Ender's Game follows Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young strategist recruited to Battle School, where he must master complex war games with far-reaching consequences. If you loved Gurgeh’s journey through the intricate and high-pressure competitions of Azad, you'll be riveted by Ender’s tactical genius and the intense mind games at the heart of this classic novel.

If the richly detailed and contrasting cultures of the Culture and the Empire of Azad fascinated you, The Dispossessed will immerse you in the dual worlds of Anarres and Urras. Le Guin’s exploration of societal systems and alien customs provides the same depth of worldbuilding and cultural examination that made The Player of Games so compelling.

If you enjoyed the epic scope of Gurgeh’s journey from the Culture to the far-flung Empire of Azad, you’ll be swept up by Asimov’s Foundation, which follows the rise and fall of civilizations across centuries and light-years. The broad canvas and the interplay of societies will satisfy your taste for large-scale storytelling.

If you appreciated how The Player of Games used the game of Azad to probe questions of ethics, society, and personal purpose, Anathem will captivate you with its deep philosophical discussions and thought-provoking narrative. Stephenson’s monks engage in rigorous intellectual debates that echo the existential and moral dilemmas faced by Gurgeh.

If you were enthralled by Gurgeh’s immersion in the alien and enigmatic society of Azad, The Left Hand of Darkness will draw you into Genly Ai’s struggle to comprehend the unique, gender-fluid culture of Gethen. Le Guin’s nuanced portrayal of cultural difference and adaptation mirrors what made Banks’ depiction of the Empire of Azad so memorable.