I feel PHM gets a ton of love but also a ton of hate from pretty serious readers, what do you think is similar but better? by AndyLes Related: Literaturre from Ireland/U.K. Non-fantasy/scifi fiction novel with a main character who is crafting, building, tinkering a lot e.g. a kid during summer vacation building treehouses, gadgets in his freetime. I’m looking for something that a teenage boy who is into videogames would love to read. Recommendation needed – something like The Ploughmen Suggest me a book which entirely changed your perspective on life Books where unsettling/new/unexpected customs and tribal groups emerge
catsarecuter on November 22, 2025 11:27 pm This may be an obvious answer but The Martian. I liked phm but I also thought it was a little silly.
stormbutton on November 22, 2025 11:30 pm I loved the audiobook of PHM but the physical book would have been a slog. Recommend Children of Time instead
Background-Drive6332 on November 22, 2025 11:31 pm Have spacesuit will travel. Robert Heinlein. Th author is clearly influenced by Heinlein. Even mentions him in his book.
fizzyanklet on November 22, 2025 11:32 pm I listened to PHM as an audiobook and I feel like Dennis Taylor’s narration made it a bit more entertaining than it would have been to read it.
Blecher_onthe_Hudson on November 22, 2025 11:32 pm Bobiverse is similar without necessarily being better.
SongBirdplace on November 22, 2025 11:32 pm Define what you want. Better aliens? Blindsight. Enders Game Better engineer dealing with really weird people? Falling Free by Bujold. Better pulp and simple SF? Warriors Apprentice by Bujold or Calculating Stars.
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Dungeon Crawler Carl
Lonesome Dove
PHM is the Jacksonville, FL of books.Â
This may be an obvious answer but The Martian. I liked phm but I also thought it was a little silly.
adjacent and better imo: Children of Time
I loved the audiobook of PHM but the physical book would have been a slog.
Recommend Children of Time instead
Have spacesuit will travel. Robert Heinlein. Th author is clearly influenced by Heinlein. Even mentions him in his book.
I listened to PHM as an audiobook and I feel like Dennis Taylor’s narration made it a bit more entertaining than it would have been to read it.
Bobiverse is similar without necessarily being better.
Define what you want.Â
Better aliens? Blindsight. Enders GameÂ
Better engineer dealing with really weird people? Falling Free by Bujold.Â
Better pulp and simple SF? Warriors Apprentice by Bujold or Calculating Stars.