If you appreciated the clever wit and biting satire of Gulliver’s Travels—from Gulliver’s deadpan observations about Lilliputian politics to the absurdities of Laputa—you’ll love Candide. Voltaire’s hero navigates a world of calamities with an unflappably naïve optimism, skewering philosophy, society, and human folly at every turn. The book’s humor is just as sharp and subversive, making you laugh even as it makes you think.

If you enjoyed how Swift used strange lands and their customs—like the legal system in Lilliput or the floating island of Laputa—to reflect and critique British society, you’ll find Erewhon equally compelling. Butler constructs a fictional country with bizarre laws and traditions, inviting you to question social norms and values through clever allegory. It’s a thought-provoking read that makes use of fantastical settings to challenge real-world assumptions.

If you found yourself pondering the deeper questions beneath Gulliver’s misadventures—such as the nature of reason, the follies of pride, and the search for meaning—The Sirens of Titan will resonate with you. Vonnegut crafts a universe-spanning journey packed with satire, absurdity, and philosophical musings, as Winston Niles Rumfoord’s manipulations raise questions about free will, purpose, and the cosmic joke of existence.

If you delighted in Swift’s imaginative portrayals of wholly foreign societies—like the rationalist Houyhnhnms or the tiny Lilliputians—The Left Hand of Darkness offers a similarly rich deep-dive into an alien world. Le Guin’s protagonist, Genly Ai, must navigate the complex customs and gender dynamics of Gethen, immersing you in a culture as thoughtfully constructed and provocative as any in Gulliver’s Travels.

If you relished the absurdity of Swift’s satirical takes on government and institutions—such as the pettiness of Lilliputian court politics or the ridiculous academics of Laputa—Catch-22 delivers a similarly hilarious yet biting send-up of military bureaucracy. Yossarian’s struggles against nonsensical regulations and his increasingly surreal world will feel right at home for a fan of Swift’s blend of humor with social criticism.