Good light-hearted fantasy book or series

[ebusinesstutor]

Mercedes Lackey has a series of books entitled "Tales Of The Five Hundred Kingdoms." They are basically common fairy tales retold as fantasies and they severely twisted.

One of my favorites is "One Good Night." Don't want to spoil it, but let's just say I laughed out loud at what the dragons were really doing with the virgins.

I second the recommendation of Blue Moon Rising and Beyond the Blue Moon, By Simon R Green. Very funny without going totally campy.

[kdgarris]

Wow, lots of suggestions to choose from! I just finished Wizard's Bane, and enjoyed it. I've read a couple of the Discworld books, but not most of them. I have read all of the Callahan books, and loved them, too. The Hitchhiker's "trilogy" is an all-time favorite. I haven't read the Spellsinger series, but have enjoyed the Flinx books from the same author in the past.

Thanks everyone!

[AlanParr]

I love the Discworld series and highly recommend them. An old classic, too, is the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Grant Naylor's Red Dwarf series is great if you like SF.

I'm working on my own light-hearted SF/Fantasy ebook right now, hope to have it released next week. Not going to toot my own horn here, anyone interested can contact me.

[fantasyISbetter]

I second recommendation for Terry Pratchett- he is funny, cheering. Also Jasper Fforde, but he is more literate and takes more effort.
I also recommend (w lst in series):
Christopher Moore - Practical Demonkeeping
Steven Brust- The Phoenix Guards or any Vlad Taltos book
Neil Gaiman- e.g. Stardust
Charles De Lint- most of his books are fairly light
Liz Williams- The Snake Agent
Connie Willis- any of the time travel books besides The Doomsday Book (which is fab but not lighthearted)

[Nyssa]

I 2nd or 3rd The Rachel Morgan / Hollows series, Christopher Moore's Practical Demonkeeping, and The Wiz books.

Quite a few of the other suggestions are on my TBR list including the Discworld series (of which I've only read the first 2), the Dresden Files series, and the Tales Of The Five Hundred Kingdoms series by Mercedes Lackey.

[vxf]

How about The Name of the Wind/The Wise Man's Fear?

The third book isn't out yet... but those two were pretty good fantasy books - certainly on the lighter side.

[Stinger]

I'll add another vote for David Edding's Belgariad series. It's a light, quick read, with plenty of humour and fun.

I'll also add a vote for the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. I'm in the middle of this series and have been racing through them. Lots of humour, quick pace, very enjoyable read.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by basschick

while i love the dresden files, i wouldn't call it light hearted, even there is a lot of witty repartee thrown about.

I'd agree. In fact, I thought the Dresden Files grew progressively darker as the series went on. Same with the Kim Harrison series. Yes, there's humor in both of them. But I wouldn't call either "light-hearted" fantasy.

[A4-]

- Here are a few series I've read that fit the topic :

Brittain, C. Dale - Wizard of Yurt (funny wizardry)
Gardner, Craig Shaw - Ebenezum (funny wizardry)
McGirt, Dan - Jason Cosmo (hero questing)
Mills, KE - Rogue Agent (funny wizardry)
About half of Tom Holt his works (add magic to the real world), example: expecting someone taller

- And then there are series written for kids but which I really enjoyed:

Nix, Garth - Keys to the Kingdom (adventures)
Nix, Garth - The Seventh Tower (adventures)
Neff, Henry H - Tapestry (magic school + adventures)

- For reference: the series I've (partially) read and already named in this thread (all but the last two I'd recommend):

Xanth books
"Magic Kingdom for Sale" series by Terry Brooks
Robert Asprin's Myth
Cook, Rick - Wizardry
Tales Of The Five Hundred Kingdoms (reading them now and like them, thanks for the rec.)
hitchhiker's trilogy
Dresden by Jim Butcher

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

L. Sprague de Camp sort of pioneered this, IMHO. The Reluctant King trilogy is probably the best, but also the Harold Shea Enchanters series. And his Krishna series (which is more planetary romance, which is basically fantasy without the magic).

None of which seems to be available in e-book form.

Actually, speaking of planetary romance, you might like Gordon Dickson's "The Right to Arm Bears", which is nothing like the title, but deals with somewhat comic adventures on a world full of talking bears

De Camp was truly great, sort of "Twighlight Zone" storytelling. A lot of the Old Masters didn't age well (Asimov), but de Camp's stuff is still good.

You MUST read Discworld.

[tswan]

3 of my favorite series are The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, The Belgariad By David Eddings and The Garrett Files by Glen Cook. Looks like they've all been mentioned previously. My wife, son and I all enjoyed Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympiads also, if all you're looking for is some light-hearted fantasy.

[Ron.]

I have been reading the Apocalypto books lately, I guess they are a combination Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance. The first two books are around 100 pages each, nothing to heavy in them, they are fun quick reads.

[Nancy Fulda]

You might try Jim Hines' goblin books.

I believe the first one is Goblin Quest. It's a spoof on role-playing campaigns, complete with a character who feels compelled to map out the entire dungeon as they traverse it, but its also an engaging story in its own right. And the protagonist has a pet fire-spider.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by kdgarris

Just like the title suggests, I'm looking for a good light-hearted fantasy book or series to delve into. It doesn't have to be traditional fantasy; modern or mixed with elements of sci-fi is fun, too.

The Thraxas series by Martin Scott (Martin Millar)

The Chicks in Chainmail series edited by Esther Friesner. (Chicks Ahoy is the first in the series — an omnibus of Chicks in Chainmail, Did You Say Chicks?, and Chicks 'n' Chained Males.)

Billibub Baddings and the case of the Singing Sword by Tee Morris.

[Lizzie in Ma]

Originally Posted by Kiwimick

Also agree the Belgariad series by Davis Eddings
you also might like to try the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster
Mike

love both of those
Reading "The Iron Druid Chronicles" at the moment, they are semi humorous so far.
Dresden Files always make me laugh though not quite in the same genre.