If you were captivated by Lew Alton’s relentless drive to secure the Sword of Aldones and the fate of Darkover, you’ll be enthralled by Paul Atreides’s journey to reclaim his birthright and navigate the deadly politics of Arrakis in Dune. Both novels immerse you in worlds where a single, powerful objective drives the action and personal stakes are inseparable from the fate of entire civilizations.

If you enjoyed the intricate societies and cultural clashes of Darkover, you’ll find much to love in The Dispossessed. Le Guin’s depiction of the anarchist planet Anarres and the capitalist Urras is as nuanced and immersive as the telepathic, feudal complexities of Darkover, offering a deeply thoughtful examination of what it means to belong to an alien culture.

If you were drawn to the subtle machinations and secret agendas on Darkover, A Song for Arbonne delivers a lush tapestry of political intrigue. Kay’s novel is filled with shifting alliances, courtly plots, and characters whose loyalties are never certain—much like the dangerous web of ambition and betrayal that surrounds the Sword of Aldones.

If you were fascinated by the rich history, customs, and psychic traditions of Darkover, The Left Hand of Darkness will sweep you into the icy world of Gethen. Le Guin masterfully creates a society with its own unique biology, politics, and rituals, much as Bradley does, inviting you to explore a world as real and complex as our own.

If Lew Alton’s internal struggles and the ethical ambiguities of Darkover’s champions resonated with you, The Broken Sword offers protagonists faced with equally fraught choices. Poul Anderson’s characters are torn between conflicting loyalties and desires, navigating a world where right and wrong are never clear-cut—mirroring the shades of gray that make The Sword of Aldones so compelling.