03-03-2013, 06:54 AM | #31 |
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Tom Holt, Jasper Fforde
Douglas Adams is widely regarded as having been THE writer for comedic SF, on the strength of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and its sequels. No big surprise there, as he captures that sort of "logical surrealism" that makes Monty Python so fun. Ask just about any SF reader, and they've at least heard of him.
What I don't get is why Tom Holt hasn't made the same jump; almost nobody I've met has heard of him, unless it's from me - yet he's published over two dozen books that are very "Adamsesque," and his latest book, Doughnut, just came out. The bulk of Holt's work is modern-day fantasy, usually in the form of follow-ups to or reinterpretations of classic myths and legends. Expecting Someone Taller is a sequel to the Ring Cycle. Flying Dutch examines why the captain of the Flying Dutchman is of utmost importance to the stability of the global economy. Only Human is a story about Jesus Christ's younger and also-divine brother, Kevin. Here Comes the Sun shows what can happen when one skimps on maintenance for the (mechanical) sun. Yes, they're as brilliantly insane as they sound. Two important notes, though. First, he's written some "historical fiction" that is neither funny nor surreal; these have more traditional covers than the "stick figure" or "simple/cartoon" covers of his funny stuff. Second, The Portable Door was the first of seven (maybe eight, as I don't know about Doughnut yet) in a series, where the other books are independent. Jasper Fforde is likewise British and quirky, but more serious. His "Thursday Next" books take place in a world where authors are the role models that athletes are today, going to a show means you might be one of the lucky few who gets to play a role, and - by the way - it's possible to enter the Bookworld and affect the plot, especially if you've got the original manuscript. The "Nursery Crimes" books are a spinoff series, and "Shades of Grey" is a bizarre tale of a world where social status is determined by what colors you're able to see. Both are well worth reading, if you like odd British writers. |
03-03-2013, 07:02 AM | #32 |
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Is it possible that someone doesn't know who Douglas Adams is?!
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03-03-2013, 07:35 AM | #33 |
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Differences in perception, I guess. I would regard Jasper Fforde as the author of mildly amusing but rather formulaic books. Certainly not a "great author" for me.
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03-03-2013, 10:01 AM | #34 |
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I know Tom Holt well, ever since the wonderful Expecting Simeone Taller, and have read much of his output since. I agree he is worth a look for anyone who likes (more than) a dash of humour or the surreal in their sci-fi/fantasy stories.
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03-03-2013, 10:46 AM | #35 |
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I used to love Tom Holt, but I think his second book - Who's Afraid of Beowulf - was the high-water mark, and it all felt a bit samey from there until I stopped buying them.
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03-03-2013, 12:52 PM | #36 | |
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03-03-2013, 05:06 PM | #37 | |
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03-04-2013, 07:01 AM | #38 |
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03-06-2013, 02:38 PM | #39 |
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I love J.M. Coetzee. I did a class in university on South African authors and we read 'Waiting for the Barbarians.' I have since read nearly all his others. And then he won the Nobel Prize.
The year I lived in New Zealand, I read a few books I loved by an author named Elizabeth Knox. I have never seen her books outside NZ but they were fabulous. As for less-known Canadians, does anybody read Gail Bowen? She has a great mystery series featuring a political science professor who amateur sleuths. |
03-06-2013, 11:22 PM | #40 |
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David Dalglish. He's a fantasy author who has been slugging it out in the indies for years now and has recently had two of his series picked up, one by Orbit, the author by Amazon's 47North imprint. If you like action packed, pulp fantasy/swords&sorcery his stuff is a fun read.
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03-16-2013, 07:27 AM | #41 |
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Yep, have to agree with David Dalglish. Also in the same genre worth reading is Daniel Arneson.
In mystery/thriller I look forward to Linda Prather's novels, she has a new Catherine Mans' novel coming out in a couple of months. For romances - the sweet romance variety, not smut, I love reading Donna Fasano book. She used to write for Harlequin under the name of Donna Clayton. Karen Rose and Karin Slaughter are high up on my fav author list too. |
03-17-2013, 12:51 PM | #42 |
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Kage Baker. Her Company series is one of my favorite series ever. She also wrote fantasy, but personally, I prefer her science fiction books.
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03-18-2013, 07:33 AM | #43 |
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03-18-2013, 07:41 AM | #44 |
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How about Christopher Brookmyre? British writer of dark comedy-thrillers - all of them a delight to read (IMHO). Definitely worth a look. Maybe a little like a Scottish Carl Hiaasen only not quite so slapstick?
I'd recommend 'Boiling a Frog' as a good starting point. |
03-18-2013, 03:27 PM | #45 |
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I second Mr Brookmyre . Really very good.
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