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Quick answer: If you loved Illuminae, read Gemina and Obsidio, then Aurora Rising, Sleeping Giants and S. All tell their stories through files, documents or unusual formats, mixing science fiction, danger and romance.
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's 2015 novel is told through emails, chat logs, reports and transcripts, following two teenage exes who escape an attack on their planet while a rogue AI called AIDAN takes control. It is fast, funny and innovative. The books below share its unusual formats, space settings and high stakes.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemina | Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Teen | the sequel |
| Obsidio | Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Teen | the finale |
| Aurora Rising | Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Teen | squad adventure |
| Sleeping Giants | Sylvain Neuvel | Adult | interview format |
| World War Z | Max Brooks | Adult | oral-history apocalypse |
| S. | J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst | Adult | book within a book |
| The Martian | Andy Weir | Adult | survival science |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Teen | young strategist |
| Across the Universe | Beth Revis | Teen | spaceship mystery |
| These Broken Stars | Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner | Teen | stranded romance |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | Teen | fairy-tale science fiction |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | brutal dystopia |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | pilot and war |
| Defy the Stars | Claudia Gray | Teen | human and machine |
1. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Hanna and Nik defend a space station from invaders. A strong second book that expands the story.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
The story returns to Kerenza as the fleet fights back. A satisfying conclusion.
Best for: the finale.
3. Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A misfit squad of cadets finds a mysterious girl from a lost ship. Funny, fast and full of banter.
Best for: squad adventure.
4. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
A giant robotic hand is discovered, and its story unfolds through interviews. Fast and clever.
Best for: interview format.
5. World War Z by Max Brooks
A journalist gathers accounts from survivors of a zombie war. Fresh and realistic.
Best for: oral-history apocalypse.
6. S. by J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst
A novel with handwritten notes, postcards and inserts. A puzzle for dedicated readers.
Best for: book within a book.
7. The Martian by Andy Weir
An astronaut is stranded on Mars and uses science to live. Told partly in logs.
Best for: survival science.
8. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is trained to fight an alien enemy. Classic and tense.
Best for: young strategist.
9. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
A girl wakes from cryosleep on a generation ship and finds a murder. Gripping and eerie.
Best for: spaceship mystery.
10. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Two teens survive a spaceship crash and trek across a mysterious planet. Told with interludes.
Best for: stranded romance.
11. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A cyborg mechanic is drawn into a royal plot. Fast and romantic.
Best for: fairy-tale science fiction.
12. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world without death, teens are trained to kill. Includes diary entries.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
13. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner on Mars infiltrates the elite. Violent and fast.
Best for: brutal dystopia.
14. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A girl dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet. Fast and funny.
Best for: pilot and war.
15. Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
A soldier and a robot team up to save their planet. Emotional and action-packed.
Best for: human and machine.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Illuminae: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more of the series start with Gemina and Obsidio. For squad humour choose Aurora Rising or Skyward. For other formats pick Sleeping Giants, World War Z or S. For classic space adventure try Ender's Game and Red Rising. Illuminae is best read as a physical book, because its layouts and graphics are part of the story. Audiobooks of Illuminae use a full cast and sound effects, which many readers love as a different way to experience the story. The Illuminae Files rely on design, so check whether you prefer print or audio. Print readers enjoy the graphics and layouts, while audio listeners enjoy the full-cast performance. Both formats work, and many readers pick one and then reread in the other. Younger teens may prefer starting with Aurora Rising, which has a more conventional format.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Illuminae about?
Two exes escape an attack on their planet while a rogue AI takes control of their ship.
Who wrote it?
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.
When was it published?
2015.
How many books are in the Illuminae Files?
Three: Illuminae, Gemina and Obsidio.
Is it hard to read?
The format is unusual, but it is fast and fun.
Is it a love story?
Yes, with humour and tension.
Is it suitable for younger teens?
It includes strong language and violence, so it suits older teens.
What should I read next?
Try Gemina or Aurora Rising.
Is Illuminae scary?
It has tense, violent moments, including a plague and a murderous AI, but also lots of humour.
Do I need to read the books in order?
Yes, since the story builds, though each book follows different characters.