Martha Wells is celebrated for imaginative science fiction and fantasy packed with wit, action, and emotionally resonant characters. Her Murderbot Diaries series, in particular, stands out for blending dry humor, fast-moving adventure, and surprisingly heartfelt themes.
If you enjoy reading Martha Wells, these authors are well worth exploring next:
Becky Chambers writes character-focused science fiction filled with warmth, curiosity, and thoughtful worldbuilding. If you loved the heart and humor in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, try The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
The novel follows an eclectic crew aboard the spaceship Wayfarer as they take on a job building hyperspace travel routes across the galaxy. Rather than centering on constant battles or galaxy-shaking politics, the story shines through its relationships.
Chambers emphasizes friendship, cultural exchange, and the quiet, meaningful moments that arise during long journeys through space. Her work feels intimate, humane, and deeply engaging—qualities many Martha Wells fans will appreciate.
Ann Leckie is a science fiction author known for exploring artificial intelligence, identity, and power through richly imagined settings and morally layered stories.
Readers drawn to Martha Wells’ AI characters and expansive universe-building may enjoy Leckie’s novel, Ancillary Justice . It follows Breq, an AI who once inhabited a powerful warship and many bodies, but now exists in just one human form.
Though greatly diminished, Breq remains driven by a fierce and personal desire for justice against the empire that betrayed her. Leckie combines big ideas with emotional depth, creating a story that is both intellectually sharp and genuinely compelling.
If you like Martha Wells for her inventive settings and unforgettable characters, Tamsyn Muir is an excellent next pick. Her novel Gideon the Ninth mixes science fiction, fantasy, and horror into a darkly funny and wildly original adventure.
Gideon Nav is a brash swordfighter trapped on the Ninth House, a grim world ruled by necromancers and steeped in death imagery.
She wants nothing more than to escape, but instead finds herself accompanying the formidable Harrowhark Nonagesimus to a deadly trial at a mysterious imperial palace.
What follows is a tense mix of riddles, murder, dangerous rivalries, and razor-sharp banter. Readers who enjoy smart, messy protagonists and bold storytelling will likely have a great time with Gideon the Ninth .
Lois McMaster Bujold is beloved for her imaginative plots, layered characters, and crisp, intelligent dialogue. If you admire Martha Wells for her wit and strong character work, Bujold is a natural author to try next, especially in Shards of Honor.
The story begins when Cordelia Naismith, a capable and principled survey captain from Beta Colony, crosses paths with Aral Vorkosigan, a brilliant officer from the militaristic world of Barrayar.
Stranded together on an alien planet, they must navigate survival, conflicting loyalties, and uneasy alliances. The result is an absorbing blend of adventure, romance, and political tension, anchored by two exceptionally well-drawn characters.
If you enjoy science fiction that balances action with emotional intelligence, Bujold is a rewarding choice.
C.L. Polk writes fantasy full of atmosphere, mystery, and sharply defined characters. Readers who enjoy Martha Wells may find a lot to like in Polk’s novel Witchmark. The story follows Miles Singer, a doctor hiding the fact that he is a witch in a society that fears and persecutes magic.
As Miles investigates a series of suspicious deaths, he must protect his secret while untangling forces more dangerous than he first realizes.
Set in a world inspired by Edwardian England, the novel blends hidden magic, conspiracy, romance, and social tension into a polished and compelling fantasy mystery.
Yoon Ha Lee is known for bold, original speculative fiction that challenges readers in the best way. If you were drawn to Martha Wells’ unusual characters and intricately built worlds, Lee’s Ninefox Gambit. is a great choice.
The novel drops readers into a universe where calendars and mathematics literally shape reality. Captain Kel Cheris is forced to ally with the brilliant but terrifying General Shuos Jedao, whose past victories came at a terrible cost.
Their uneasy partnership drives a story full of strategy, distrust, and high-stakes conflict. Lee’s fiction is dense, inventive, and rewarding, especially for readers who enjoy being immersed in a truly distinctive setting.
Charlie Jane Anders blends emotional sincerity with imaginative speculative ideas, making her a strong recommendation for readers who enjoy Martha Wells’ balance of character and concept. One standout is All the Birds in the Sky.
The novel follows Patricia and Laurence, childhood friends whose lives move in very different directions. Patricia becomes a witch, while Laurence grows into a technological prodigy.
When they reconnect as adults, their friendship is tested by the widening divide between magic and science, all while environmental catastrophe looms.
Anders writes with humor, heart, and a real affection for flawed people trying to do their best. That emotional richness makes her work especially appealing for readers who value relationships as much as plot.
Max Gladstone writes fantasy and science fiction that feels both inventive and energetic, combining unusual magic systems with memorable characters. If Martha Wells’ sharp, character-driven storytelling works for you, Gladstone is worth a look.
His novel Three Parts Dead introduces Tara Abernathy, a young Craftswoman whose magic operates through contracts, law, and the manipulation of divine power.
When a city’s god dies unexpectedly, Tara is brought in to uncover what happened. The investigation leads her into a web of buried secrets, political scheming, and dangerous alliances.
It’s a smart, stylish fantasy with a fresh premise and a gripping central mystery.
Aliette de Bodard writes richly textured stories that combine intimate character work with vivid cultural and technological detail.
If you enjoy Martha Wells’ immersive settings and nuanced protagonists, de Bodard’s novel The Tea Master and the Detective could be an excellent fit. Set in the Xuya universe, it follows a sentient spaceship called The Shadow’s Child.
Haunted by past trauma, the ship reluctantly joins forces with the enigmatic scholar Long Chau to investigate a mysterious death in space.
The result is part detective story, part emotional character study, all set within a beautifully imagined Vietnamese-inspired future. It’s thoughtful, atmospheric, and quietly powerful.
John Scalzi writes science fiction that is fast, funny, and highly readable, with plenty of sharp dialogue and appealing characters. Fans of Martha Wells’ humor will likely enjoy his work right away. A great place to start is Old Man’s War .
The novel follows John Perry, who joins an interstellar military at the age of 75 and receives a dramatically enhanced new body in return.
What begins as a startling premise quickly opens into an action-packed story about war, identity, aging, and survival. Scalzi keeps the pace brisk while still making room for wit and reflection.
If you liked Murderbot’s snark and strong narrative voice, Scalzi’s style should land well.
Nnedi Okorafor writes science fiction and fantasy that feels vibrant, fresh, and deeply rooted in culture. Readers who love Martha Wells may find her work just as absorbing.
A wonderful place to start is Binti, a novella about a gifted young woman who leaves her home to attend a prestigious university among the stars.
During her journey, Binti encounters an alien species, survives a crisis, and discovers strengths she never fully understood in herself.
Okorafor blends technology, tradition, and personal growth with remarkable grace. The result is a compact but memorable story that feels both intimate and expansive.
Readers who enjoy Martha Wells might also want to pick up Andrea Stewart.
Her novel, The Bone Shard Daughter, follows Lin, the emperor’s daughter, as she struggles with fragmented memories and attempts to master forbidden bone shard magic in order to claim her place and protect the empire.
Stewart creates a striking world powered by constructs animated through bone shards taken from citizens, while rebellion simmers beneath the surface of imperial rule.
With its strong sense of place, layered magic system, and compelling central heroine, the book offers the kind of immersive storytelling many Wells fans look for.
If you enjoy Martha Wells’ intelligent storytelling and capable protagonists, Arkady Martine is an easy recommendation. Her novel A Memory Called Empire introduces Mahit Dzmare, an ambassador from a small space station sent to the center of a vast interstellar empire.
Mahit expects difficult diplomacy, but the situation quickly turns more dangerous than anticipated.
When she learns the previous ambassador has died under suspicious circumstances, she must navigate court politics, cultural pressure, and hidden threats while trying to preserve her station’s independence.
Martine excels at political intrigue, cultural complexity, and slow-building tension, making this an excellent choice for readers who like thoughtful, high-stakes space opera.
Seanan McGuire writes imaginative, character-rich stories with a strong emotional core. Readers who appreciate Martha Wells’ engaging protagonists and inventive settings may enjoy her work as well.
In McGuire’s novella Every Heart a Doorway, Eleanor West runs a school for children who have returned from magical worlds and no longer feel at home in ordinary reality.
When Nancy arrives, strange and unsettling events begin to unfold, forcing the students to work together to understand what is happening.
It’s a quick read, but a memorable one—blending fantasy, mystery, and longing in a way that lingers long after the final page.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is known for ambitious, imaginative science fiction that still leaves room for strong character work—something many Martha Wells readers will appreciate immediately.
His novel Children of Time begins with humanity searching for a new home and evolves into a sweeping story about survival, evolution, and unexpected forms of intelligence.
As the last remnants of humankind move uncertainly through space, readers also witness the rise of a startling new civilization shaped by evolutionary chance.
Thoughtful, inventive, and emotionally resonant, Children of Time is an especially strong pick for readers who enjoy big ideas paired with a human center.
