This is science fiction which does not takes itself too seriously. Humourous Sci-fi contains characters with razor sharp wit, plot-lines which boggle the mind and warp reality in a zany fashion, and the hallmark of great science fiction, epic world-building. The books on this list contain a variety of unique writing styles perfectly complementing each author's sense of humour. Satire, sarcasm, pure silliness...there's something here to tickle everyone's funny bone! A Christchurch City Libraries list.
When Earth is destroyed, Arthur Dent is saved by an alien friend who takes him on a fantastical journey across the galaxy. This is arguably the first sour...Show more
When Earth is destroyed, Arthur Dent is saved by an alien friend who takes him on a fantastical journey across the galaxy. This is arguably the first source one should turn to when setting out to navigate the lands of humorous Sci-Fi. Adams' brand of humour is expertly crafted: intelligent, quirky, and satirical. The high levels of silliness may not appeal to everyone, but it's perfect for those who don't take fiction too seriously. The characters are the main stars of this show: witty, slightly bonkers, and well developed.
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When Earth is destroyed, Arthur Dent is saved by an alien friend who takes him on a fantastical journey across the galaxy. This is arguably the first sour...Show more
When Earth is destroyed, Arthur Dent is saved by an alien friend who takes him on a fantastical journey across the galaxy. This is arguably the first source one should turn to when setting out to navigate the lands of humorous Sci-Fi. Adams' brand of humour is expertly crafted: intelligent, quirky, and satirical. The high levels of silliness may not appeal to everyone, but it's perfect for those who don't take fiction too seriously. The characters are the main stars of this show: witty, slightly bonkers, and well developed.
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Dark and hilarious humour is the name of the game here, so if you have an appreciation for the absurd then you will enjoy this one. Fforde's world-buildin...Show more
Dark and hilarious humour is the name of the game here, so if you have an appreciation for the absurd then you will enjoy this one. Fforde's world-building is outstanding too - a richly detailed, zany account of life in a dystopian (and very cold) alternative Wales. The exposition is witty, and the story plays host to a large cast of rich and interesting characters.
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Dark and hilarious humour is the name of the game here, so if you have an appreciation for the absurd then you will enjoy this one. Fforde's world-buildin...Show more
Dark and hilarious humour is the name of the game here, so if you have an appreciation for the absurd then you will enjoy this one. Fforde's world-building is outstanding too - a richly detailed, zany account of life in a dystopian (and very cold) alternative Wales. The exposition is witty, and the story plays host to a large cast of rich and interesting characters.
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Now here's a self-published book worth your while. The Book of Ralph is filled with comedic material, witty one-liners, and a quite a bit of violence. An ...Show more
Now here's a self-published book worth your while. The Book of Ralph is filled with comedic material, witty one-liners, and a quite a bit of violence. An alien with an Andy Warhol obsession, a larger-than-life tin of chicken soup, a message on the moon, and Coca-Cola caught red-handed in a promotional stunt gone terribly awry? These are key ingredients in this quirky and socially insightful tale of first contact with aliens. Steinsvold is an author to watch out for, having won the 2016 Silver Medal Benjamin Franklin Award in Science Fiction and Fantasy.
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Now here's a self-published book worth your while. The Book of Ralph is filled with comedic material, witty one-liners, and a quite a bit of violence. An ...Show more
Now here's a self-published book worth your while. The Book of Ralph is filled with comedic material, witty one-liners, and a quite a bit of violence. An alien with an Andy Warhol obsession, a larger-than-life tin of chicken soup, a message on the moon, and Coca-Cola caught red-handed in a promotional stunt gone terribly awry? These are key ingredients in this quirky and socially insightful tale of first contact with aliens. Steinsvold is an author to watch out for, having won the 2016 Silver Medal Benjamin Franklin Award in Science Fiction and Fantasy.
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This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and computer virus threaten...Show more
This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and computer virus threatening it all, and a freelance hacker who must save the day. The characters are amusing and there's plenty of satire to be found here, along with some fantastic world-building. Technology plays an important role in Stephenson's writings, and he is adept at weaving complex technological concepts into his stories in ways which make them accessible to all readers.
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This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and computer virus threaten...Show more
This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and computer virus threatening it all, and a freelance hacker who must save the day. The characters are amusing and there's plenty of satire to be found here, along with some fantastic world-building. Technology plays an important role in Stephenson's writings, and he is adept at weaving complex technological concepts into his stories in ways which make them accessible to all readers.
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Robert Reid exudes a sardonic, sarcastic sense of humour in his writing. Year Zero is a satirical comedy about first contact with aliens. Turns out, alien...Show more
Robert Reid exudes a sardonic, sarcastic sense of humour in his writing. Year Zero is a satirical comedy about first contact with aliens. Turns out, aliens love music but are rather terrible at it. They rack up a bunch of fees for breaking licencing laws and, well, we won't give the game away but plenty of misadventures and laughs will follow. Reid writes cyber thriller Sci-Fi and injects his brand of clever humour into his writings.
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Robert Reid exudes a sardonic, sarcastic sense of humour in his writing. Year Zero is a satirical comedy about first contact with aliens. Turns out, alien...Show more
Robert Reid exudes a sardonic, sarcastic sense of humour in his writing. Year Zero is a satirical comedy about first contact with aliens. Turns out, aliens love music but are rather terrible at it. They rack up a bunch of fees for breaking licencing laws and, well, we won't give the game away but plenty of misadventures and laughs will follow. Reid writes cyber thriller Sci-Fi and injects his brand of clever humour into his writings.
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Oxford University's time travel department has been commandeered by a wealthy and demanding American with lofty ambitions, and much-suffering protagonist ...Show more
Oxford University's time travel department has been commandeered by a wealthy and demanding American with lofty ambitions, and much-suffering protagonist Ned must travel back in time to Victorian-era England in order to undo the damage. Naturally, all does not go as planned. There is chaos, plenty of humour, and even some romance. Connie Willis is known for her humorous, yet thought-provoking stories which feature memorable characters, as well as her seamless blend of fantasy and Sci-Fi. Her writing is very well developed and her storylines complex, with lots of interwoven parts.
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Oxford University's time travel department has been commandeered by a wealthy and demanding American with lofty ambitions, and much-suffering protagonist ...Show more
Oxford University's time travel department has been commandeered by a wealthy and demanding American with lofty ambitions, and much-suffering protagonist Ned must travel back in time to Victorian-era England in order to undo the damage. Naturally, all does not go as planned. There is chaos, plenty of humour, and even some romance. Connie Willis is known for her humorous, yet thought-provoking stories which feature memorable characters, as well as her seamless blend of fantasy and Sci-Fi. Her writing is very well developed and her storylines complex, with lots of interwoven parts.
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Likened to a cross between Eurovision and 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', this fun, nonsensical tale follows a washed-up human pop band who are on...Show more
Likened to a cross between Eurovision and 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', this fun, nonsensical tale follows a washed-up human pop band who are on a glamourous quest to save their species by representing Earth in an intergalactic talent show. While it comes across as a light read at first glance, Valente's wry, pun-filled story manages to make some sharp observations about the foibles of the human race. You'll be cheering for our zany heroes Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes right from the beginning!
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Likened to a cross between Eurovision and 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', this fun, nonsensical tale follows a washed-up human pop band who are on...Show more
Likened to a cross between Eurovision and 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', this fun, nonsensical tale follows a washed-up human pop band who are on a glamourous quest to save their species by representing Earth in an intergalactic talent show. While it comes across as a light read at first glance, Valente's wry, pun-filled story manages to make some sharp observations about the foibles of the human race. You'll be cheering for our zany heroes Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes right from the beginning!
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In this quirky story, a gifted scientist and a witch find themselves working together to save Earth from ecological destruction. The friends' conflicting ...Show more
In this quirky story, a gifted scientist and a witch find themselves working together to save Earth from ecological destruction. The friends' conflicting worldviews paint a captivating portrait of the tensions between science and nature as the world starts to succumb to 'The Unravelling', a potent cocktail of superstorms, earthquakes and war. An imaginative sci-fi fantasy mash-up which will appeal to readers who like their Sci-Fi with a dose of magical realism, a touch of romance, well-drawn characters, and plenty of humour.
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In this quirky story, a gifted scientist and a witch find themselves working together to save Earth from ecological destruction. The friends' conflicting ...Show more
In this quirky story, a gifted scientist and a witch find themselves working together to save Earth from ecological destruction. The friends' conflicting worldviews paint a captivating portrait of the tensions between science and nature as the world starts to succumb to 'The Unravelling', a potent cocktail of superstorms, earthquakes and war. An imaginative sci-fi fantasy mash-up which will appeal to readers who like their Sci-Fi with a dose of magical realism, a touch of romance, well-drawn characters, and plenty of humour.
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A fun, action-packer Sci-Fi adventure following intergalactic repo man Fergus Ferguson as he heads out on a mission to recover a spaceship from a distant ...Show more
A fun, action-packer Sci-Fi adventure following intergalactic repo man Fergus Ferguson as he heads out on a mission to recover a spaceship from a distant space settlement. It was supposed to be a simple job, but Fergus finds himself entangled in a civil war and under threat from a group of dangerous aliens...aliens who start to form a strange obsession with our charismatic repo man. From a Hugo Award-winning author, this is the first book in the Finder Chronicles.
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A fun, action-packer Sci-Fi adventure following intergalactic repo man Fergus Ferguson as he heads out on a mission to recover a spaceship from a distant ...Show more
A fun, action-packer Sci-Fi adventure following intergalactic repo man Fergus Ferguson as he heads out on a mission to recover a spaceship from a distant space settlement. It was supposed to be a simple job, but Fergus finds himself entangled in a civil war and under threat from a group of dangerous aliens...aliens who start to form a strange obsession with our charismatic repo man. From a Hugo Award-winning author, this is the first book in the Finder Chronicles.
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The moon's only city, Artemis, is a glamorous holiday destination for the rich and famous, but it has a hidden villainous underbelly. Amateur criminal Jaz...Show more
The moon's only city, Artemis, is a glamorous holiday destination for the rich and famous, but it has a hidden villainous underbelly. Amateur criminal Jazz supplements her job as a porter with a little contraband smuggling on the side, but things turn dangerous for our wisecracking hero when she's offered the chance to make some serious money. Will Jazz be able to commit the perfect space crime? A light-hearted, humourous space tale from the author of 'The Martian'.
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The moon's only city, Artemis, is a glamorous holiday destination for the rich and famous, but it has a hidden villainous underbelly. Amateur criminal Jaz...Show more
The moon's only city, Artemis, is a glamorous holiday destination for the rich and famous, but it has a hidden villainous underbelly. Amateur criminal Jazz supplements her job as a porter with a little contraband smuggling on the side, but things turn dangerous for our wisecracking hero when she's offered the chance to make some serious money. Will Jazz be able to commit the perfect space crime? A light-hearted, humourous space tale from the author of 'The Martian'.
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What does 75-year-old John Perry do for a fresh start after he loses his wife? He joins the army, of course! The Colonial Defence Force (CDF) is made up o...Show more
What does 75-year-old John Perry do for a fresh start after he loses his wife? He joins the army, of course! The Colonial Defence Force (CDF) is made up of senior citizens, who are regenerated thanks to a special machine which can restore youth. While it starts off as a bit of fun, John soon finds himself in the midst of an intergalactic battle as the CDF fights to stake its claim on human-inhabitable planets. An original, witty, and thought-provoking take on military sci-fi, which is perfect for fans of Robert A Heinlein. Book one in a series.
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What does 75-year-old John Perry do for a fresh start after he loses his wife? He joins the army, of course! The Colonial Defence Force (CDF) is made up o...Show more
What does 75-year-old John Perry do for a fresh start after he loses his wife? He joins the army, of course! The Colonial Defence Force (CDF) is made up of senior citizens, who are regenerated thanks to a special machine which can restore youth. While it starts off as a bit of fun, John soon finds himself in the midst of an intergalactic battle as the CDF fights to stake its claim on human-inhabitable planets. An original, witty, and thought-provoking take on military sci-fi, which is perfect for fans of Robert A Heinlein. Book one in a series.
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After a massive explosion, Glen Runciter is suspended between life and death - but that doesn't stop him from asking his down-and-out employee Joe Chip to...Show more
After a massive explosion, Glen Runciter is suspended between life and death - but that doesn't stop him from asking his down-and-out employee Joe Chip to work across multiple realities to catch criminals who possess super-psychological powers. Things get really weird as reality shifts into the surreal and certainty is increasingly elusive. From the creator of 'Blade Runner', this mind-bending tale is full of dark deadpan humour.
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After a massive explosion, Glen Runciter is suspended between life and death - but that doesn't stop him from asking his down-and-out employee Joe Chip to...Show more
After a massive explosion, Glen Runciter is suspended between life and death - but that doesn't stop him from asking his down-and-out employee Joe Chip to work across multiple realities to catch criminals who possess super-psychological powers. Things get really weird as reality shifts into the surreal and certainty is increasingly elusive. From the creator of 'Blade Runner', this mind-bending tale is full of dark deadpan humour.
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A darkly humourous self-referential mash-up of fiction and autobiography that explores themes of free will and determinism. Time rewinds back to the 1990s...Show more
A darkly humourous self-referential mash-up of fiction and autobiography that explores themes of free will and determinism. Time rewinds back to the 1990s and the whole world is forced to relive painful incidents and devastatingly poor life choices - including the author, who realises he'll never finish writing the book in question! 'Timequake' is cynical yet light-hearted, and is written in Vonnegut's relaxed, easy-paced conversational manner which has endeared him to so many readers.
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A darkly humourous self-referential mash-up of fiction and autobiography that explores themes of free will and determinism. Time rewinds back to the 1990s...Show more
A darkly humourous self-referential mash-up of fiction and autobiography that explores themes of free will and determinism. Time rewinds back to the 1990s and the whole world is forced to relive painful incidents and devastatingly poor life choices - including the author, who realises he'll never finish writing the book in question! 'Timequake' is cynical yet light-hearted, and is written in Vonnegut's relaxed, easy-paced conversational manner which has endeared him to so many readers.
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