Hilarious Fiction Books

[Connoisseur]

I've been jones-ing for some new reading material and i'm really in the mood to find some funny fiction books. To date, Good Omens and the Hitchiker's Guide series have been my absolute favorite in this genre but I can't find any other books in the same vein. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm not looking for true-life Dave Barry-esque humor. Also, i'm aware that Terry Pratchett has a whole series of books with the same type of comedy. Just wanted to see if there were other authors/books that people could bring up.

 

[Farang]

American Psycho is the funniest book I ever read, but I can't say it's in the same vein.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Jasper Fforde has two amusing series: The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next) and The Big Over Easy (Nursery Crime). I'd start with The Eyre Affair and its sequels.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

I also laughed hard when I read the Hitchiker's Guide series.

I'm a huge fan of Vonnegut. While a lot of his books have funny elements (dark humor), I found Breakfast of Champions to be particularly entertaining.

 

[zinfamous]

In before someone says "The Bible."

:sneaky:

 

[zinfamous]

anyway, "Molloy" is the most unbelievably hilarious, fantastic book ever written.

 

[Drekce]

Not really the same genre but extremely funny:

1. Catch 22

2. A Confederacy of Dunces

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

American Scream: The Bill Hicks Story

This book is not fiction but it is funny at parts. It is quite enjoyable reading about Bill. Another example of someone who left this Earth too early. Died of cancer. The book is sad at times and funny at times. (Bill Hicks is often refererd to as Americas best unknown comic)

Ya, not fiction but you might enjoy it.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Screa.../dp/0380803771

Who?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hicks

William Melvin "Bill" Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, satirist and musician. His humor challenged mainstream beliefs, aiming to "enlighten people to think for themselves." Hicks used a ribald approach to express his material, describing himself as "Chomsky with dick jokes", while conceding that his humor was "caring". His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy. In both his stand-up performances and during interviews, he often criticized consumerism, superficiality, mediocrity and banality within the media and popular culture, describing them as oppressive tools of the ruling class, meant to "keep people stupid and apathetic."

Hicks died of pancreatic cancer in 1994 at the age of 32. In the years after his death, his work and legacy achieved the significant admiration and acclaim of numerous comedians, writers, actors and musicians alike. In 2007 he was voted the 6th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and again in the updated 2010 list as the 4th greatest stand-up comic.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Check out Christopher Moore's stuff. "Lamb" is quite good.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Not really the same genre but extremely funny:

1. Catch 22

2. A Confederacy of Dunces

QFT

Vonnegut was mentioned.

My contribution will be Charles S. Bukowski, and Tom Robbins. YUM!

 

[CallMeJoe]

In science fiction, Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero and The Technicolor Time Machine are good, as is his series of Stainless Steel Rat novels.

I also enjoyed Fritz Leiber's A Specter is Haunting Texas. I read it back in high school; I'm not sure it would hold up as well today.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The Bible.

You should try some of the Harvard Lampoon parodies like Bored of the Rings and Nightlight. If you're a fan of whatever they're mocking they're exceptionally funny.

 

[lizardth]

Piers Anthony anything in the Xanth series! But only if you like puns.

 

[skyking]

In science fiction, Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero and The Technicolor Time Machine are good, as is his series of Stainless Steel Rat novels.

I also enjoyed Fritz Leiber's A Specter is Haunting Texas. I read it back in high school; I'm not sure it would hold up as well today.

Kieth Laumer's Retief series is pretty good if you can find it in used bookstores.

 

[Gibsons]

Another vote for Vonnegut.

Sirens of Titan
Breakfast of Champions
Slapstick

Some pretty dark things in there, but funny too.

 

[Born2bwire]

I don't have anything new to add. I came in here to mention Vonnegut, Adams and Pratchett.

 

[SlitheryDee]

"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is great. Pratchett's been mentioned already, but Gaiman's got several other books that are moderately funny. "American Gods" comes to mind.

 

[consolibyte]

Vonnegut (Breakfast of Champions, Timequake, Cat's Cradle, etc.) and Tom Robbins (Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, Jitterbug Perfume, etc.).

/thread

 

[AreaCode707]

Jasper Fforde has two amusing series: The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next) and The Big Over Easy (Nursery Crime). I'd start with The Eyre Affair and its sequels.

I came in to post this. I got the sequels to the Eyre Affair on cd and listened to them in the car and they were fantastic fun.

 

[DangerAardvark]

You've already read Hitchhiker's guide, so try the Dirk Gently series.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

The Discworld series, by Terry Pratchett. Surprised nobody mentioned it before, actually.

 

[chelhxi]

I really liked Connie Willis' "To Say Nothing of the Dog". It's real loose sci-fi, like hitchhikers. Fantasy/parody stuff too.

 

[Ninjahedge]

Check out Christopher Moore's stuff. "Lamb" is quite good.

I was just going to recommend him.

I just finished "A dirty Job" and "Island of the Sequined Love Nun" and "The Lust Lizard of Menoncholy Grove" (sp).

Warped and sexy fantasy humor.

Also, if you want Old School, try Piers Anthony (the Xanth series). A Spell for Chamelion is the first. After that the next 10 or so are great, but you do see it wearing thin after a while.

There is also the Myth series by Robert Asprin (sp?) (Myth conceptions, et all). They are light reading and each only takes a day, but they are cute enough (if rather light in content/plot). these guys should also lead you to other more serious books by them and other authors (I believe Asprin was one of the editors on that conglomeration series with a bunch of othere... I completely forgot the title, but each chapter was a short story by another author). The same kind of anthology was put together, I believe, for "Wild Cards"? (the plot was an alien virus mutates people. 99% die. After that 99% of the ones that do not die become gross distortions called "jokers", the lucky 1% of 1% become "aces"......


Not everyone catches the disease, mind you, but it makes for a good premise for some interesting stories.


Hope these help!

 

[Ninjahedge]

The Discworld series, by Terry Pratchett. Surprised nobody mentioned it before, actually.

DAAAAMN!

Yes, very funny, although the first few are hard to read because of non-familiarity, age, and cultural differences between US and Brittain....

Still, as he and I warmed up I began to appreciate Cohen so much more!