Our Favorite Funny Books

It's summer, and we're in the mood for funny and light-hearted books! Most people might not think of fantasy and sci-fi books as "the perfect beach read," but we think they can be. So when you're grabbing your sunblock, towel, and flip-flops, don't forget some reading material!

For this blog post, we polled all of the Thinklings authors on what books are the absolute funniest ones they've ever read. We got recommendations of fantasy, sci-fi, and more. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones: Howard and his family become pawns caught in the middle of a war between wizards who are all after 2,000 words that Howard's author father failed to turn in to them . . . words they think hold the key to their freedom.

2. A Night of Blacker Darkness by Dan Wells: a horror-farce in which a man fakes his death to get out of jail. After he's seen climbing out of a coffin, everyone thinks he's a vampire. Can he survive vampire hunters and more, and finally commit the bank fraud he was sent to prison for?

3. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman: An angel and a demon join forces to prevent the Apocalypse. Also check out the TV series!

4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams: Don't Panic! Bring your towel, a Babel fish, and try to get the hang of Thursdays if you can. Oh, and the answer is always 42.

5. Dave Barry Does Japan by Dave Barry: a fun, short, irreverent look at Japan from the famous humorist. From karaoke bars to public baths, Barry explores culture shock in its numerous forms.

6. Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente: Sentient races compete for glory in a galactic musical competition . . . upon which rests the fate of the planet Earth!

7. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett: Con man Moist von Lipwig is forced to get Ankh Morpork's post office running efficiently. There are tons and tons of undelivered letters. But shadowy characters don't want the mail moved, and they just might kill him to ensure that!

8. Making Money by Terry Pratchett: After reforming the post office, Moist von Lipwig is ordered to do the same with the Royal Mint.

9. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams: another wildly imaginative story from Adams, involving ghosts, time travel, and a detective who must save humanity from extinction. (We hear the show is quite different but good.)

10. The Princess Bride by William Goldman: Does this book really need an introduction? As you wish! Pirates, Rodents of Unusual Size, six-fingered men, swashbuckling, and Twue Wuv await inside this captivating book!

11. Phule's Company by Robert Asprin: Captain Willard Phule is court-martialed and sentenced to command the misfit Omega Company at the far edge of settled space. But, overflowing with confidence and money, he pulls the crew together into a strong, functional (if quirky) unit.

12. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy: Twelve-year-old Stephanie inherits her uncle's estate and learns that the horror stories he wrote weren't entirely fictional. Pursued by evil forces, she finds help from an unusual source--the wisecracking skeleton of a dead sorcerer.
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Or try out Thinklings' hilarious titles . . .

The Cosmic Turkey by Laura Ruth Loomis: Janet's technology hex lands her in charge of the misfit crew of a dilapidated starship. Their mission: to rescue an Earth scientist from Pluto--where chocolate is illegal. As if that wasn't bad enough, a rival captain sabotages Janet's plans, her pesky ex keeps showing up at the worst times, and the success of the mission may depend upon a curling match (no, the sport). "Just what the doctor ordered for these times" - Sage Blackwood, author of the JINX trilogy.​

The Plot Bandits series by Katherine Vick: In an epic-fantasy world where everyone is basically an actor playing a role at the command of the almighty Taskmaster, some are born into the privileged Royalty or Nobility, and some are born . . . to be cannon fodder. Fodder, in fact, is our protagonist's name, and he is one such Disposable soldier. Tired of being killed on a daily basis and never offered any other opportunity in life, he and his friends rebel against the system. They're taking the plot into their own hands, and you bet they're going to create some epically funny chaos!

Look for book 3, The Narrative, this November, and the finale, The Taskmaster, next year!

What are your favorite funny books?


​P.S. - If you enjoyed this list of 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 or movies too!

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