I recentlygot this anthology 'Unidentified Funny Objects,' and I thought to myself, there isn't that much humor in science fiction overall, is there? (Or, well, most genres.)
So I'm wondering, have you read any funny science fiction novels, ever? I'm racking my brains because it seems weird I can't think of one...but there you have it.
Also, any age range pls. It seems like humor actually flies better for younger audiences, I guess old folks aren't supposed to have fun?
Jebas this thread is old It was a Scuzzle contest. I've lost the link.
Yeah, I still can't believe I didn't think of H2G2 at all. 'Artemis Fowl' straddles the line, although personally the fantasy elements are stronger. (The tech is more 'ooh he's rich and smart' than 'ooh the future.')
I too love reading science fiction Humorous books. I read “Doctor Rat” by William Kotzwinkle , this is a trip of a Nazi mad doctor through his laboratory. I also read “The Physiognomy ” by Jeffrey Ford.”Thraxas” by Martin Scott is a combination of humor and action. The World fantasy Awarding winning books are really amazing to read. I have a list of World fantasy award winning books with my iPhone app.
I absolutely love The Dresden Files because it's science fiction that doesn't take itself too seriously. (Which most books I read happen to be doing nowadays...) Artemis Fowl is a series I really enjoy too. And Lies of Locke Lamora? Does that count as science fiction? I smiled so many times when I read that...But the sequel was just cringe-worthy.
man that's a good one. and i've read a good bit of sci-fi. alot of the dune books. of course, there's no humor there. a few of the classics by jules verne and h. g. wells. some of c. j. cherryh's books might have some 'light' or humorous moments in them. hmmmm. can't say i have ever read a funny science fiction novel. i'm stumped.
I have Dune, I hear it's punny. It's like halfway down my list of unread books.
Which Verne and Wells are more humorous? None of the ones I've read by them were like that.
Ooo haven't heard of Cherryh, will get on that. Thanks!
Haha, I totally overlooked Douglas Adams, although I'd say Dirk Gently is more sophisticated even if H2G2 has better cheap laughs. But it does seem like it's just him, and then probably more in the stuff aimed at a younger crowd.
A lot of the work of Lois McMaster Bujold is humorous; the Vorkosigan Saga has dark humor in every bit of it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorkosig... They are very much worth reading; exceptional writing quality and creativity.
Also well I do love Galaxy Quest in regards to other media.
I think sci-fi is more likely to be serious/non-funny when it's like "look this may seriously become a reality!" and it always feels like it wants to warn of the future, so yeah, not so comedic And maybe people who write have a different background and humour is just harder to write. I'd do "things" to be able to write humourfully
The movie got Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub and Alan Rickman. 'nuff said. (I was almost gonna say "and Eric Bana as villain in costume" but then remembered he is in the actual Star Trek )
Yeah, especially when it gets Utopian/Dystopian And yes, humour is fucking hard
Haha! Yeah, my friends have been recommending it for years.
I think it's not too hard to give the reader at least the occasional chuckle (but I do lean towards humor when I'm not leaning towards murder), but keeping the tone for a whole book is more challenging. And, I think, less expected for adult material, at least as far as laughing out loud goes.
I cannot promise you will like it, but I really do enjoy it. Oh and the "Hi, I'm a Mac" guy is in it, too. It's just a great take on the sci-fi genre including the fandom around it. There is just so much truth in it Lot of "funny cos it's true"
Yeah, I guess you can do it from time to time. It may even be easier if you let characters make those jokes when they speak, cos it is occasional then. But yeah, writing humorous in the non-speech parts (is there a name for that?) throughout a whole book must be really hard. And some genres make it harder I guess, cos they are so freaking serious. There is of course also unintended hilarity, like in LotR I laughed a lot at it, cos it was so ridiculous at times, when the characters went all serious
All my friends love it so should be good, also I liked Tim Allen back in the day 'Home Improvement' was one of like three shows I was allowed to watch.
hmm...body humor? Hahaha, yeah, Tolkien's a bit stodgy for modern day audiences I think (and probably even the 60s), also too many easy inappropriate jokes....
Personally Christopher Moore does it quite well, a lot of it is down to having the right voice. Terry Pratchett too.
Possible to call it that I know there was "drama" with the German LotR translations, they were edited couple of years before the movies came out and they had changed the way Sam called Frodo. From Master to Mister or something, not sure, but even the new word was ridiculous
Ah yeah I have one book my him, but then someone told me it was the "wrong" one and I should start with another one. Something with a Fool and the tower of London
So I'm wondering, have you read any funny science fiction novels, ever? I'm racking my brains because it seems weird I can't think of one...but there you have it.
Also, any age range pls. It seems like humor actually flies better for younger audiences, I guess old folks aren't supposed to have fun?