If you were drawn to John Truck’s ambiguous motives and sense of alienation as he’s manipulated by galactic powers in The Centauri Device, you’ll appreciate Lorq Von Ray’s relentless yet ethically murky quest for Illyrion in Nova. Delany’s characters are never simple heroes or villains, and the lines between right and wrong are as tangled as the politics of their universe.

If you enjoyed the bleak, almost nihilistic atmosphere and the sense of existential dread permeating The Centauri Device, Light will grip you with its dark, gritty depiction of broken people adrift in a chaotic universe. The interwoven stories of Michael Kearney and Seria Mau further explore the unsettling, violent, and psychologically charged worlds Harrison is known for.

If you admired John Truck’s status as an anti-hero—flawed, reactive, and often at the mercy of forces beyond his control—you’ll find a kindred spirit in Gully Foyle from The Stars My Destination. Foyle’s ruthless, relentless pursuit of vengeance and his transformation across a brutal, chaotic universe makes this a classic for fans of unconventional leads.

If the tangled web of political conspiracies, shifting allegiances, and power plays in The Centauri Device fascinated you, Downbelow Station will immerse you in a world where station masters, refugees, and military commanders vie for control. The novel’s complex factions and machinations drive the plot and shape every character’s fate.

If you appreciated the layered symbolism and allegorical elements beneath the surface of The Centauri Device—the mysterious Centauri Device itself, and the way technology and fate intertwine—Roadside Picnic offers a similarly enigmatic experience. The Zone and Redrick Schuhart’s journey are rife with metaphor and philosophical questions about humanity’s place in a vast, uncaring universe.