Funny Sci-fi

A few years ago I listened to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (because Wil! Wheaton! narrates it magnificently) and it hit just the right spot of humor, action, and irreverence. I've been looking for something that hits near that sweet spot ever since, and I almost don't want to read anything else at the moment. I rarely re-read these days, although I did frequently in my youth (certain Sweet Valley books became very battered), but Ready Player One has been revisited several times.

Recently I listened to The Martian, a first novel by Andy Weir and it rekindled my need for more of that same trio of qualities. Looking for something similar finally led me to John Scalzi, who's been one of those authors I've resisted reading for no good reason. I finally read Redshirts, which is nothing but a fantastic and loving send up of Star Trek, and while it didn't hold strong all the way to the end (it got a little too meta for my tastes), it was nevertheless a really fun read. Sadly, Cline & Weir have only published those titles, and now I'm resisting going on a huge Scalzi binge.

I've talked to a few colleagues about what other books should go into this tiny grouping. Terry Pratchett has been mentioned, and while he definitely hits the humor, action, and irreverence, that's fantasy, not sci-fi. I did enjoy the completely insane Mothership by Martin Leitcht and Isla Neal (pregnant teens in orbit around Earth? and they get attacked by aliens? yeah, I'll always be up for that), but that was almost too slapstick to really fit with the other three. Novelist indicates that I may like Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, so I have that on hold, even though it's fantasy.

Have you read anything that matches?

Question of the Week: What is your favorite science fiction novel?

One of my all time favorite science fiction novels is The left hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin.

 

A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters.

 

Le Guin was in the forefront as science fiction really began to discuss women's issues.

 

I recently read Among others by Jo Walton.  Walton crosses genre boundaries in this book, so it is really not science fiction, but Morwenna finds her salvation in reading science fiction.  She is very excited when she joins a science fiction only book club.  I really enjoyed remembering the many titles I had read that are mentioned in Among others.

 

Are you interested in reading more science fiction.  Look at our new science fiction lists under Recommended Reading listed under Books on our homepage.