Well I've noticed either my favorite authors are dead, or the series they've been writing for ages are finally coming to an end.
And some are just going in a direction I don't really dig anymore.
Personal favorites are Terry Pratchett, Steven Brust, and Raymond Chandler.
Still enjoy the Dresden Files from Jim Butcher, but the series is steadily leaving a more grounded setting for the fantastic, and sorta doubling down on Dresden's sexual urges.
I really enjoyed Glen Cook's Garett PI series.
I have picked up the Runewrite Detective series by Dan WIllis and been enjoying it, though it's a little light.
As far as humor goes, I enjoyed and am enjoying Barry Hutchison's Space Team and his more serious crime novels.
I do technically enjoy horror but most of what I come across tends to be focused more on sex or trying to make creatures into monster and justify it badly. When they get around to the monsters.
Most of my favorites are fantasy or urban fantasy, I know. Or sort of fantasy urban with Steven Brust and Glen Cook.
I do enjoy fantastic settings, scifi or fantasy. As long as there's something keeping it grounded. Humor is great, as long as the plot doesn't come second.
I did give the Witcher series a try, but frankly it got a bit too bleak and my mind slips into that a bit too easily.
by runespider
2 Comments
Since you mention Terry Pratchett and Raymond Chandler, I’ll recommend P.G. Wodehouse.
Wodehouse is the witty, clever, funny older uncle of literature that birthed Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and eventually Neil Gaiman.
How does Wodehouse get you to Raymond Chandler? They both studied the Classics at Dulwich College, and both are masterful prose stylists.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8784096.stm
I’d highly recommend giving anything by P.G. Wodehouse a try. His books are lighthearted and funny. Wodehouse is a master of creating charming, feel-good stories with witty dialogue, quirky characters, and a twisting plot. His books are also perfect for lifting your spirits without being too heavy or complicated.
Here are three that stand out:
*The Code of the Woosters* — This is a classic in the Jeeves and Wooster series. Bertie Wooster, our well-meaning but often clueless protagonist, gets himself tangled in another absurd situation involving an antique cow creamer and a series of hilarious misunderstandings. Thankfully, his valet Jeeves is always there to sort things out. It’s full of humor and clever wordplay, making it an easy, enjoyable read.
*Leave It to Psmith* — Psmith is one of Wodehouse’s most delightful characters—he’s suave, confident, and always finds himself in the middle of some comic scheme. In this book, Psmith offers his unique “services” to help a friend in need, leading to a mix of hijinks and romance. It’s a great, feel-good adventure with a lot of laughs along the way.
*Right Ho, Jeeves* — Another classic from the Jeeves and Wooster series, this one features more of Bertie’s shenanigans as he tries to play matchmaker for his friends—naturally, things don’t go to plan. Jeeves, ever the clever problem-solver, manages to untangle the mess with his usual finesse. The dialogue is sharp, and the humor is timeless.
No need to read Wodehouse in any particular order. He gives you enough context and lays out the situation. I don’t think he kept track of continuity from one novel to the next, either. One of his quirks is that he seems to reuse scenarios and plots, for which he can be forgiven; it’s about the moment at hand. And, they’re typically Shakespearean comic plots: mistaken identity, folks of a certain class pretending to be of a different class, light romantic comedy, general hijinks, whacky schemes, etc. Keep in mind that, besides being a genius of comic novels, Wodehouse also wrote musical comedies for the theatre, so his prose has a rhythmic quality and he is very aware of comedic timing. Think Screwball Comedy movies from the 1930s. Snap, crackle, and pop.
Wodehouse has a way of making the ridiculous seem charming and always leaves you with a smile!
I like a lot of the same authors as you. Have you ever tried Scott Lynch: Lies of Locke Lamora? It has a lot of humor and character development.