If you loved
The Obelisk Gate
N. K. Jemisin · Book · 2016
What hooked you in The Obelisk Gate was the way the crushing weight of apocalyptic systemic trauma forces individuals to make impossible, intimate sacrifices.
Films on the same thread
Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with The Obelisk Gate: Science Fantasy.
Like The Obelisk Gate, this story centers on the fierce, protective bond of motherhood and family loyalty amidst a world defined by environmental collapse and colonial exploitation.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
Francis Lawrence · Film · 2015
Explores: Rebellion, Totalitarianism, Sacrifice.
You will recognize the desperate struggle against an oppressive, crumbling regime found in The Obelisk Gate, here mirrored in a protagonist navigating the brutal cost of total revolution.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron · Film · 2025
Shares a thread with The Obelisk Gate: Science Fantasy.
This narrative mirrors the high-stakes survival and tribal conflict seen in The Obelisk Gate, focusing on the heavy price families pay when caught in the wake of global catastrophe.
The Book of Eli
Albert Hughes · Film · 2010
Explores: Faith and Purpose, Survival, Redemption.
The Obelisk Gate depicts a world where knowledge is a burden and a survival tool; this film captures that same solitary, dangerous quest to preserve humanity through sacred truths.
Series on the same thread
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
Much like the complex power structures in The Obelisk Gate, this series examines how ancient, looming threats and political corruption force individuals into morally ambiguous survival strategies.
The Last of Us
Neil Druckmann · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with The Obelisk Gate: Found Family.
The Obelisk Gate excels at exploring found family within a dying world, a theme that drives this brutal, heartbreaking journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape of loss and survival.
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2019
Explores: The Antichrist, End of the World, Unlikely Friendship.
While tonally distinct from The Obelisk Gate, this story shares the fascination with the inevitable end of the world and the struggle to maintain humanity against predestined destruction.
Dark
Baran bo Odar · Series · 2017
Explores: Time Paradox, Family Secrets, Existential Crisis.
The Obelisk Gate uses deep history to explain its present; you will appreciate how this mystery unearths generations of family secrets that predetermine the fate of a broken world.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The Obelisk Gate resonated due to its critique of systemic oppression, this series provides the essential historical context regarding the roots of power and inequality in our reality.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama captures the same sense of isolation and survival in a hostile universe that defines the journey of the characters in The Obelisk Gate.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Obelisk Gate a standalone book?
No, The Obelisk Gate is not a standalone book. It is the second installment in a trilogy that began with the award-winning novel The Fifth Season. You should read the series in order to understand the full progression of the season of endings as civilization fades.
What awards has The Obelisk Gate been nominated for?
The Obelisk Gate is part of the trilogy that won the Hugo Award. Specifically, the series has been shortlisted for the Nebula, Audie, and Locus Awards. The work has also been recognized as a New York Times Notable Book and served as the inaugural Wired.com book club selection.
How does The Obelisk Gate continue the story from The Fifth Season?
The Obelisk Gate continues the trilogy by advancing the narrative established in The Fifth Season. It follows the progression of the season of endings as the world grows darker and civilization continues to face its final collapse, maintaining the intricate and extraordinary storytelling style noted by the New York Times.
Should I read The Obelisk Gate if I enjoyed the first book?
Yes, if you enjoyed the first book, you should read The Obelisk Gate. It continues the award-winning trilogy that began with The Fifth Season. The narrative keeps the same tone and depth, exploring the dark, final stages of a world that is ending for the last time.