What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Obelisk Gate
N. K. Jemisin · Book · 2016
If you loved The Obelisk Gate, start with Good Omens (Neil Gaiman, 2019) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Obelisk Gate across media.
What hooked you in The Obelisk Gate was the way the crushing weight of systemic oppression and environmental collapse is carried by deeply personal, fractured family bonds.
Films on the same thread
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
Francis Lawrence · Film · 2015
Explores: Rebellion, Totalitarianism, Sacrifice.
Just as in The Obelisk Gate, you will find here a harrowing depiction of rebellion against a totalitarian regime where survival requires constant, agonizing sacrifice from those resisting oppression.
Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with The Obelisk Gate: Science Fantasy.
You will recognize the same focus on environmentalism and the protection of one's kin that drives the narrative of The Obelisk Gate within this story of family loyalty and survival.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron · Film · 2025
Shares a thread with The Obelisk Gate: Science Fantasy.
This film mirrors the indigenous resistance and environmental struggle found in The Obelisk Gate, grounding its high-stakes planetary conflict in the intimate, desperate need to keep a family together.
The Book of Eli
Albert Hughes · Film · 2010
Explores: Faith and Purpose, Survival, Redemption.
Much like the journey in The Obelisk Gate, this tale treats the preservation of knowledge as a sacred, dangerous burden amidst the ruins of a collapsed and unforgiving world.
Series on the same thread
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
Much like the scientific curiosity that underpins the world of The Obelisk Gate, this podcast explores the profound connection between natural phenomena and the history of human existence.
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2019
Explores: The Antichrist, End of the World, Unlikely Friendship.
While more comedic, this captures the apocalyptic dread of The Obelisk Gate, showing how unlikely companions must navigate the end of the world while questioning the nature of their reality.
Dark
Baran bo Odar · Series · 2017
Explores: Time Paradox, Family Secrets, Existential Crisis.
The Obelisk Gate shares this story's fascination with generational trauma and existential crises, where family secrets and hidden histories are inextricably linked to the fate of the entire world.
The Last of Us
Neil Druckmann · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with The Obelisk Gate: Found Family.
This echoes the heartbreaking, intimate bond between survivors found in The Obelisk Gate, focusing on the moral compromises required to protect a loved one in a brutal, post-apocalyptic landscape.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
The analytical power of this series mirrors the way The Obelisk Gate interrogates the legacy of systemic oppression and the historical foundations that continue to shape our current reality.
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward · Podcast · 2026
Explores: intellectual curiosity, scientific wonder, human obsession.
If The Obelisk Gate hit, Ologies with Alie Ward shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Obelisk Gate part of a series?
Yes, The Obelisk Gate is the second installment in the trilogy that began with the award-winning The Fifth Season. It continues the narrative established in the first book, which depicts a world facing the final season of endings.
What order should I read The Obelisk Gate in?
You should read The Obelisk Gate after finishing The Fifth Season. It is the direct sequel in the trilogy and follows the events that occurred as the season of endings grew darker and civilization began to fade.
Has The Obelisk Gate won any awards?
The Obelisk Gate is part of the trilogy that earned significant critical acclaim. The series began with the award-winning The Fifth Season, and the individual works have been shortlisted for prestigious honors including the Nebula, Audie, and Locus Awards.
Is The Obelisk Gate considered a notable book?
Yes, the trilogy including The Obelisk Gate has received widespread recognition. The first book was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2015 and served as the inaugural selection for the Wired.com book club, highlighting its status as an intricate and extraordinary work.