What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved9
Shane Acker · Film · 2009
If you loved 9, start with Day 9 (Robert T. Jeschonek, 2011) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to 9 across media.
What hooked you in 9 was the way fragile, artificial beings must fight for existence against overwhelming, mechanical forces in a ruined world.
Books on the same thread
Unwind
Neal Shusterman · Book · 2009
Shares a thread with 9: Survival.
Much like the stitchpunk protagonists in 9, these teens face a society that treats their lives as disposable components, forcing them into a desperate, high-stakes journey for survival.
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Shares a thread with 9: Survival.
If 9 hit, The Maze Runner (Book 1) shares the thread.
Day 9
Robert T. Jeschonek · Book · 2011
Explores: Search for God, Technological Singularity, Good vs Evil.
This narrative mirrors the technological singularity and existential dread found in 9, focusing on the intersection of human faith and the dangerous machines built to achieve godlike power.
The Windup Girl
Paolo Bacigalupi · Book · 2010
Explores: Corporate Power, Environmental Collapse, Genetic Engineering.
Fans of the bleak, post-apocalyptic atmosphere in 9 will recognize the same struggle for survival in a world ravaged by the unintended consequences of advanced science and corporate greed.
Series on the same thread
Attack on Titan
Series · 2013
Shares a thread with 9: Survival.
The sense of existential horror in 9, where humanity's remnants cower from unstoppable monsters, is perfectly mirrored in this desperate defense against man-eating giants within a fortified city.
Arcane
Christian Linke · Series · 2021
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
The steampunk aesthetic and the conflict between clashing technologies in this series will resonate with anyone who appreciated the visual storytelling and mechanical world-building featured in 9.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Series · 2009
Shares a thread with 9: Steampunk.
This series captures the same moral ambiguity and steampunk heart as 9, following characters who must navigate a world shaped by the dangerous intersection of alchemy and corruption.
Love, Death & Robots
Tim Miller · Series · 2019
Explores: Existentialism, Transhumanism, Artificial Intelligence.
If you were fascinated by the artificial intelligence uprising in 9, this anthology provides a deeper, darker exploration of how transhumanism and sentient machines alter the fate of humanity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Class of 09
Podcast
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Technological Singularity, Career Trajectory.
The focus on a dystopian future defined by the impact of the technological singularity makes this a natural follow-up for those intrigued by the machine-dominated landscape of 9.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
Explores: survivalism, artificial consciousness, existential dread.
This audio drama captures the same themes of existential dread and survivalism found in 9, focusing on how artificial consciousness navigates the wreckage of a hostile, abandoned universe.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 9 set in a world where humans still exist?
No, 9 is set in a post-apocalyptic world where all humans are gone. The protagonist discovers that only a small community of others like him remains, hiding from fearsome machines that roam the earth with the intent to cause their extinction.
What is the primary conflict facing the characters in 9?
The characters in 9 are forced to take refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth and are intent on their extinction. The protagonist must convince the others that simply hiding from these machines will do them no good.
How does 9 behave when he first comes to life?
When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. He eventually discovers a small community of others like him who are hiding from machines. Despite being the neophyte of the group, he convinces them to stop hiding.
Does 9 try to hide from the machines?
While the other characters in 9 are initially taking refuge from the machines, the protagonist acts as the catalyst for change. Despite being the neophyte of the group, he convinces the others that hiding from the machines will do them no good.