actions and motivations are nuanced, often blurring the line between right and wrong as they navigate the politics and customs of an alien world.

If you liked how Gateway used science fiction to explore the impact of alien technology on ordinary people and relationships, you'll find The Forever War equally compelling. Haldeman's novel follows William Mandella through the personal and societal changes wrought by an interstellar war, emphasizing the human cost and emotional fallout over the technical details.