If you found yourself laughing out loud at the absurdities and biting satire in Pym, you'll relish The Sellout. Beatty's novel is a whirlwind of wit, taking on American racial issues with irreverence and dark humor. Like Johnson, Beatty crafts hilarious scenes that are as thought-provoking as they are outrageous—think of the surreal premise of re-segregating a school in Los Angeles, which rivals the wild Antarctic misadventures of Chris Jaynes. You'll appreciate the fearless comedic voice and the clever skewering of American myths.

If you were drawn to Chris Jaynes' ambiguous motivations and questionable decisions as he leads his expedition in Pym, you'll find a kindred spirit in Mark Spitz, the anti-hero survivor of Zone One. Whitehead's hero is flawed, self-aware, and deeply human—a perfect lens for exploring a post-apocalyptic New York filled with both literal and metaphorical zombies. The novel's protagonist, much like Jaynes, embodies the complicated ethics of survival and ambition.

If you enjoyed the way Pym blends literary adventure with historical and cultural threads, you'll be captivated by The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Díaz weaves together the tragicomic tale of Oscar and his family with the larger mythos of Dominican history and the curse of fukú. Like Johnson, Díaz crafts a narrative that jumps between generations and perspectives, creating a rich tapestry where personal obsessions—be it Antarctic mysteries or nerdy fantasies—intersect with the burdens of history.

If the motley crew of explorers and the exploration of race and identity in Pym intrigued you, you'll love the vibrant ensemble in White Teeth. Smith's debut is a sprawling, funny, and poignant saga of two London families whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. The novel’s cast is as colorful and diverse as Johnson’s, and Smith similarly tackles questions of heritage, assimilation, and cultural myth-making with both humor and nuance.

If you were fascinated by how Pym riffs on Edgar Allan Poe and constantly winks at the reader, you’ll be delighted by Calvino’s If on a winter's night a traveler. This novel is a masterclass in metafiction, inviting you—the reader—into the heart of the story as it shifts between beginnings of different books. Calvino’s playfulness with narrative form and his clever commentary on the act of reading will appeal to your love for books that bend the rules of storytelling.