If you were fascinated by The Embedding's intricate examinations of language and its effect on thought, you'll be spellbound by Babel-17. Delany crafts a linguistically rich tale centered on Rydra Wong, a poet and codebreaker, as she unravels the secrets of a language weaponized for war. The novel delves deeply into how language shapes reality—echoing the philosophical and scientific preoccupations that made Watson's work so compelling.

If you were captivated by the portrayal of truly alien consciousness in The Embedding, Solaris offers a haunting meditation on the impossibility of comprehending a sentient ocean that resists all human interpretation. As Kris Kelvin attempts to communicate with Solaris, you'll encounter the same sense of awe and frustration at the limits of human understanding in the face of the utterly alien.

If the rigorous scientific approach and speculative neuroscience of The Embedding drew you in, Blindsight will push those boundaries even further. Peter Watts crafts a first-contact scenario where a crew of post-humans and misfits must unravel the nature of an alien intelligence whose mode of thought challenges the very definition of consciousness. The biological and cognitive science on display will satisfy your craving for intellectually challenging hard SF.

If you loved the anthropological depth and constructed languages in The Embedding, The Dispossessed will immerse you in the twin worlds of Anarres and Urras, where Shevek, a physicist, navigates social and linguistic barriers to achieve breakthrough discoveries. Le Guin's careful examination of language, society, and ideology echoes the immersive worldbuilding that made Watson's novel so memorable.

If you enjoyed how The Embedding layered scientific theory and philosophical speculation, Permutation City will enthrall you with its recursive, mind-bending narrative. Egan takes you through simulated realities and questions about identity, self, and perception—a complex and ambitious story that rewards careful reading and deep thought.