What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAll That We See or Seem
Ken Liu · Book · 2025
If you loved All That We See or Seem, start with Three-Body (Liu Cixin, 2023) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to All That We See or Seem across media.
You will love these stories for the way they turn digital vulnerability and high-stakes conspiracy into deeply personal, pulse-pounding missions.
Films on the same thread
Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Ruben Fleischer · Film · 2025
Explores: Illusion vs. Reality, Teamwork, Underdog Story.
If the tension of All That We See or Seem hooked you, you will appreciate how this film balances complex criminal conspiracies with the thrill of high-stakes deception.
Wardriver
Rebecca Thomas · Film · 2026
Explores: digital surveillance, moral ambiguity, cat and mouse.
This film mirrors the techno-noir intensity of All That We See or Seem, focusing on a reluctant hacker caught in a dangerous web of surveillance and criminal underworlds.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Christopher McQuarrie · Film · 2025
Shares a thread with All That We See or Seem: Techno-Thriller.
Just like the high-stakes kidnapping in All That We See or Seem, this movie delivers a relentless pace and a global conspiracy that keeps the audience constantly guessing.
Ghost in the Shell
Mamoru Oshii · Film · 1995
Shares a thread with All That We See or Seem: Techno-Thriller.
The existential dread and brain-hacking threats in this classic echo the digital anonymity and surveillance themes found in All That We See or Seem with striking cyberpunk precision.
Series on the same thread
Three-Body
Liu Cixin · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with All That We See or Seem: Techno-Thriller.
If All That We See or Seem hit, Three-Body shares the thread.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with All That We See or Seem: Techno-thriller.
This series captures the same surveillance-heavy atmosphere of All That We See or Seem, focusing on individuals who use their specialized skills to combat systemic, hidden dangers.
Altered Carbon
Laeta Kalogridis · Series · 2018
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Immortality, Corporate Conspiracy.
The corporate conspiracy and identity themes in this series mirror the gritty, near-future landscape of All That We See or Seem, where digital secrets hold the power of life.
Podcasts on the same thread
Passenger List
Passenger List and Radiotopia · Podcast · 2025
The desperate search for a missing person at the heart of this podcast echoes the emotional urgency and mystery that drives the narrative of All That We See or Seem.
Kill List
Podcast
Explores: Dark Net, Murder for Hire, Technological Crime.
This investigative journey into the dark net provides the same disturbing look at technological crime and digital vulnerability that grounds the suspense in All That We See or Seem.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is All That We See or Seem Ken Liu's first science fiction thriller?
Yes, All That We See or Seem marks the first time Ken Liu has written a science fiction thriller. While the author has previously won Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards, this release represents his most accessible and action-packed story to date.
What is the premise of All That We See or Seem?
All That We See or Seem follows Julia Z, a woman known for her childhood notoriety as the orphan hacker. She attempts to lead an obscure life in a Boston suburb until she is drawn into a mystery involving a lawyer named Piers and his kidnapped wife, Elli.
How does All That We See or Seem differ from Ken Liu's previous work?
All That We See or Seem is described as Ken Liu's most commercial and action-packed outing. Unlike some of his previous literary works, this book is specifically positioned as his first science fiction thriller, focusing on a fast-paced narrative involving a hacker and a kidnapping.
Who is the protagonist in All That We See or Seem?
The protagonist of All That We See or Seem is Julia Z. She gained public attention at the age of fourteen when she was labeled the orphan hacker. The story tracks her attempts to maintain digital obscurity before she becomes involved in the investigation of Elli's kidnapping.