Howdyphillip Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I just posted in the thread dedicated to works that have held up well for the time and I was reminded of a couple of authors that have done a fantastic job in using humor in their books. Both Robin Lynn Aspirin, and Harry Harrison, who wrote the Myth Adventures and Stainless Steel Rat series respectively, included a lot of really funny stuff in their writings. A more recent example is Scott Lynch in the Gentleman Bastards series. I personally think that if a work does not include just a little amount of humor, it seriously takes away from the story. What other authors are doing well in this department? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnatĂşrinbor Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Bakker. Abercrombie. Malazan (a bit). THHG. Discworld. Most of Stephen King's books are hilarious as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serious Callers Only Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Just a tiny bit? Caitlin Kiernan or Charlies Huston do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Ent Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Just finished Ian Banks’s Use of Weapons, which has a great, laughing-out-loud joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedEyedGhost Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Bujold's Vorkosigan books have a lot of humor in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojiro Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I would be negligent in my duty if I didn't inform you to bring a towel and don't panic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkynJay Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I am kinda confused. Are we looking for books that focus on comedy first and foremost a la Adams, Prachett, and Moore? Or more serious books with humor laced through them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night's_King Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 If we're looking for books that focus on comedy, you can't get around Douglas Adams. I think no author ever has made me laugh as much as he did. If we're looking for more serious books, which have very funny things in it: Pat Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chonicle's. I laughed so hard when Kvothe jumped from the tower or when Elodin burned Hemme's things. :lmao: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrum Aeternum Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I am kinda confused. Are we looking for books that focus on comedy first and foremost a la Adams, Prachett, and Moore? Or more serious books with humor laced through them? I would guess the latter. Abercrombie wins this for me, hands down. Malazan (a bit). I've read four Malazan books and I can still count on both hands how many times I've laughed, total. Maybe not my style of humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkynJay Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Perhaps they are just fresh on my mind but the funniest non-comedies coming to mind would be Wooding's Kitty Jay books, or the Bujold books REG already mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datepalm Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 One of WOTs problems is that it's so relatively humorlessness. And what there is is desperate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrum Aeternum Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Perhaps they are just fresh on my mind but the funniest non-comedies coming to mind would be Wooding's Kitty Jay books, or the Bujold books REG already mentioned. Oops, whiffed on Chris Wooding. Good call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emberling Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 the funniest non-comedies ... the Bujold books REG already mentioned.A Civil Campaign is styled "A comedy of biology and manners" on the title page, even. Such a good book. In a similar vein, though a vastly different setting, is Steven Brust's Taltos series - and the prequel Khaavren Romances which are pretty much flat-out comedy. Taltos, like Vorkosigan, is a series of short, super-fun adventures with hilarious characters who get into terrible, even tragic situations; think Tyrion Lannister playing Craig's James Bond. The Khaavren books, on the other hand, are an entirely serious fantasy adventure told in the most absurd manner possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datepalm Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Oh, Connie Willis - To Say Nothing of the Dog is one of the funniest books i've ever read. She does great farce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errant Bard Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 The Gone-Away World is a great book that does not get enough recognition, and it's very funny in both what is said, and what is actually happening, despite not being a comedy at all. I'm thirding A Civil Campaign for SF, it's great fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant books can be very funny at times. Just finished Ian Banks’s Use of Weapons, which has a great, laughing-out-loud joke.Are you thinking of the bit whereZakalwe is recovering after having his head chopped off and Skaffen-Amitsaw visits him and offers him a hat as a present? I remember finding that amusing at the time. If we're looking for more serious books, which have very funny things in it: Pat Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chonicle's. I laughed so hard when Kvothe jumped from the tower or when Elodin burned Hemme's things. :lmao: I think it's Elodin's reaction to it that's the best bit. I'm thirding A Civil Campaign for SF, it's great fun. Captain Vorpatril's Alliance was also very amusing, although the plot isn't as good as A Civil Campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First of My Name Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Aaron Allston always makes me laugh. I've read some of his Star Wars books, and they're riddled with laugh-out-loud moments (his X-Wing books specifically). He passed recently, sadly. As others have said, Abercrombie and Rothfuss are always good for a laugh as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojiro Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Well, in that case, as I have an exceptionally dark sense of humor, I've actually laughed at some rather grim moments in fiction that were supposed to be serious, so I'm not exactly sure if I should list everything that's made me chuckle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Aaron Allston always makes me laugh. I've read some of his Star Wars books, and they're riddled with laugh-out-loud moments (his X-Wing books specifically). He passed recently, sadly.As others have said, Abercrombie and Rothfuss are always good for a laugh as well.Yub yub! (I agree) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Kilimaro Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Well, I guess I'll be the lame-o to bring up GRRM in this thread. Dolorous Edd is freaking hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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