I’ve noticed that some of my favorite books include MCs with a good sense of humor, who are knowledgeable about a certain skill, but who constantly seem to get their ass kicked. However, they always get back up and try again.
Examples include:
– Murderbot series by Martha Wells
– The Martian
– Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
– Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft
– Nimona by ND Stevenson
– Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
– The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
It’s hard to find a MC with a good sense of humor! With a balance where they’re not totally a cocky shit, and they make mistakes (sometimes really bad ones! Consequences are fun).
Let me know if you have any recommendations!
by Artistic_Witch
9 Comments
Mogworld by Yahtzee Croshaw. Main character is undead. Hijinks insue.
Have you tried Gideon the Ninth? It’s kind of a love-it-or-hate-it book, but I found it absolutely hilarious.
The works of Jason Pargin. The *John Dies At The End* series is all about lovecraftian horror, while the *Zoey Ashe* series is all about cyberpunk.
Have you read the Vorkosian books by Lois McMaster Bujold? Miles is the kind of character you’re looking for for sure!
One of the two protagonists in *Circadian Algorithms* definitely fits the bill.
Marcus Warnoc in *Theft of Fire* absolutely has the irreverent grit of *The Martian*, and keeps has no end of challenges to overcome 🙂 Published less than a month ago so unlikely you’ve read it?
All three Andy Weir books have resourceful protoganists .
‘Mistborn: The Final Empire’ by Brandon Sanderson is a novel I recommend for its unique magic system and the revolution against a dark lord. Sanderson’s storytelling is both accessible and deeply satisfying, making it a great entry point for new fantasy readers.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher