I know that this is an obscure and very niche request, but I thought if there ever was a place to try it would be here.
For those that are unaware, Blood Incantation is a prog death metal band that makes music based around the themes like consciousness, the universe, and extraterrestrial life.
If someone were to ask me the same question, I would probably recommend Slaughterhouse Five, Semiosis, and American Cosmic. Do you have any I could add to that list?
As I didn’t get any replies I tried my luck with the “perplexity” app. With R1 reasoning it actually gave a pretty good response:
For fans of Blood Incantation’s themes of consciousness, cosmic mystery, and extraterrestrial life, here are eight speculative fiction novels that dive into similarly profound and otherworldly territory:
1. Solaris by Stanisław Lem
A sentient ocean on a distant planet probes human consciousness, manifesting physical embodiments of repressed memories and emotions. This philosophical masterpiece interrogates humanity’s ability to comprehend truly alien intelligence[1][2][5].
2. Blindsight by Peter Watts
A crew investigates an alien entity in deep space, confronting the unsettling idea that consciousness might be an evolutionary dead end. Combines hard sci-fi rigor with existential dread about non-sentient intelligence[2][5].
3. Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
After an alien “visit,” hazardous Zones littered with incomprehensible artifacts force humans to grapple with cosmic indifference. A gritty exploration of humanity’s smallness in a vast universe[5].
4. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
A Jesuit-led mission to an alien planet unravels due to cultural miscommunication, blending faith, ethics, and the perils of first contact. Nuanced and devastating[1][4][5].
5. Contact by Carl Sagan
Radio signals from Vega prompt a scientific quest to decode alien messages, juxtaposing empirical rigor with spiritual wonder. A cornerstone of first-contact narratives[1][5].
6. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
A Himba girl brokers peace with jellyfish-like Meduse aliens using ancestral technology and empathy. Themes of hybridity, communication, and cultural bridging resonate with Blood Incantation’s fusion of brutality and transcendence[1].
7. VALIS by Philip K. Dick
A fractured reality, divine visions, and cosmic conspiracies blur in this semi-autobiographical meditation on gnosticism and the nature of existence. Perfect for fans of metaphysical disorientation[2].
8. Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
Benevolent Overlords guide humanity toward an evolutionary leap, interrogating utopianism and the cosmic unknown. Clarke’s haunting prose mirrors Blood Incantation’s atmospheric depth[5].
These works share Blood Incantation’s fascination with humanity’s fragility in the face of cosmic vastness, the limits of perception, and the interplay between intellect and transcendence. Pair with Timeghoul or Demilich for maximum existential immersion.
Sources [1] 10 Brilliant Novels About Communicating with Extraterrestrial Life https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/90971-10-brilliant-novels-about-communicating-with-extraterrestrial-life.html [2] 5 Metaphysical Sci-Fi Books You Need To Read - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqRo20nxOMY [3] 75 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/ [4] Looking for Philosophical Sci-Fi Reads? We’ve Got You! https://discoverscifi.com/philosophical-sci-fi-books/ [5] Top 10 Science Fiction Novels Exploring the Concept of Alien Life https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2024/09/24/top-10-science-fiction-novels-exploring-the-concept-of-alien-life/ [6] Slaughterhouse-Five at 50: Readalikes for Vonnegut Fans | Chicago … https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/slaughterhouse-five-at-50-readalikes-for-vonnegut-fans/ [7] Recommendations for genuinely “philosophical” science fiction https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comments/ufyvaj/recommendations_for_genuinely_philosophical/ [8] Science Fiction and Philosophy - Five Books https://fivebooks.com/best-books/science-fiction-and-philosophy-eric-schwitzgebel/ [9] The History and Philosophy of Astrobiology: Perspectives on … https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-4438-5035-3 [10] The Best Science Fiction Books About Aliens https://fivebooks.com/best-books/science-fiction-aliens-jaime-green/ [11] 5 Science-Fiction Reads Exploring the Nature of Existence … https://booktrib.com/2022/03/11/5-existential-science-fiction-books/ [12] Top 5 UFO Books That Will Expand Your Mind | Summary & Audio https://sobrief.com/lists/top-5-ufo-books-that-will-expand-your-mind [13] Behold 11 Books Pioneering in the Sci-Fi of Consciousness Migration https://bookraid.com/reader-blog/6080/behold--books-pioneering-in-the-sci-fi-of-consciousness-migration [14] The Best Philosophical Science Fiction Books https://best-sci-fi-books.com/the-best-philosophical-science-fiction-books/ [15] Investigating Life in the Universe: Astrobiology and the Search for Ex https://www.routledge.com/Investigating-Life-in-the-Universe-Astrobiology-and-the-Search-for-Extraterrestrial-Life/Walker/p/book/9781032472522 [16] List of science fiction themes - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_themes [17] Review: If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens…Where is Everybody … https://thoughtsonpapyrus.com/2019/11/22/review-if-the-universe-is-teeming-with-aliens-where-is-everybody-by-stephen-webb/ [18] Spiritual Sci-Fi (21 books) - Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/120250.Spiritual_Sci_Fi [19] 25 Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far) https://www.powells.com/featured/25-essential-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books [20] [IIL] books like Slaughterhouse-Five, Lolita, Stoner, The Bell Jar, 100 … https://www.reddit.com/r/ifyoulikeblank/comments/100re87/iil_books_like_slaughterhousefive_lolita_stoner/ [21] Readers who enjoyed Slaughterhouse-Five - Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/similar/1683562-slaughterhouse-five-or-the-children-s-crusade-a-duty-dance-with-death [22] Books Where Space and Consciousness Are Linked : r/printSF https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comments/1cnixst/books_where_space_and_consciousness_are_linked/ [23] Not So Strange Bedfellows: Philosophical Sci Fi Roundup | Issue 85 https://philosophynow.org/issues/85/Not_So_Strange_Bedfellows_Philosophical_Sci_Fi_Roundup [24] Readers who enjoyed American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology https://www.goodreads.com/book/similar/60393286-american-cosmic-ufos-religion-technology [25] Top 10 Books on the Holographic Universe and Consciousness https://sobrief.com/lists/top-10-books-on-the-holographic-universe-and-consciousness [26] What are some good ‘Philosophical’ Sci-fi books? : r/printSF - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comments/8d2qsj/what_are_some_good_philosophical_scifi_books/ [27] Love Slaughterhouse-Five? Readers pick 100 books like … https://shepherd.com/books-like/slaughterhouse-five [28] 7 Philosophical Science Fiction Novels You Need to Read - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-LFuvKv_bI [29] [PDF] Portrayal of the American Culture through Metafiction https://jecs.pl/index.php/jecs/article/view/726/585 [30] Looking for a series with very “alien” aliens - conscious beings … https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comments/6ricfq/looking_for_a_series_with_very_alien_aliens/ [31] Civilizations Beyond Earth: Extraterrestrial Life and Society https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/VakochCivilizations [32] Looking for Sci-Fi Book Recommendations with Themes of … - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comments/1fn619c/looking_for_scifi_book_recommendations_with/ [33] 20 of the Most Thought-Provoking, Philosophical Science Fiction … https://bookriot.com/philosophical-science-fiction-books/