Exploring from

The Last Colony

John Scalzi

Find similar books by

Combine common axes

Similar in characterization + relationships

These books are ranked using the characterization + relationships labels extracted for The Last Colony. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Characterization labels used: retired soldier, ombudsman, police officer, family unit, wisecracking protagonist, sarcastic protagonist, sympathetic characters, colonial administrator, teen protagonist, alien guardians

Relationships labels used: married couple, adoptive family, parent-child, family loyalty, comradeship, power struggle, human-alien alliance, betrayal, leadership

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization + relationships embeddings are close.

Exclude same author Exclude same listed series

Max ratings No limit

Dune: The Heir of Caladan

Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson · 2022 · The Caladan Trilogy

A pre-Dune finale follows Paul Atreides, his parents, and rival powers as loyalties shift and Arrakis approaches.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young protagonist · heir · duke · lady · concubine · mentor figures · rebels · emperor · baron · mentat · assassin · secretive agent · prophetic youth · political operator

Relationships labels: parent child · husband wife · family separation · concubine relationship · house rivalry · political alliance · betrayal · loyalty · mentor protege · rebellion against rule

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1758

Continue from here

Fear the Future

Stephen Moss · 2014 · The Fear Saga

As an alien armada closes in, Earth races to survive a brutal, politically fraught war for humanity’s future.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: main protagonists · orphans · politicians · leaders · soldiers · aliens · artificial intelligence · synthetic copy · young girl · de facto dictator · morally frayed · well-developed characters · character arc

Relationships labels: family loss · adoptive parent · mentor figure · human-alien relations · political conflict · power struggle · community survival · parent-child bond · dependency

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1785

Continue from here

Earth Fathers Are Weird

Lyn Gala · 2019 · Earth Fathers

A stranded fighter pilot takes a job to get home, only to discover the “nanny” position is something far stranger.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: fighter pilot · military officer · resourceful protagonist · protective hero · kind alien · non-humanoid alien · very alien love interest · caretaker · parenting arc · sweet love interest · insecure characters

Relationships labels: human-alien romance · found family · co-parenting · pair bonding · caregiving relationship · power imbalance · mutual dependence · chosen family · parent-child bond

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1785

Continue from here

Fractured

D.J. Molles · 2013 · The Remaining

In a shattered post-plague America, scattered survivors face internal revolt, infected threats, and brutal choices.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: military protagonist · commanders · survivors · political antagonist · despots · religious fanatics · infected humans · morally ambiguous characters · character growth · survivalist cast

Relationships labels: coup · betrayal · loyalty · faction conflict · friendship · comradeship · family bonds · parent-child relationship · power struggle

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1829

Continue from here

Star Wars: Tyrant's Test

Michael P. Kube-McDowell · 1997 · Star Wars: The Black Fleet Crisis

In a New Republic crisis, Leia, Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and Lando face war, rescue, and secrets across split storylines.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: Political leader · Hostage victim · Rescuer · Mentor figure · Naive hero · Manipulated protagonist · Ruthless antagonist · Brutal villain · Wookiee father · Family man · Sidekick upgrade · Underused protagonist · Character growth · Out of character

Relationships labels: Family loyalty · Marriage dilemma · Siblings · Parent child · Rescue bond · Power struggle · Political alliance · Betrayal · Friendship · Lifedebt

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1833

Continue from here

Shade's Children

Garth Nix · 1997 · Shade's Children

In a ruined future where children vanish at fourteen, escaped teens join a mysterious AI-led resistance.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · mysterious mentor · AI character · morally ambiguous guardian · rebellious youth · survivor protagonist · battle-hardened leader · eccentric character · cynical character · resourceful characters

Relationships labels: found family · mentor-ward · leader and team · trust and betrayal · romantic pairing · team loyalty · parental substitute · power imbalance · dependency relationship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1848

Continue from here

Aliens Omnibus, Vol. 1

Mark Verheiden · 2007 · Alien Omnibus

An omnibus of Alien comics follows a post-Aliens struggle against xenomorphs, corporate schemes, and an Earth-scale outbreak.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: survivors · colonial marines · military officers · corporate antagonists · scientists · cultists · psychotic general · androids · traumatized protagonists · strong female protagonist

Relationships labels: surrogate family · mother-daughter dynamic · romance · human-alien conflict · corporate rivalry · military hierarchy · guardian relationship · team loyalty · betrayal

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1857

Continue from here

Silo Stories

Hugh Howey

Three linked post-apocalyptic short stories expand a silo-based universe before, during, and after the world’s collapse.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: survivors · founders · political insider · intelligence agent · black ops agent · inoculated survivors · family members · reunion characters · resource-strapped characters · mistrustful characters

Relationships labels: family · sister relationship · husband-wife · romance · affair · community · reunion · factional conflict · betrayal · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1859

Continue from here

Halo: Cryptum

Greg Bear · 2011 · The Forerunner Saga

A rebellious young Forerunner’s treasure hunt pulls him into ancient politics, hidden history, and galaxy-shaping danger.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: rebellious youth · young protagonist · alien protagonist · immature to mature · political elite · warrior-leader · ancient leader · outsider protagonist · character growth

Relationships labels: family conflict · father-son conflict · mentor-protege · companions · human-alien contact · forced guardianship · marriage bond · power imbalance · loyalty conflict · civilizational antagonism

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1862

Continue from here

Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines

Karen Traviss · 2006 · Star Wars: Legacy of the Force

In a galaxy sliding toward civil war, family loyalties, Sith ambition, and a dying bounty hunter’s past collide.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: morally conflicted · ageing veteran · family man · bounty hunter · Sith apprentice · secret police leader · passive adults

Relationships labels: family conflict · parent-child estrangement · mentor-apprentice · siblings · grandparent-grandchild · clan loyalty · factional betrayal

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1869

Continue from here

The Hive

Orson Scott Card, Aaron Johnston · 2019 · The Second Formic War

In a solar-system war against adapting aliens, rival human powers must unite before the next assault arrives.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: military leaders · corrupt leadership · careerist officers · bureaucrats · strategists · young protagonists · resourceful characters · competent outsider

Relationships labels: coalition · rival factions · human-alien conflict · family · mentor-student · power struggle · political rivalry · team dynamics · parent-child

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1869

Continue from here

Forever Free

Joe Haldeman · 2000 · The Forever War

A restless war veteran and his wife gamble on relativity to escape a posthuman future, only for their trip to unravel into mystery.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: war veterans · retired soldier · alienated protagonist · restless protagonist · middle-aged protagonists · married couple · parents · ensemble cast · cloned society outsider · morally skeptical · philosophical · unhappy veterans · nonconformists

Relationships labels: marriage · husband wife · parent child · found family · veteran community · comradeship · authority conflict · us vs them · intergroup tension · former enemies

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1873

Continue from here