Something light and frothy after two 'heavy' books?

[ficbot]

I just finished my second book in a row that was really excellent, but a little on the 'heavy' side. The first was a historical fiction novel about a series of child murders in 12th century Cambridge. The second was a contemporary novel about a woman who was the sole survivor of a family massacre and becomes involved as an adult in investigating the crime and clearing (or not) her brother, who was blamed for it.

Both were really, really well done books and I am glad I read them. But I need something lighter now. Something much, much, much lighter. Preferably something in the free or under $5 range and available at Fictionwise or the free library here. If I had not already read all of the MaryJanice Davidson 'Undead and...' novels, something like that would be perfect. Or maybe something like vampires in space. That could be fun. Does anybody do vampire spaceship stories?

I am not a big fan of dragon/wizard type things, nor traditional space opera type stuff or anything especially smutty. But I do like a bit of quirk from time to time. I have liked Tom Holt in the past, and Douglas Adams. Pratchett is hit or miss with me, but I did enjoy Good Omens. I guess I want something really, really out there, concept-wise, where you just go 'I can't believe someone wrote a novel about that!' Honestly, if anyone has a good vampire spaceship story, that would really hit the spot. You can't tell me it would not be screamingly hilarious to have a spaceship with vampires on it. That is comedy gold.

[FizzyWater]

MJD has a series about a female mermaid named "Fred"...

Casey Daniels has a series that has what seemed to me to be the same kind of humor as MJD - it's about a woman who is a tour guide in a cemetary who, after a fall and bump on the head against a tombstone, she sees dead people who want her to solve their murders.

Candace Havens and Madeline Alt write witch series that strike me as similar humor to MJD. Mindy Klasky, too.

Have you tried Janet Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" mysteries? The series has become same-old-same-old, but reading the first four or eight are still worth a giggle, IMO.

Jennifer Skully wrote a "screw-ball comedy" called "Sex and the Serial Killer". I really don't know if it's funny or heavy - I just couldn't get past the main concept! And she does tend to write "hot", although I don't remember if that's true in the "screwball" books she wrote for HQN.

Finally, I don't know if you read romance, as a rule, but sometimes I like to intersperse the heavier urban fantasy's with a light romance. Julia Quinn tends to be fairly light (Brighter Than the Sun?)

But if you really want silly vamps, I think Dakota Cassidy has a couple of humorous vampire stories. Probably more sex than you're looking for...but hey, MJD was originally released by Ellora's Cave, too!

[Jill74]

great review ficbot!

[Witchbaby]

Christopher Pike wrote a book about vampires in space but unfortunately there isn't an available eBook for it. Season of Passage.

And it isn't actually a "light" read, emotionally. He isn't ever going to be accused of literary genius but I still like him.

I read Blue Diablo recently, and really liked it. From the product description:

Corine Solomon is a handler?when she touches an object she instantly knows its history and its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing?which is why people never stop trying to find her. Like her ex-boyfriend Chance, who needs Corine?s gift to find someone dear to them both. But the search proves dangerous as it leads them into a strange world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies?and black magic...

It's $5.99 or $5.09 on FW.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by Witchbaby

Christopher Pike wrote a book about vampires in space but unfortunately there isn't an available eBook for it. Season of Passage.

And it isn't actually a "light" read, emotionally. He isn't ever going to be accused of literary genius but I still like him.

I LOVE Season of Passage! A little surprised I'm not the only one It's one of the few pback books I kept after getting my ereader b/c it's not available in eformat (and probably never will be...).

[toomanybooks]

Colin Wilson has written a book about space vampires subtly titled The Space Vampires, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/...e-vampires.htm. However they are an alternate type of vampire, they don't live on blood. I read it about 4 years ago. Its pretty good for a cheesy sci-fi novel.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by ficbot

I just finished my second book in a row that was really excellent, but a little on the 'heavy' side. The first was a historical fiction novel about a series of child murders in 12th century Cambridge. The second was a contemporary novel about a woman who was the sole survivor of a family massacre and becomes involved as an adult in investigating the crime and clearing (or not) her brother, who was blamed for it.

Unfortunately, I don't have any recommendations, but may I ask what the title of those two books are (a FictionWise/BooksOnBoard link would be highly appreciated, too, if you have them)? They sound like my cup of tea.

Thanks!

[ficbot]

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Enjoy! They were both excellent.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by ficbot

If I had not already read all of the MaryJanice Davidson 'Undead and...' novels, something like that would be perfect.

How about the "Halflife Chronicles" by William Mark Simmons, currently:

One Foot in the Grave
Dead on my Feet
Habeas Corpses
Dead Easy

all available in DRM-free formats from webscription.net

[Penforhire]

You could look up Brian Lumley's "Necroscope" series. Not really comedy but rather a horror rewrite of the vampire legend along with his own take on ESP. I'd say they are frothy, as long as melodramatic horror doesn't upset you.

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

How about the "Halflife Chronicles" by William Mark Simmons, currently:

One Foot in the Grave
Dead on my Feet
Habeas Corpses
Dead Easy

all available in DRM-free formats from webscription.net

Second this suggestion. I'd like to add that the protagonist is a pretty interesting character (and often quite amusing as well). Early in the first book one of the supporting characters observes to him that "So-and-so warned me that if I looked up 'attitude' in the encyclopedia I'd find your picture" -- which observation captures quite a bit about him in one pithy thought.

Xenophon

[wayrad]

Well, they aren't in space, but the vampires of not-too-subtly-named Uberwald figure prominently in Pratchett's Carpe Jugulum. All very lighthearted, with episodes like the vampire paterfamilias sitting at the organ playing the Toccata For Young Women in Underwired Nightgowns...

[GlennD]

You might also enjoy "Bloodsucking Fiends" by Christopher Moore. Fictionwise only has the sequel ("You Suck") but it should be findable elsewhere.

No spaceships, but it's a comedic vampire story/romance. I'm a big fan of Moore - he's got a lot of the silliness that Douglas Adams was known for but with an actual storyline.

[Penforhire]

I can't believe I forgot to suggest Charlaine Harris' 'Southern Vampire' series. I've only read the first few and they are definitely light-hearted. Starts with "Dead Until Dark."

[ErwinOtten]

Have you read Hal Spacejock already?

It's humor, the first one is free and the three others are very cheap.
You can search the forum for reviews, they are generally well received.

He isn't a vampire, but he sure is in space