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Funny Novels

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android

Theoretical Magician
I'm just finishing Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett,and I would like to read some other funny novels. I have read 66% of the Discworld novels and Hitchhiker's is one of my top five favorite novels, but I can't really find anything else.
 
DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY!

If you enjoyed Hitchhiker's, I'd get this. Also grab Salmon of Doubt, Adams' "semi-biographic writings/scribblings and parts of a novel". It's quite funny and I still laugh while I re-read through some of it. Oh Adams, why did you have to leave us *sob*
 
Robert Asprin's Myth series is worth a look as humorous fantasy goes.

Some people like Robert Rankin, though others can't stand him.

Tom Holt's books are probably the best thing out there for you. They've been reprinted with two or three books per volume in the not too distant past, I believe.

If you don't mind sci-fi, then I strongly recommend Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers by Harry Harrison.
 
Yeah, I've never read Dirk Gently. Thanks, i'll try that. What is the best book Tom Holt book to start with?
 
If you are looking for comic SF, one little-known but very funny writer who fits the bill is Steve Aylett. The Crime Studio is his first short story collection (now available in the US--I had to get it imported from the UK). Amazon.com will let you read the first story in the collection using Search Inside the Book (since his stories average about five pages).

Aylett's break into the US market was his novel Slaughtermatic, but Aylett isn't as good at sustaining the narrative structuring that a novel requires as he is at writing short stories that make you laugh out loud ten times in five pages. It's pretty funny as well--just don't expect the coherency of more traditional writing.
 
If you're a Star Trek fan, Peter David's Q In-Law is hilarious. Lwaxana Troi with the power of Q pissed off and kicking Q's ass all over the Enterprise.
 
Dammit, I was going to suggest Good Omens right off the bat, haha. Great book.

Also, some people haven't read the final Hitchiker's book "Mostly Harmless" which was surprisingly good, if really odd compared to the previous ones.
 
Flashman

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...102-1598591-3869711?v=glance&s=books&n=507846


Funny and very witty. Basically, it's a story written from the first-person perspective about a scoundrel, coward, selfish piece of scum Victorian soldier. The only thing he has going for him is his wit.

One of the book reviewers put it best:

On the other hand, from Flashman I've learned lessons I use every day of my life:

* When the trouble starts, keep your head down, or better yet, in a totally different country.
* Never be afraid to accept credit for something good you did. That goes double for something good you didn't.
* Never volunteer.
* Wine, women, and song? To hell with the song.
* There's no shame in living as a coward. Beats dying as a hero.
* Always have an escape plan. If not, steal someone else's.
 
Eric Idle wrote a sci-comedy called The Road To Mars. It's really funny. Very much in the style of Hitchikers, but less out there.
 
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Thinks, "He's right, I must buy Puckoon!"
 
THE EYE said:
Eric Idle wrote a sci-comedy called The Road To Mars. It's really funny. Very much in the style of Hitchikers, but less out there.
Yeah I read that one. Very funny

David Sedaris is a riot, but it seems you wanted something fantasy or sci-fi, which he is not.
As long as it makes me laugh, it's all good.
 
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