If you were captivated by the way The Gilda Stories unfolds across decades, tracing Gilda's journey through changing eras and cultures, you'll be deeply moved by Kindred. Butler’s novel masterfully blends historical fiction and speculative elements as Dana, a Black woman in 1970s California, is repeatedly transported back to the antebellum South, forcing her to navigate the dangers and complexities of her ancestry. The epic temporal sweep parallels Gilda’s own journey through time, offering both a personal and historical odyssey.

If you valued the inclusive, intersectional lens of The Gilda Stories—from Gilda’s Black, queer identity to the found family she builds—The Salt Roads will resonate with you. Hopkinson’s novel interweaves the lives of three women of African descent across centuries, guided by the spirit of the goddess Ezili. Like Gomez, Hopkinson centers Black women’s experiences, queerness, and resilience, offering a lush, multifaceted exploration of identity and community.

For readers who appreciated Gilda’s strength, agency, and the unique lens she brings to the vampire myth, Carmilla offers another groundbreaking take. This classic novella centers on the mysterious Carmilla and her intense, ambiguous relationship with Laura. Both works subvert traditional vampire tropes through their focus on women, desire, and power, and Carmilla’s influence can be felt in the very fabric of The Gilda Stories.

If the heartfelt, intimate atmosphere and emotional connections in The Gilda Stories drew you in, Passing Strange will delight you. Set in 1940s San Francisco, the novella follows a group of queer women navigating love, art, and the challenges of their era. Klages’s focus on found family and the lived experiences of marginalized characters beautifully mirrors Gilda’s journey and relationships.

If you were drawn to the philosophical and existential questions raised in The Gilda Stories—about immortality, community, and what it means to belong—The Left Hand of Darkness is a perfect next read. Le Guin’s novel explores gender, humanity, and connection as Genly Ai forms a transformative bond with Estravan on the icy planet of Gethen. Both books invite you to ponder profound questions about identity and how we create meaning in our lives.