Yes, aFutD is similar, but different enough for the preference to be a matter of taste. They're both among my favorite SF novels. It works best to read them bo

Yes, aFutD is similar, but different enough for the preference to be a matter of taste. They're both among my favorite SF novels. It works best to read them both, in publication order (aFutD first), because you only see the second book's layer of dramatic irony with that background. More on this in Jo Walton's review: https://www.tor.com/2008/07/19/deepnessreview/ https://www.tor.com/2008/07/19/deepnessreview/ Also the first book is shorter, and if you're like "meh" about it then I doubt you'd be into the second either.