Lesser-Known Funny Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books

​We LOVE funny fantasy and science fiction! We’ve recommended Terry Pratchett’s and Douglas Adams’s books many times, but today we’re bringing you a list of funny fantasy and sci-fi books that are lesser-known but still great! (Thanks to our friend Abby, a hoopy frood who helped us with this list!)

1. Monster Hunter International (MHI #1) by Larry Correia: After killing a werewolf, accountant-turned-monster-slayer Owen Zastava Pitt is recruited by a secret organization that hunts supernatural creatures, leading to action-packed battles, government conspiracies, and a fight to prevent an apocalyptic evil.
 
2. Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon (Callahan’s Place #1) by Spider Robinson: The book follows a group of eccentric patrons at a mysterious bar where pun-laden storytelling, shared burdens, and extraordinary visitors—including time travelers and aliens—create a unique blend of humor, philosophy, and camaraderie.
 
3. Few Are Chosen  (K’Barthan #1) by M.T. McGuire: A teenage misfit becomes an unlikely and reluctant hero in a dystopian world, as he gets caught up in a rebellion against an oppressive regime while discovering his own hidden strengths and destiny.
 
4. Here Be Dragons by David P. Macpherson: After a mid-life crisis and years of disappointment, Orus, a washed-up former hero, is given one last chance at adventure when he’s tasked with saving a dragon, all while dealing with unfaithful steeds, an unforgiving king, and his own personal shortcomings in a comic fantasy filled with quirky heroes and absurd situations.
 
5. Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy #1) by MaryJanice Davidson: Betsy Taylor, a fashion-obsessed woman, wakes up as a vampire after an accident, only to discover she’s the prophesied Queen of the Undead—much to her annoyance—while navigating vampire politics, romance, and her love for designer shoes.
 
6. The Lives of Tao (Lives of Tao #1) by Wesley Chu: Out-of-shape IT technician Roen Tan has his life turned upside down when he becomes the host for Tao, an ancient alien symbiote, thrusting him into a secret war that will determine the fate of humanity.
 
7. The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinez: Mack Megaton, a reformed killer robot in a futuristic city, reluctantly turns detective when his neighbors go missing, uncovering a conspiracy that could change the fate of humanity and machines alike.
 
8. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis: While searching for a lost artifact in Victorian England, time traveler Ned Henry gets entangled in romantic mishaps, historical chaos, and a comedy of errors that could unravel time itself.
 
9. Teleport This (Small Universe #1) by Christopher M. Daniels: Simon, a sarcastic genius, accidentally invents teleportation and, along with his friend Gilbert, gets abducted by aliens, leading to a hilarious adventure where they outsmart intergalactic threats while navigating absurd situations with their quick wit.
 
10. All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells: A self-aware security robot hacks its own governor module to gain free will, only to find itself reluctantly protecting a group of scientists while grappling with its growing sense of identity and existential crises.
 
​11. The Plot Bandits series by Katherine Vick: Fodder of Humble Village is a Disposable, meaning his job is to get killed over and over again every time a new Quest comes to town. But he’s sick and tired of never getting to play hero, and decides it’s time to rebel against the almighty Taskmaster!
 
12. The Cosmic Turkey series by Laura Ruth Loomis: Janet is forced to become captain of a dilapidated starship with a wacky misfit crew. Their adventures include rescuing a scientist from Pluto, where chocolate is banned, and saving the whole galaxy from a superweapon devised by the reality-TV-loving Cygnoids.

 
What’s your favorite funny SFF book? Tell us in the comments!


P.S. – ​If you loved these book recommendations, why not sign up for our newsletter? Twice a month, we’ll send you a themed list of fantasy and/or sci-fi book recommendations, and sometimes music, movies, or manga too. (Not to mention jokes, games, puzzles, memes, and the occasional recipe!)

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