h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I consider myself to be widely read. About a year ago I was crusing the local library and stumbled across a book by a guy I had never heard of. It was Terry Pratchets Thief Of Time. I was blown away from page one. Then I was stunned to descover that this guy had been cranking out equaly great stuff for years and had a book list as long as my arm! This was quite a blow to my ego. How had something this good gone on for so long without my running into it? The new Humbler me asks the following questions

Has Pratchet only been shiped to the States in the last few years?

And more inportantly, What else have I been missing? Is there anything as earth shattering out there that you can clue me into?

Ever heard of J.R.R Tolkien?

Have I read Tollkin? Ha!
Molest me not with this pocket calculator stuff.
sorry I guess I am still not as humble as I thought.

Seariously though, what I am looking for is something which is not yet mainstream, at least over here. Now that I come to say that out loud, I have to doubt that what is mainstream to me is everywhere. So thank you for the sugestion. What else you got?

Umbert Eco. Particularly "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum". Bit heavier than Pratchett, though.

Eco is a bit heavy on the languages, too. It helps to have a grounding in a few European languages (and Hebrew, and Aramaic, etc...). If you try him, I'd recommend you read 'The Name of the Rose' first. It's more accessible, and if you like it you should try FP.

Ever heard of George MacDonald Fraser? A terrible old British Imperialist soldier who happens to write some of the funniest books around. Look for his Flashman series.

I've heard good things about Robert Rankin. Never tried him, though. Ben Elton is good, not sure if you'd find his books in the States. Are you looking primarily for fantasy/SF or humour?

Ether one or the other is good, both at the same time is best.

I'd like to second Noggin's recommendation of Eco. Which is only fair, as he seconded my recommendation of Eco on another thread.

Can I also suggest Joseph Heller's Catch-22, if you've not already read it? Possibly the funniest book I've ever read, and strangely disturbing as well....

I'd also second the Flashman series - the adventures of a liar, a bounder, and a cad....

Otto

OK I got Umbert ECO, George MacDonald, Ben Elton, RObert Raskin. I'm off to the library!

have these writers been around for a while? If they have published in the last year or two I may have trouble finding them yet.

I have anouther question befor I go. Have you guys heard of Bradly Denton? He is now one of my favorites and no one else I know has heard of him. I was wondering if his stuff is well know over there.
Some of his best are Lunatics and Buddy Holly Is Alive and Living On Ganamede.

tahnks for the tips, keep them coming.

My best read for simply ages is the one I'm reading at the moment, David Glen Gold's *fantastic* 'Carter Beats the Devil'.

tom holt for comic fantasy a la pratchett but marginally less good

guy gavriel kay for some of the most awesoem historical fantasy ever. period. read 'the lions of al-rassan' now.

i just said period. shoot me.

Someone here recommended Kurt Vonnegut Jr to me. And so I now do the same here

*shoots Uncle Heavy*

If you want funny try Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger fantasy series or
if you want satire and irony try anything by Tom Sharpe.Riotous Assembly and Indecent Exposure are two of the best although he is somewhat rude(body parts and sex).He has always had the power to reduce me to tears of laughter.

Incog.

I think *most* Tom Sharpe is going to be pretty impenetrable to an American.
Which is not an insult, merely a recognition that Sharpe is a very *British* author with very British concerns.
The South African books, the two you recommended, might just make it across the Atlantic, but something like Blott or Porterhouse have no terms of reference for a nation that isn't hide-bound and obsessed by the notions of class and it's affects on society.

Tom holt
great books similies said to be the best since douglas adams
worth a try pick up nothing but blue skies
i read it and then went on to buy another adams book

My favourite Tom Holt book is 'My Hero'. Very funny concept, lots of genre mixing - Wild West meets Pride and Prejudice! Another one that I've read and can recommend is 'Paint Your Dragon'.

If you haven't, you could read the two Dirk Gently books. Not as good as the H2G2 series, but still pretty excellent.

I hear Philip Dick is good (or is that Dick Philips?Hmmm).

All the Red Dwarf books. And I agree with a few folk that Tom Sharpe is HYSTERICAL

Ok, I will add Alan Foster, Toms sharp and Holt to my list.

I did find Eco Umberto on a dusty shelf in the local library but The Name of the Rose has been checked out and presumed lost for a couple of years. I am having the main branch put it on hold and send it to me. I hope it turns out to be worth the effort.
I have Foucaults Pendulum here but may not get to it for a few days.
I am about a hundred pages into Fraser's Flashman. Thus far I remain un-dazzled by it. Does his character ever in any way redeem himself or is the fact that he is an ass what you find so lovable? I continue reading it mostly out of curiosity. It is filling in a great deal of history which I had never really explored before. Can I safely trust the history in these books as broadly correct?

Can I assume from the silence that no one here has read or even heard of Bradley Denton?

What about Tom Robbins?

As with most series, the first Flashman book isn't the best. Persevere! The best one is either Flashman at the Charge or F-man and the Redskins.
As for the history, I think it's pretty much spot-on. That's one of my favourite things about the series, Fraser does incredibly detailed research, reading diaries, official papers etc. As for Flashman's character he never does get around to practising virtue. That would make for much more boring reading. And yes, his lack of any redeeming characteristics is part of his charm. I guess if the series doesn't push your buttons at least you've tried it.

Never heard of Denton or Robbins. Are they good?

some of tom holts stuff is quite duff. i liked grailblazers myself. and there are a couple of others which i have forgotted, which are good...er...djinn rummy. thats a good one.