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7 Books That Feel Like an Episode of Black Mirror
If you’re anything like me, you love a story that makes you question reality, rethink technology, and maybe even lose a little sleep. That’s exactly why I can’t get enough of Black Mirror. The eerie twists, unsettling what-ifs, and mind-bending plots always leave me craving more.
So, I went on a deep dive to find books that deliver the same unsettling, thought-provoking vibes. Whether it’s dystopian societies, AI gone wrong, or the dark side of human nature, these books will keep you hooked and maybe even a little paranoid. If you’re searching for books that feel like a Black Mirror episode, you’re in the right place.
A gripping look at a tech giant that slowly takes over every aspect of its users’ lives. It’s basically Black Mirror’s “Nosedive” meets Big Brother.
Imagine a world where every move you make is tracked, shared, and judged in real time. The Circle by Dave Eggers explores a near-future society where a powerful tech company promises to create a more connected, transparent, and efficient world. But as innovation pushes the boundaries of privacy and freedom, the lines between progress and control begin to blur.
This gripping novel takes readers deep into the heart of a tech empire that seems to have all the answers, until you start asking the right questions.
If you’ve ever wondered about the cost of living in an always-online world, The Circle is a must-read. Thought-provoking, unsettling, and eerily relevant, this book will leave you questioning just how much of your life should be shared.
2. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Told from the perspective of an AI companion, this novel explores artificial intelligence, human emotions, and the blurry line between machine and consciousness.
In Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro takes readers on a haunting and deeply moving journey through the eyes of Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to provide companionship to children.
With her keen observational skills and unwavering loyalty, Klara watches the world with curiosity and hope, believing in the power of the sun to bring warmth and healing.
But as she learns more about the humans around her, she begins to uncover the complexities of love, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be human. Thought-provoking and beautifully written, this novel will leave you questioning the boundaries between artificial intelligence and emotion and whether the things that make us human can ever be replicated.
3. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
A thrilling, multiverse-hopping journey that questions identity, free will, and the consequences of our choices, just like Black Mirror’s “White Bear.”
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is a mind-bending thriller that forces you to question every choice you’ve ever made. Jason Dessen is a happily married physicist living a quiet life, until he is abducted and wakes up in a world that isn’t his own.
In this new reality, he’s not a husband, not a father, and his career has taken a dramatically different path. As he fights to understand what has happened to him, Jason is pulled into a heart-pounding journey across possibilities, searching for the life he lost and the truth behind his existence.
Fast-paced, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down, Dark Matter is a gripping exploration of identity, free will, and the roads not taken.
4. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
A viral social media mystery, where fame and the internet’s power take center stage.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green is a sharp, fast-paced novel that explores the power of social media, the weight of sudden fame, and the ways people respond to the unknown.
Through a witty and insightful narrative, the book dives into how quickly the internet can elevate someone, and just as quickly turn on them.
With a compelling voice and a story that blends humor, tension, and thought-provoking themes, this novel challenges readers to question the role of technology, influence, and human connection in a world that’s always watching.
5. The Warehouse by Rob Hart
A chilling corporate dystopia where one company controls everything, jobs, housing, even security. It’s Black Mirror’s “Smithereens” meets Amazon on steroids.
The Warehouse by Rob Hart is a gripping, near-future thriller that imagines a world where one corporation controls almost everything, jobs, housing, even the air people breathe.
Through sharp storytelling and a disturbingly plausible premise, the book explores power, surveillance, and the cost of convenience.
As the characters navigate a system designed to keep them in line, the story raises urgent questions about the future of work, privacy, and corporate control. Fast-paced, thought-provoking, and all too relevant, this novel will make you rethink the world we’re building.
6. This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
A mind-bending time travel novel that mixes war, AI, and love letters across different timelines. Imagine Black Mirror’s “San Junipero” but darker.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is a mesmerizing blend of sci-fi and poetic storytelling.
It follows two rival agents from warring factions who begin leaving secret messages for each other across time and space. What starts as taunts between enemies slowly transforms into something deeper and more dangerous.
The novel is beautifully written, emotionally rich, and filled with breathtaking imagery. If you’re looking for a book that defies genre and delivers an unforgettable reading experience, this one will stay with you long after the last page.
7. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
A haunting and melancholic tale of love, memory, and the quiet dystopia hidden beneath an ordinary life
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is a hauntingly beautiful novel that lingers in your mind long after you finish reading.
Set in a world that feels both familiar and unsettlingly different, it follows three childhood friends as they grow up in an idyllic yet isolated school. As they navigate love, friendship, and the passage of time, they slowly begin to uncover the deeper truth about their existence.
Ishiguro’s storytelling is quiet yet profoundly moving, weaving a tale that is both tender and heartbreaking. If you’re looking for a novel that explores memory, identity, and the human condition with quiet intensity, this one is a must-read.
8. Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang
A collection of thought-provoking short stories that explore the impact of technology on humanity while raising deep philosophical questions. It’s as close to Black Mirror as a book can get.
Ted Chiang’s Exhalation: Stories is a collection of beautifully crafted, mind-expanding short stories that explore the intersection of technology, free will, and the nature of existence.
Each story presents a fascinating “what if” scenario, from alternate realities to time manipulation, all told with an emotional depth that lingers long after you finish reading. If you love the way Black Mirror blends speculative fiction with human introspection, this book will leave you both awed and unsettled.
9. Ubik by Philip K Dick
A mind-bending sci-fi thriller where reality unravels, time fractures, and a mysterious substance called Ubik might be the only key to survival.
Philip K. Dick’s Ubik is a surreal and mind-bending dive into the nature of reality, consciousness, and corporate control.
Set in a future where psychic powers and suspended animation blur the lines between life and death, the story follows a group of agents who find themselves trapped in a world that keeps shifting beneath their feet. As reality unravels, the mysterious substance known as Ubik might be their only hope.
If you love Black Mirror’s reality-warping twists and existential dilemmas, this novel will keep you questioning everything.
Which one are you picking up first? Let me know your thoughts, and if you have any other recommendations that give off serious Black Mirror vibes, I’d love to hear them!
