If you were fascinated by the detailed, scientifically-grounded parallel universe and the careful attention to quantum physics and genetics in Hominids, you’ll be gripped by Blindsight. Watts crafts a tense first-contact scenario with alien life, delving into neurology, evolutionary biology, and artificial intelligence in a way that challenges both the characters and the reader. The novel’s commitment to scientific plausibility and its relentless questioning of consciousness make it a rewarding read for hard SF fans.

If you enjoyed how Hominids uses Neanderthal and Homo sapiens societies to raise deep questions about ethics and the nature of civilization, you’ll find The Dispossessed just as compelling. Le Guin’s story of Shevek, a physicist who journeys between two radically different worlds, invites you to consider what makes a just society, the meaning of freedom, and the responsibilities of the individual—much like Ponter and Mary’s philosophical debates.

If you loved the anthropological depth and cultural contrasts between Neanderthals and humans in Hominids, The Left Hand of Darkness will enthrall you. Le Guin’s depiction of the planet Gethen and its gender-fluid inhabitants offers a rich, nuanced look at how culture, biology, and society interact—mirroring Sawyer’s worldbuilding through the eyes of Genly Ai as he navigates alien customs and relationships.

If the clear, driving objective of unraveling the Neanderthal universe’s mysteries kept you turning pages in Hominids, you’ll be hooked by the high-stakes mission at the heart of Spin. When the stars disappear and an artificial barrier surrounds Earth, protagonist Tyler and his friends race to understand and respond to an existential threat, propelling the narrative with a sense of urgency and discovery.

If you were drawn to the way Hominids meticulously builds its Neanderthal society with alternate history, unique social norms, and detailed settings, you’ll be captivated by Red Mars. Robinson’s epic chronicles the colonization of Mars, bringing to life new political systems, ecological challenges, and the clash of human ambitions with scientific realism. The richly realized world is as immersive and thought-provoking as Sawyer’s alternate Earth.