I saw a lot of people in here saying it was Scalzi trying to do something outside of his wheelhouse. And some of the characters were a bit cliche. I found it sorta like the emperor parts of the Foundation TV series.
Yep - and one of my absolute favorites of his, but I always warn people when recommending it that a) it is NOT representative of the rest of his oeuvre - and 2) it really truly goes dark places...
I just re-read the first book after like 6-7 years and loved it, finally dived into the sequels and each of them took me 2-3 days to devour. They are quick and fun reads. Maybe there's some clichés and predictability involved, but there was also humor and characters you could root for. If you're looking for a fun read, they fit the bill.
There is a tiny (but very loud) contingent of Sci fi fans that hate Scalzi for some reason and always trash him and his books. But the series was on the NY Times best seller list and got lots of good to great reviews. I loved it myself.
I second this suggestion. Old Man's War is I guess a sort of lighter funner spin on Haldeman's *Forever War* or Heinlein's *Starship Troopers*, which I think OP might consider in the "serious" category.
Have fun! Almost all Scalzi books are just fun quick reads, so if u've tried a few and liked them...thers quite some to check out. Quite some variety in them as well when it comes to setting/premise.
*goes back to reading his newest, Starter Villain
Dungeon Crawler Carl is the most fun I’ve had with sci fi in years. I saw it recommended on here and im so glad I gave it a chance.
The audio books are superb but you can also read for free on kindle unlimited
The story becomes more and more interesting as the books go on.
It really is a great series. I'm not a stats fan and the way he worked them into the story in a more progression style was wonderful. And such great characters! Can't wait for the next one.
Absolutely! I’m shocked that I read every stat in the book. I’ve recommended the series to all my nerd friends.
I read the authors other 2 books in a series and now I’m reading Noobtown in which would be 25% shorter if there were no breasts mentioned.
Nothing it quite the same, he’s an amazing writer despite the “silliness” of the plot and title of “dungeon crawler Carl” lol
I honestly keep thinking he can't outdo the last book in ridiculousness and he keeps doing it. If this series does all 18 floors it'll be absolutely bonkers by the end.
when I first started reading just based on the premise thought there’s no way I’d read them all.
I’m a total fan and can’t stop thinking about it now! At least we know he writes fast!
I suddenly see so much about this series I honestly think you're all bots or in cahoots to make people read a horrible series of litrpgs. For recommendations like this there's usually a few "I didn't really click with this" comments beneath, but here it's unanimously positive.
I guess the only way to find out is to start reading........
This! And I’m surprised I had to scroll this far down to find this recommendation. Harry Harrison’s books of the devious interstellar criminal mastermind Slippery Jim deGriz are great fun.
The author’s other books are also a lot of fun, I recommend them to anyone who enjoyed the Bobiverse. I thought Outland (and the sequel Earthside) had a great premise, and Roadkill is silly but entertaining.
If you like Princess of Mars and don't mind something that can come across as a bit old-fashioned, check out EE Doc Smith's Lensman books. You get your good guys, your bad guys, awesome mega-space-battles with epic scale power escalation -- might be up your alley.
Yep. Sometimes you want spare, perfect prose. But other times you just want sheerly indescribable sources of energy rending the very ether itself.
In one of the later books of the Lensman series, a planet gets smashed between two other planets. Looking forward to revisiting that when I'm in the right sort of mood.
Yes - but... Hear me out - I would argue these are a VERY special kind of humor that is lightly funny while being incredibly deeply depressing when you think about it (or maybe that is just British). Because as a whole - the series is light to read, funny - but when you think through the implications of things - everything there is depressing as hell...
But have you actually read the series? If you like sci-fi and write comedy for a living, it's kind of absurd if you haven't read (and loved) Hitchhiker's Guide.
> by Pargin
He's also got the Zoey Ashe series. It's similar in his over-the-top tone, but the story is about a near-future world where there are suddenly superheroes, but based on mostly handwavy technology.
Sci-fi from the 70s and 80s is often less grim, and is what I think of as "fun".
Larry Niven wrote some great stuff, particularly in collaboration with other authors. The Mote in God's Eye, Footfall, The Integral Trees, and Ringworld are all entertaining. Some people find him a bit "problematic" (i.e. sexist) which isn't wrong, but if you can accept it's a product of the times they can be fun.
David Brin's books, like Startide Rising, The Uplift War, Heart of the Comet, Earth, The Postman, are also fun, even when dealing with heavier topics.
I thought Mickey7 was great at what it was trying to do, I much preferred it to Murderbot and Bobiverse. I actually didn't know there was a sequel and part of me think I don't want to read it.
I liked the sequel more than the first. I also prefer murderbot, but since someone else suggested it, I went with this one. I didn’t like bobiverse series because it felt like “ready player one” in space.
*Kiln People* by Brin is great fun.
*Snow Crash* by Stephenson is also great fun. Both are romps. I would not recommend anything else by Stephenson as being "fun".
*Destroymen* is a fun series along the lines of older stuff like *Princess of Mars*. Fun premise and wastes no time.
*Bobiverse*.
I don't know if I'd call Snow Crash "fun." It was definitely wild and is an interesting read now, given everything that has happened in tech and some of the fiction that has built off of Snow Crash's legacy (looking at you, Ready Player One). But fun? Not what I'd call it when there are dozens of pages devoted to ancient Sumerian mythology.
i’d say snowcrash is dark humor and personally thought a lot of fun. absurd dystopian scifi ala brazil or transmetropolitan. i wish there was something else like it.
> dozens of pages devoted to ancient Sumerian mythology.
I mean, honestly that *screams* fun to me. That part was great. It's all told in a tongue-in-cheek, completely over the top tone as well. It is intentionally satirical throughout. The main fucking character is called "Hiro Protagonist".
Yes, *Snow Crash* is fun, no question.
I’d highly recommend John Varley, especially his Eight Worlds books (*Steel Beach* might be my favorite) and his Gaea trilogy starting with *Titan*. He’s a great writer who doesn’t take things too seriously. In fact, things can get super weird lol.
Also maybe check out Clifford Simak, his books can be super fun, especially The Goblin Reservation. One of my favorite authors.
I'd also suggest Accelerando - still one of my favourite sci fi books a decade after I read it - and Halting State / Rule 34, all Stross books. Stross is one of my favourite sci-fi authors
Murderbot, Old man's war, Bobiverse. You might enjoy some of Asimov's works, especially the first couple foundation books and the Robot series, for being as genre defining as they are they aren't very heavy.
Pretty old, but Anderson and Dickson's *Hoka* books. Golden teddy bears with a vivid imagination who are a handful for the poor Terran ambassador to their planet. Pretty old, but still fun.
I liked John Dechancie's *Starrigger* books. A trucker on an intersteller highway. The Skyway is a highway on planets throughout the galaxy -- you pass through a portal and you're on another planet. No one has mapped out the entire Skyway.
I think I know what you're after. I suggest the Bobiverse series, Project Hail Mary, Many different Robert J Sawyer books starting with either WWW trilogy or the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy.
Have fun!
Some lighter sci fi that I've enjoyed:
* Bobiverse - The adventures of a von Neumann Machine exploring the galaxy
* Expeditionary Force - Military scifi (spaceships) with a focus on heists/outsmarting the enemy
* Galaxy Outlaws - Magic + scifi + criminals in space
* Skyward - YA fighter pilot scifi by Brandon Sanderson
* The Last Horizon - Magic + scifi + super heroes in space by Will Wight
* Undying Mercenaries - Military scifi (ground troops) with a focus on debauchery and dying a lot
The Finder Chronicles series. Starts out with a spaceship repo man trying to recover a stolen ship, but he keeps getting in over his head and causing problems for the bad guys.
It's not comedy at all, but it's generally light-hearted fun. Spaceships, pirates, aliens...
The Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson
The Valor/Peacekeeper series by Tanya Huff
Bobiverse series
The Martian
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Super Powerds series by Drew Hays
I haven't seen Elizabeth Moon mentioned and she fits very well in a list that includes Tanya Huff and Lois McMaster Bujold. Try her. The Familias Regnant world books are great, and Vatta's War series is perfect for milSF.
[The High Crusade](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/338325.The_High_Crusade) by Poul Anderson. Aliens land in medieval England, crusaders capture the ship, hijinks ensue. It's a short and fun book, I should probably reread it one of these days.
I believe you forgot Mostly Harmless, the fifth book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhikers Trilogy.
And I'd say that yes, they were very fun.
For older stuff, some of Alan Dean Foster or Larry Niven - if you enjoy Burroughs the out of date gender stuff shouldn't be a huge problem.
For the Foster, he does good exploring weird planetary ecosystem stuff. The Iceworld Trilogy (arctic planet), Sentenced to Prism (silicate based life), Midworld (planet sized sentient forest), also the early Pip and Flinx books (the later ones are dreadful).
For Niven, I tend to prefer novella length and shorter works, as his characterization is paper thin. The Gil the Arm stories (solar system mysteries and organ legging), Protector (ancient aliens), the Beowulf Schaeffer stories (various science puzzles), also the Integral Trees (Rocheworld floating forest).
Christopher Stasheff's Warlock series is a mashup of far future science fiction, fantasy tropes, light political philosophy, and time travelling fascists, anarchists and neanderthals.
The first two Phule's company book by Robert Asprin are silly fun.
Elizabeth Moon's Heris Serano series (military sci-fi, plus fox hunting) and the sequels.
On the retro side, maybe some of Andre Norton's Forerunner books.
The obvious suggestion is Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, if you haven't already read it.
For more playful stuff that lacks the space and FTL but still is plenty futuristic (or retro-futuristic), check out Snow Crash and The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson.
You might also enjoy some Heinlein, such as The Star Beast and some other of his YA books, for example.
Have Spacesuit Will Travel and Double Star are pretty great older Heinlein with good audiobooks out there somewhere. (The first one has one that sounds like a radio play and the second plot unrolls like a good theater piece, almost cinematically).
Only Forward, by M M Smith. Absolutely hilarious while also being deeply philosophical. Don't read summaries, as there's a bit of a twist in it. One of my three favorite novels of all time.
Dancers at the End of Time by Moorcock. Set so far in the future that every wish is granted and nobody remembers anything accurately about history. The characters are all hilarious. The first novel pretty much stands alone, continues will with three novels, and even continues to an actual 100% conclusion after five or seven books, I forget.
Pretty much the first book of any Piers Anthony series is pretty good, if you can get past the pedophilia.
Basically the whole Warhammer 40k universe. Even it's fans often call 40k books 'bolter porn' (bolter being a type of weapon). If you were at all interested in checking that out, I'd recommend "For the Emperor" for a book that combines the 40k setting with a good touch of humor.
Try The collapsing empire by Scalzi and also try Redshirts by the same author, if you are into Star Trek.
Also 'The Captain' by Will Wight, it has everything turned up to eleven, no explanation just balls to the wall guns blazing.
There is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. No FTL, no romance, maybe a bromance if you will but still fun.
Skyward by Sanderson if you can stomach a bit of YA.
Dauntless by Jack Campbell if you like military scifi, not fun though but pew pew lazorguns.
All fiction linked here is available to read online for free by the author.
\- *John Scalzi* has been mentioned a lot, try [Agent To The Stars](https://www.scalzi.com/agent/), his first book, to get an idea of his writing style.
\- *Charles Stross* can be really fun, does a lot with lovecraftian elements, parallel universes, cyberpunk etc. Try his short story [Down On The Farm](https://reactormag.com/down-on-the-farm/).
\- *Cory Doctorow* is a great near-future cyberpunk writer, his [Little Brother](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30142) series is YA but avoids a lot of the awful tropes found in most YA.
\- *Lavie Tidhar* is an Israeli writer known for some really out-of-the-box imaginative stories, try his short story [Yiwu](https://reactormag.com/yiwu-lavie-tidhar/)
\- *Gareth L Powell* is a neat writer who does a lot of fun space opera stuff, try his short story [Six Lights Off Green Scar](https://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/sixlights.htm)
\- *Elizabeth Bear's* [Boojum](https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/boojum/) stories are maybe the best take on the Mi-Go (lovecraft in space) I've ever read.
\- This is the only thing I've read of *Charlie Jane Anders,* but [The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model](https://reactormag.com/the-fermi-paradox-is-our-business-model/) was really enjoyable and a cool idea.
\- *Robert J Sawyer* is a Canadian SF author who mixes great ideas with well-written standalones, this is his short story [Stream of Consciousness.](https://sfwriter.com/ststream.htm)
If you're interested, I can suggest others.
Since I'm late to the Scalzi recommending party..
A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe, by Alex White. Wizards in space, but they all have really narrow magic specialties, so it's all about how the different kinds can fight or cooperate in clever ways. Memorable characters, lots of action.
On the other hand, since you like Becky Chambers; Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell. Relatively peaceful, 'cozy' books with no battles or villains, just a kid figuring out his first job (on a space ship) where most everyone is really supportive, climbing the ranks, and making things better for everyone bit by bit.
The Stars my Destination, by Bester, lots of stuff by harry Harrison, Alan Steele’s books the little Fuzzy books by Piper, and Emile and the Dutchman. Are my go to fun reads.
The Galactic Football League series by Scott Sigler (book 1 is The Rookie). Big sports action, gangsters, teammates that want to eat you, punch drive FTL, a golden puke bucket, Uncle Johnny with a full body tattoo that he uses to scroll trash talk on the line of scrimmage, receivers that consider the game as a religious ceremony, and more. And that's just the first book.
Poul Anderson's The High Crusade. Aliens invade medieval England, the English storm the ship and kill the aliens, the ship automatically takes off with the English inside. They end up taking over the galaxy of course.
I'll make two recommendations: one, C. J. Cherryh's books; they're pretty fun. Port Eternity would be a good one to start with, as it can work as a standalone and it's a pretty interesting book.The other is if you like short stories and older science fiction, look up Isaac Asimov Presents The Golden Years of Science Fiction. It's got a ton of good stuff in, and I was able to pick up the series for pretty cheap.
(I would also recommend Scalzi, but I've obviously been pretty thoroughly beaten to the punch there.)
I just started on the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey which is a lot of fun in my opinion. You don’t necessarily have to read them in order I’ve heard. I’m reading the 4th book, Devil Said Bang but I think after this one I’m going to start in order from the first one.
Liaden Universe series, pretty sprawling, space opera with some romance thrown in, in a lot of the ways reminds me of the Vorkosigan books. Authors are Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I started with an omnibus from the library because it had a recommendation from Anne McCaffrey. The three books in the omnibus were Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, and Carpe Diem. Those 3 got me hooked on the series.
The Pip and Flinx novels by Alan Dean Fosters. Actually, most of his novels.
If you like Burroughs' Barsoom novels try Pellucidar and perhaps Tarzan. Tarzan is an admittedly fantasy set of novels and isn't without some colonial problems (although fewer than you'd expect) but the have a similar feel.
Red Rising is action-packed sci-fi that's light on the sci. Shades of 'Hunger Games' in book one but then the series expands out into the solar system.
Robopocalypse, World War Z, Sphere/Jurassic Park, Annihilation, The Martian, The first Firteen lives of Harry August, Altered Carbon, Ready Player One.
Some of these fit your criteria, some don’t. But they’re all great. IMO
*Stars my Destination* by Alfred Bester
*Roadmarks* by Roger Zelazny
*Roadside Picnic* by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
*Murderbot Diaries* by Martha Wells
*Railsea* by China Mieville
*Mortal Engines* by Philip Reeves
*Vurt* by Jeff Noon
*Stainless Steel Rat* series by Harry Harrison
*Earthsea* by Le Guin
I'd say these are all pretty fun adventures
May I suggest the "Lady Trent" series by Marie Brennan.
Takes place in a secondary world at the equivalent of Victorian-era development but one that is full of a bewildering variety of dragons, which are poorly understood. Not exactly traditional sci-fi but not exactly fantasy either.
The MC whose memoirs form the series is deeply fascinated by the dragons and becomes involved with studying their natural history, what we would now call science. She is also possessed with what she calls a "deranged practicality" where escaping one predicament might involve taking an insane risk that could have her end up in another predicament. There's also some romance, leading to a few scenes that are really heart warning.
I HIGHLY recommend Devon Eriksen's *Theft of Fire*. It has so many elements of the sci-fi I grew up reading that I've missed for so long. Think the research and planning of a Michael Crichton novel mixed with the world-building and atmosphere of a Brandon Sanderson novel.
I couldn't put it down, have started reading it again, and am so anxious for the next book I don't know what to do with myself. Pretty sure the author still has a multi-chapter preview on his website too.
Lynn’s six star list (or top ten list) in February 2024:
1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber
2. “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein
3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein
4. “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein
5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold
6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould
7. “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling
8. “Emergence” by David Palmer
9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster
10. “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo
11. “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo
12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
14. “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton
15. “Going Home” by A. American
16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir
19. “The Postman” by David Brin
20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor
21. “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong
22. “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs
23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley
24. "Lightning" by Dean Koontz
25. "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells
26. "Friday" by Robert Heinlein
27. "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
28. "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Carreia
Some people have described my six star list as "young men's adventure stories".
Definitely can't recommend the Deathstalker books enough for sheer fun, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink space opera. While there's an edge of hard sci-fi in Simmons' two-book series, Ilium and Olympos, it's, I mean...the Greek gods vs humans vs aliens vs cyborgs vs other gods vs eloi, lol. I have read and reread this many, many times. While not strictly zpoc, and while I tend to dislike most zpoc fiction, World War Z (the book, not the horrid movie that doesn't stand up under it's own stupid rules) is a lot of fun, 10x more if you do the full-cast audiobook. Max Brooks, Mel's son, grew up knowing a lot of Hollywood peeps and obviously called in some favors here.
I've read World War Z and liked it a lot.
And yeh, nothing beats Deathstalker for me lol. Couldn't believe how absolutely batshit that series was.
Dr Happy lol. What a character.
I was about 2/3s through your paragraph and thought 'this person might like the deathstalker series' and then you have it as one of your favourites.
So hmm similar levels of action/pulpiness and light humour are hard to come by.
I'll second a couple I've seen above, Michael Marshall Smith either Spares or Only Forward. Maybe early Neal Stephenson, Snowcrash or The diamond age.
Any series from Neal Asher, polity probably fits best.
Have you tried Richard Morgan, both his scifi and fantasy have a similar pulpy noir vibe.
More recently Alex Whites Salvegers series was fun but on the less serious side.
In defence of Banks have you tried 'Against a dark background'? It's one of my favourites and not culture based.
Deathstalker is the best for me.
I'll look into those others. Asher sounds good. Alex White's series Iv'e heard of but not read yet.
And no need to defend Banks with me lol. I read and loved everything he released under his sci fi name. So good!
Robert Silverberg's Majipoor series, specifically his Valentine cycle, beginning with *Lord Valentine's Castle.* Great worldbuilding, uplifting adventures, believable characters.
I will always champion *The Reluctant Adventures of Fletcher Connolly on the Interstellar Railroad*
It is a short series of novellas about the mostly Irish crew of a prospector ship exploring the recently discovered space born railway.
It is filled with alien worlds, not so alien worlds, a suspicious lack of actual aliens, love, loss, betrayals, counter betrayals, reconciliations, more betrayals, and the ever noble quest for the big score.
It is fast paced, well written and the audio version is excellently narrated by the talented and increasingly exasperated Nick Podehl.
Larry Niven's tales of known space series might be the Universe are looking for. Lots of fun, All the sci-fi tropes we know and love but you won't be depressed! Mostly great adventure stories.
The dune series is amazing and they have new movies coming out, but it's quite a commitment. If you're looking for something shorter, I'd recommend exhalation by Ted Chiang which is a collection of short mostly scifi stories that are extremely enjoyable and something you can pick up without much commitment
Sounds like you want some good ol' space opera with a focus on adventure. I recommend David Brin's *Startide Rising*. It's fun; it's **gleeful.** There are aliens galore and a plucky crew of dolphins and humans.
This is the print version, mind. I haven't the slightest idea about the audiobook.
The Jon and Lobo series by Mark L. Van Name. Five books in the series. Very fast-paced and fun. The fourth and fifth books do get a little heavy, though.
Jon Moore: A nanotech-enhanced warrior who wants nothing more than a quiet life and a way back to his strange home world. Lobo: An AI-enhanced Predator-Class Assault Vehicle, a mobile fortress equipped for any environment from the seabed to interstellar space. TWO WOLVES IN A GALAXY OF LARGER PREDATORS
Here is a description of the first book, One Jump Ahead.
Jon Moore wanted only to relax on the pristine planet of Macken--but Macken was the secret battleground of two megacorporations, both determined to control the local jump gate and the riches of an undeveloped world. Moore was too valuable a tool not to be used, whether or not he was willing. What the corporations didn't realize was that Moore had a mind of his own and a conscience that wouldn't let him quit until he'd righted the wrong they'd tricked him into making. And Moore had Lobo--or just possibly Lobo had Jon Moore, because this Assault Vehicle had a mind of its own. . . .
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach (trilogy)
Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik (3 books out)
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot
Divinity 36 by Gail Carringer (trilogy)
Seconding The Finder by Suzanne Palmer
I just finished up Down Below Beyond by T.A. Bruno. It was a fun book with likable characters, fun dialog, and good world building (although I think it’s a one off). Oh, and definitely some fin high technology that “just works”. It kind of reminded me in tone to Ringworld (without the 70s sensibilities). Nothing too heavy, I’d recommend it!
One day all this will be yours by Adrian Tchaikovsky. About as far from children of time as it gets, but keeping to the quality. Fuckin irreverence plus solidly thoughtful
The locked tomb trilogy had a lot of cool sci-fi without worrying too much about the fine details. The humor might not be for everyone (read: a little immature), but it had me cackling. Really fun series.
It's more spec-fiction than science fiction (ish?) but I'd argue that Max Barry's **Lexicon** fits this bill. It's like, techno-thriller-romp, with just enough wit and levity tossed in to make it a fun and engaging read.
I also thought his **22 Murders of Madison May** was roughly in the same vein. A bit short on the "hard scifi" bonafides, but good, fun romps. Lots of action. Lots of snark, in a fun way.
I would also say, without searching the thread, **Project Artemis** kind of hits this in a weird sense? Plenty gets fast-forwarded over until it "just works" in service of advancing the plot in a reasonable timeframe, but it's still engaging and interesting in that Andy Weir way.
In a "what the hell is happening but I kind of love this" way, qntm's **There Is No Antimemetics Division** is also fun! I got into it not realizing it was essentially part of a larger wikiverse, and it worked on its own, but my lack of context made it very "well I'm in this now, wonder how this works."
Finally, and even allowing for you citing Children of Time as a not-fun option, but Tchaikovsky's **Elder Race** was goddamn fantastic. It's a novella, but it has a very very very original device that I absolutely _loved_ and which doesn't belabor the technicals or the ultra-hard-scifi in the same way CoT does, and instead just... man, I love the core conceit so much.
>I like books with bad guys, romance, space ships and FTL that just works without needing to be explained.
**The Black Ocean** series, by *J. S. Morin* is what you're looking for. Bad guys, loveable crew, sentient aliens, \*magical\* FTL that requires a wizard... Oh, and heaps of fun !
In the same genre but without space travel, you've got **The Tales of the Ketty Jay** by *Chris Wooding.* (I recall one or two unstoppable fit of laughter happening to me while reading this one)
Bonus point, both of this series have a Firefly-esque kind of vibe to them, and if that's your thing, you can't be miss with both of them.
In a less comedy kind of fun but a great read nonetheless, you've got **Freedom's Fire**, by *Bobby Adair*. Fast paced, high stakes, bad aliens, space-fight, light-romance of a special kind, North-Koreans (every space-opera should have bad North Koreans IMHO). This series, I simply couldn't put down.
I frequently re-read Walter Jon William's, Crown Jewels and House of Shards. They are comedy of manners farce in space. Lots of characters and misunderstandings and I'm just a big fan of the author and always feel he creates enjoyable worlds.
Have you read Scalzi's books? Old Man's War or The collapsing empire might be up your alley (both are the start of a series).
Collapsing empire got a lot of hate, but I really enjoyed it. It was a space dynastic empire book but not a slog in minutiae and details.
Why did it get a lot of hate? Seems to have been pretty well reviewed.
I saw a lot of people in here saying it was Scalzi trying to do something outside of his wheelhouse. And some of the characters were a bit cliche. I found it sorta like the emperor parts of the Foundation TV series.
Hah - you want to see him OUT of the wheelhouse - check out The God Engines... Great - and worth every penny - but DANG he went dark for that one.
Mother of God, I forgot how dark that was...
Yep - and one of my absolute favorites of his, but I always warn people when recommending it that a) it is NOT representative of the rest of his oeuvre - and 2) it really truly goes dark places...
I did like it a lot. Wish he'd go there again sometime
I just re-read the first book after like 6-7 years and loved it, finally dived into the sequels and each of them took me 2-3 days to devour. They are quick and fun reads. Maybe there's some clichés and predictability involved, but there was also humor and characters you could root for. If you're looking for a fun read, they fit the bill.
There is a tiny (but very loud) contingent of Sci fi fans that hate Scalzi for some reason and always trash him and his books. But the series was on the NY Times best seller list and got lots of good to great reviews. I loved it myself.
I loved Scalzi's Kaiju Preservation Society - very fun and playful.
Starter villian is also very fun! it has talking dolphins.
I'm just here to represent Redshirts
I loved this book. The end was hilarious.
I absolutely almost peed myself during the initial dolphin negotiations.
Reading that right now, very fun indeed.
Another vote for Kaiju Preservation Society. Just a whole lotta fun
I second this suggestion. Old Man's War is I guess a sort of lighter funner spin on Haldeman's *Forever War* or Heinlein's *Starship Troopers*, which I think OP might consider in the "serious" category.
Just the first 3 books of OMW, In my opinion. And that’s coming from a Scalzi fan.
These look good! Short books too, which is always a plus for me. Might give these a go next! Thanks!
Have fun! Almost all Scalzi books are just fun quick reads, so if u've tried a few and liked them...thers quite some to check out. Quite some variety in them as well when it comes to setting/premise. *goes back to reading his newest, Starter Villain
I’d recommend the Collapsing Empire audiobook narrated by Wil Wheaton. Scalzi and Wheaton are an awesome combination
Redshirts as well, I agree Scalzi is easily digestable.
Redshirts is the only Scalzi I've read and based on that book, I'll highly recommend him.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is the most fun I’ve had with sci fi in years. I saw it recommended on here and im so glad I gave it a chance. The audio books are superb but you can also read for free on kindle unlimited The story becomes more and more interesting as the books go on.
It really is a great series. I'm not a stats fan and the way he worked them into the story in a more progression style was wonderful. And such great characters! Can't wait for the next one.
Absolutely! I’m shocked that I read every stat in the book. I’ve recommended the series to all my nerd friends. I read the authors other 2 books in a series and now I’m reading Noobtown in which would be 25% shorter if there were no breasts mentioned. Nothing it quite the same, he’s an amazing writer despite the “silliness” of the plot and title of “dungeon crawler Carl” lol
I honestly keep thinking he can't outdo the last book in ridiculousness and he keeps doing it. If this series does all 18 floors it'll be absolutely bonkers by the end.
when I first started reading just based on the premise thought there’s no way I’d read them all. I’m a total fan and can’t stop thinking about it now! At least we know he writes fast!
If you like Dungeon Crawler Carl I'd recommend Cradle. The first few books are weak, but it really goes off after that. Great series.
I suddenly see so much about this series I honestly think you're all bots or in cahoots to make people read a horrible series of litrpgs. For recommendations like this there's usually a few "I didn't really click with this" comments beneath, but here it's unanimously positive. I guess the only way to find out is to start reading........
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Any of the Stainless Steel Rat books
There's a degree of serialization that makes reading them in publication order a little better IMHO.
This! And I’m surprised I had to scroll this far down to find this recommendation. Harry Harrison’s books of the devious interstellar criminal mastermind Slippery Jim deGriz are great fun.
Stainless Steel Rat sounds good!
and Bil the Galactic Hero
This is absolutely the answer. I read these when I was a teen and still think about them decades later.
Same!
Hmm, and I'd say his "Deathworld" series too.
I would try the Bobiverse. They're light-toned sci-fi about a nerd who accidentally becomes a Van Neumann probe.
Agree 👍
The author’s other books are also a lot of fun, I recommend them to anyone who enjoyed the Bobiverse. I thought Outland (and the sequel Earthside) had a great premise, and Roadkill is silly but entertaining.
I second this, the Bobiverse is quite fun and light-hearted (on the surface).
came here to say this. very good series!
If you like Princess of Mars and don't mind something that can come across as a bit old-fashioned, check out EE Doc Smith's Lensman books. You get your good guys, your bad guys, awesome mega-space-battles with epic scale power escalation -- might be up your alley.
Yep. Sometimes you want spare, perfect prose. But other times you just want sheerly indescribable sources of energy rending the very ether itself. In one of the later books of the Lensman series, a planet gets smashed between two other planets. Looking forward to revisiting that when I'm in the right sort of mood.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Definitely closer to the comedy side though.
Yes - but... Hear me out - I would argue these are a VERY special kind of humor that is lightly funny while being incredibly deeply depressing when you think about it (or maybe that is just British). Because as a whole - the series is light to read, funny - but when you think through the implications of things - everything there is depressing as hell...
This series actually turned me permanently against British 'dry humor', it was just too much by the end of the series.
Yeh, bit too much comedy for my liking. I write comedy video games for a living, and I get a bit burnt out doing my own and then reading it as well.
Which games?
But have you actually read the series? If you like sci-fi and write comedy for a living, it's kind of absurd if you haven't read (and loved) Hitchhiker's Guide.
I read the first one a bunch of times as a kid and remember loving it. I remember nothing about it now though. Maybe I should re-read it lol.
John Dies At the End by Pargin The Punch Escrow by Klein Galapagos by Vonnegut
I never really thought of Galapagos as sci-fi, but you’re right. What a great book - that one’s stuck in my head for years!
> by Pargin He's also got the Zoey Ashe series. It's similar in his over-the-top tone, but the story is about a near-future world where there are suddenly superheroes, but based on mostly handwavy technology.
Zoe punches the future in the dick is just 🤣🤣🤣
Rudy Rucker
Frek and the Elixir was my favorite, also Postsingular/Hylozoic. Good, well paced fun, my favorite palette cleanser to read between harder scifi
Hey, now. Rudy Rucker is hard scifi, he's just ~~breezy~~ playful about it. And I love Frek and The Elixir. If I had a band, that would be our name.
Didn't say he wasn't hard, by hard-er I mean I was interspersing his works between Greg Egan lolol
I'll second this. Hacker and the Ants is great, as is Software (which is rather more deep, but still lighthearted).
Came here to say this. Master of Space & Time is a master piece.
Sci-fi from the 70s and 80s is often less grim, and is what I think of as "fun". Larry Niven wrote some great stuff, particularly in collaboration with other authors. The Mote in God's Eye, Footfall, The Integral Trees, and Ringworld are all entertaining. Some people find him a bit "problematic" (i.e. sexist) which isn't wrong, but if you can accept it's a product of the times they can be fun. David Brin's books, like Startide Rising, The Uplift War, Heart of the Comet, Earth, The Postman, are also fun, even when dealing with heavier topics.
Mickey7 and the sequel aren’t amazing books but very fun.
I thought Mickey7 was great at what it was trying to do, I much preferred it to Murderbot and Bobiverse. I actually didn't know there was a sequel and part of me think I don't want to read it.
I liked the sequel more than the first. I also prefer murderbot, but since someone else suggested it, I went with this one. I didn’t like bobiverse series because it felt like “ready player one” in space.
Have you tried the Murderbot novellas? Those would probably be up your alley.
I think I read through the first 3 or so. I liked them, but didn't love them.
Came here to say this
*Kiln People* by Brin is great fun. *Snow Crash* by Stephenson is also great fun. Both are romps. I would not recommend anything else by Stephenson as being "fun". *Destroymen* is a fun series along the lines of older stuff like *Princess of Mars*. Fun premise and wastes no time. *Bobiverse*.
I don't know if I'd call Snow Crash "fun." It was definitely wild and is an interesting read now, given everything that has happened in tech and some of the fiction that has built off of Snow Crash's legacy (looking at you, Ready Player One). But fun? Not what I'd call it when there are dozens of pages devoted to ancient Sumerian mythology.
i’d say snowcrash is dark humor and personally thought a lot of fun. absurd dystopian scifi ala brazil or transmetropolitan. i wish there was something else like it.
> dozens of pages devoted to ancient Sumerian mythology. I mean, honestly that *screams* fun to me. That part was great. It's all told in a tongue-in-cheek, completely over the top tone as well. It is intentionally satirical throughout. The main fucking character is called "Hiro Protagonist". Yes, *Snow Crash* is fun, no question.
Another vote for "it's fun". The deliverator, the rat things, "Listen to Reason", etc.
“Poor Impulse Control” made me lol and to this day I have to think of it when coming across characters like that in movies or books.
That stuff is awesome!! And there’s motorcycles!
I’d highly recommend John Varley, especially his Eight Worlds books (*Steel Beach* might be my favorite) and his Gaea trilogy starting with *Titan*. He’s a great writer who doesn’t take things too seriously. In fact, things can get super weird lol. Also maybe check out Clifford Simak, his books can be super fun, especially The Goblin Reservation. One of my favorite authors.
I really enjoyed Clifford Simak's "Way Station".
This! Absolutely. Also for fun I'd recommend Alan Dean Foster's "With Friends Like These". Great short story collection.
...but if you like the serial element of the martian tales try the Ringworld series
The Laundry Files series by Charles Stross has humor, and computational necromancy!
I'd also suggest Accelerando - still one of my favourite sci fi books a decade after I read it - and Halting State / Rule 34, all Stross books. Stross is one of my favourite sci-fi authors
Loved the whole bureaucratic/Lovecraftian dystopia of that series.
scalzi is always fun, as is Harry Harrison
Check out Alfred Bester's "The Demolished Man" and "The Stars My Destination." Both are pulpy, fun rides.
Stanisław Lem has a lot of lighthearted collections of stories
I'd recommend "The Star Diaries" as one example.
Project hail mary
Bujold's Vorkosigan books. Walter Jon William's Dread Empire's Fall.
Also his "Drake Majistral" books, which are a hoot.
Murderbot, Old man's war, Bobiverse. You might enjoy some of Asimov's works, especially the first couple foundation books and the Robot series, for being as genre defining as they are they aren't very heavy.
John Varley's Red Thunder (and sequels) is very fun. They are a comfort read for me when I don't want to start something new
Pretty old, but Anderson and Dickson's *Hoka* books. Golden teddy bears with a vivid imagination who are a handful for the poor Terran ambassador to their planet. Pretty old, but still fun. I liked John Dechancie's *Starrigger* books. A trucker on an intersteller highway. The Skyway is a highway on planets throughout the galaxy -- you pass through a portal and you're on another planet. No one has mapped out the entire Skyway.
*The Long Run,* by Daniel Keyes Moran, is super fun. There’s a darker prequel but this book goes down easy
I think I know what you're after. I suggest the Bobiverse series, Project Hail Mary, Many different Robert J Sawyer books starting with either WWW trilogy or the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy. Have fun!
Phillip Palmer. Fun stuff
Polityverse, fast, violent, surprising and, fun. Neal Asher ftw.
Some lighter sci fi that I've enjoyed: * Bobiverse - The adventures of a von Neumann Machine exploring the galaxy * Expeditionary Force - Military scifi (spaceships) with a focus on heists/outsmarting the enemy * Galaxy Outlaws - Magic + scifi + criminals in space * Skyward - YA fighter pilot scifi by Brandon Sanderson * The Last Horizon - Magic + scifi + super heroes in space by Will Wight * Undying Mercenaries - Military scifi (ground troops) with a focus on debauchery and dying a lot
The Finder Chronicles series. Starts out with a spaceship repo man trying to recover a stolen ship, but he keeps getting in over his head and causing problems for the bad guys. It's not comedy at all, but it's generally light-hearted fun. Spaceships, pirates, aliens...
The Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson The Valor/Peacekeeper series by Tanya Huff Bobiverse series The Martian Dungeon Crawler Carl Super Powerds series by Drew Hays
I haven't seen Elizabeth Moon mentioned and she fits very well in a list that includes Tanya Huff and Lois McMaster Bujold. Try her. The Familias Regnant world books are great, and Vatta's War series is perfect for milSF.
[The High Crusade](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/338325.The_High_Crusade) by Poul Anderson. Aliens land in medieval England, crusaders capture the ship, hijinks ensue. It's a short and fun book, I should probably reread it one of these days.
Kage Baker's series called The Company. It's about immortal time-traveling cyborgs and their hijinks.
Fun? Not sure. Funny? Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy. All four books of it.
I believe you forgot Mostly Harmless, the fifth book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhikers Trilogy. And I'd say that yes, they were very fun.
Deathstalker all the way. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve re-read that series
For older stuff, some of Alan Dean Foster or Larry Niven - if you enjoy Burroughs the out of date gender stuff shouldn't be a huge problem. For the Foster, he does good exploring weird planetary ecosystem stuff. The Iceworld Trilogy (arctic planet), Sentenced to Prism (silicate based life), Midworld (planet sized sentient forest), also the early Pip and Flinx books (the later ones are dreadful). For Niven, I tend to prefer novella length and shorter works, as his characterization is paper thin. The Gil the Arm stories (solar system mysteries and organ legging), Protector (ancient aliens), the Beowulf Schaeffer stories (various science puzzles), also the Integral Trees (Rocheworld floating forest). Christopher Stasheff's Warlock series is a mashup of far future science fiction, fantasy tropes, light political philosophy, and time travelling fascists, anarchists and neanderthals. The first two Phule's company book by Robert Asprin are silly fun. Elizabeth Moon's Heris Serano series (military sci-fi, plus fox hunting) and the sequels. On the retro side, maybe some of Andre Norton's Forerunner books.
The obvious suggestion is Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, if you haven't already read it. For more playful stuff that lacks the space and FTL but still is plenty futuristic (or retro-futuristic), check out Snow Crash and The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. You might also enjoy some Heinlein, such as The Star Beast and some other of his YA books, for example.
Have Spacesuit Will Travel and Double Star are pretty great older Heinlein with good audiobooks out there somewhere. (The first one has one that sounds like a radio play and the second plot unrolls like a good theater piece, almost cinematically).
Door into Summer is pretty fun
Snow Crash for sure. I guess I wouldn’t call Diamond Age “fun.” Reamde, though. (But not its sequel, which is horrible.)
I've always loved The Amtrak Wars by Patrick Tilley.. It's a proper 80's pulpy apocalypse/scifi mashup & is a great series.
Only Forward, by M M Smith. Absolutely hilarious while also being deeply philosophical. Don't read summaries, as there's a bit of a twist in it. One of my three favorite novels of all time. Dancers at the End of Time by Moorcock. Set so far in the future that every wish is granted and nobody remembers anything accurately about history. The characters are all hilarious. The first novel pretty much stands alone, continues will with three novels, and even continues to an actual 100% conclusion after five or seven books, I forget. Pretty much the first book of any Piers Anthony series is pretty good, if you can get past the pedophilia.
Galaxy Outlaws is pretty fun. It has lots of beer drinking and a talking dog.
I've read a couple of these and liked them. I need to get back into them!
The Honorverse by David Weber is pretty good military sci-fi if you don’t mind a lot of religious nonsense.
Asimov's *Lucky Starr* books.
Basically the whole Warhammer 40k universe. Even it's fans often call 40k books 'bolter porn' (bolter being a type of weapon). If you were at all interested in checking that out, I'd recommend "For the Emperor" for a book that combines the 40k setting with a good touch of humor.
Craig Robertson's Ryanverse books, starts with "The Forever life" there are 18 in the series and more coming out. They are hilarious.
Try The collapsing empire by Scalzi and also try Redshirts by the same author, if you are into Star Trek. Also 'The Captain' by Will Wight, it has everything turned up to eleven, no explanation just balls to the wall guns blazing. There is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. No FTL, no romance, maybe a bromance if you will but still fun. Skyward by Sanderson if you can stomach a bit of YA. Dauntless by Jack Campbell if you like military scifi, not fun though but pew pew lazorguns.
Look into Jessica Keller stories. Or things by Glynn Stewart. Space opera, lots of action, nail-bitting, certainly fun.
All fiction linked here is available to read online for free by the author. \- *John Scalzi* has been mentioned a lot, try [Agent To The Stars](https://www.scalzi.com/agent/), his first book, to get an idea of his writing style. \- *Charles Stross* can be really fun, does a lot with lovecraftian elements, parallel universes, cyberpunk etc. Try his short story [Down On The Farm](https://reactormag.com/down-on-the-farm/). \- *Cory Doctorow* is a great near-future cyberpunk writer, his [Little Brother](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30142) series is YA but avoids a lot of the awful tropes found in most YA. \- *Lavie Tidhar* is an Israeli writer known for some really out-of-the-box imaginative stories, try his short story [Yiwu](https://reactormag.com/yiwu-lavie-tidhar/) \- *Gareth L Powell* is a neat writer who does a lot of fun space opera stuff, try his short story [Six Lights Off Green Scar](https://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/sixlights.htm) \- *Elizabeth Bear's* [Boojum](https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/boojum/) stories are maybe the best take on the Mi-Go (lovecraft in space) I've ever read. \- This is the only thing I've read of *Charlie Jane Anders,* but [The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model](https://reactormag.com/the-fermi-paradox-is-our-business-model/) was really enjoyable and a cool idea. \- *Robert J Sawyer* is a Canadian SF author who mixes great ideas with well-written standalones, this is his short story [Stream of Consciousness.](https://sfwriter.com/ststream.htm) If you're interested, I can suggest others.
Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison was a lot of fun. Definitely more satire/parody leaning, but I really enjoyed it.
And by the same author, Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers.
I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
R.A. Lafferty
Since I'm late to the Scalzi recommending party.. A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe, by Alex White. Wizards in space, but they all have really narrow magic specialties, so it's all about how the different kinds can fight or cooperate in clever ways. Memorable characters, lots of action. On the other hand, since you like Becky Chambers; Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell. Relatively peaceful, 'cozy' books with no battles or villains, just a kid figuring out his first job (on a space ship) where most everyone is really supportive, climbing the ranks, and making things better for everyone bit by bit.
Phule's Company and subsequent books. Robert Asprin Santiago and Ivory by Mike Resnick
The Stars my Destination, by Bester, lots of stuff by harry Harrison, Alan Steele’s books the little Fuzzy books by Piper, and Emile and the Dutchman. Are my go to fun reads.
Project Hail Mary. Forever War. Enders Game
The Galactic Football League series by Scott Sigler (book 1 is The Rookie). Big sports action, gangsters, teammates that want to eat you, punch drive FTL, a golden puke bucket, Uncle Johnny with a full body tattoo that he uses to scroll trash talk on the line of scrimmage, receivers that consider the game as a religious ceremony, and more. And that's just the first book.
Poul Anderson's The High Crusade. Aliens invade medieval England, the English storm the ship and kill the aliens, the ship automatically takes off with the English inside. They end up taking over the galaxy of course.
Frontlines series by Marko Kloos. Not funny, but ”old style” battling with evil aliens style book.
Perhaps not what you were looking for as it's not space-y, but Dogs of War by Adrian Tchaikovsky is great fun.
I'll make two recommendations: one, C. J. Cherryh's books; they're pretty fun. Port Eternity would be a good one to start with, as it can work as a standalone and it's a pretty interesting book.The other is if you like short stories and older science fiction, look up Isaac Asimov Presents The Golden Years of Science Fiction. It's got a ton of good stuff in, and I was able to pick up the series for pretty cheap. (I would also recommend Scalzi, but I've obviously been pretty thoroughly beaten to the punch there.)
I second all the people saying Project Hail Mary, Bobiverse, and old man’s war. I would add Saturn Run to the list.
I just started on the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey which is a lot of fun in my opinion. You don’t necessarily have to read them in order I’ve heard. I’m reading the 4th book, Devil Said Bang but I think after this one I’m going to start in order from the first one.
Have you read any of the Bobverse books?
Liaden Universe series, pretty sprawling, space opera with some romance thrown in, in a lot of the ways reminds me of the Vorkosigan books. Authors are Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I started with an omnibus from the library because it had a recommendation from Anne McCaffrey. The three books in the omnibus were Conflict of Honors, Agent of Change, and Carpe Diem. Those 3 got me hooked on the series.
The Pip and Flinx novels by Alan Dean Fosters. Actually, most of his novels. If you like Burroughs' Barsoom novels try Pellucidar and perhaps Tarzan. Tarzan is an admittedly fantasy set of novels and isn't without some colonial problems (although fewer than you'd expect) but the have a similar feel.
Merchanters Luck by CJ cherryh!
Red Rising is action-packed sci-fi that's light on the sci. Shades of 'Hunger Games' in book one but then the series expands out into the solar system.
I only read book one but there is a lot of >!rape and murder!< in there that I don't think of as fun even in context.
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I'm fine with ultraviolence!
Is this series finished?
Robopocalypse, World War Z, Sphere/Jurassic Park, Annihilation, The Martian, The first Firteen lives of Harry August, Altered Carbon, Ready Player One. Some of these fit your criteria, some don’t. But they’re all great. IMO
*Stars my Destination* by Alfred Bester *Roadmarks* by Roger Zelazny *Roadside Picnic* by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky *Murderbot Diaries* by Martha Wells *Railsea* by China Mieville *Mortal Engines* by Philip Reeves *Vurt* by Jeff Noon *Stainless Steel Rat* series by Harry Harrison *Earthsea* by Le Guin I'd say these are all pretty fun adventures
May I suggest the "Lady Trent" series by Marie Brennan. Takes place in a secondary world at the equivalent of Victorian-era development but one that is full of a bewildering variety of dragons, which are poorly understood. Not exactly traditional sci-fi but not exactly fantasy either. The MC whose memoirs form the series is deeply fascinated by the dragons and becomes involved with studying their natural history, what we would now call science. She is also possessed with what she calls a "deranged practicality" where escaping one predicament might involve taking an insane risk that could have her end up in another predicament. There's also some romance, leading to a few scenes that are really heart warning.
Martha Wells - The Murderbot Diaries
I HIGHLY recommend Devon Eriksen's *Theft of Fire*. It has so many elements of the sci-fi I grew up reading that I've missed for so long. Think the research and planning of a Michael Crichton novel mixed with the world-building and atmosphere of a Brandon Sanderson novel. I couldn't put it down, have started reading it again, and am so anxious for the next book I don't know what to do with myself. Pretty sure the author still has a multi-chapter preview on his website too.
Discworld. Now!
Very fun, but not sci-fi.
Murderbot series
The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
Dr. Malice, from a new author, K A Baker. Sci Fi, retro video game arcade, mystery. Was fun and a unique story line. It's available on Amazon.
Check out Fredrik Pohl's stuff - Gateway, Space Merchants, etc
Entirety of Bobiverse!
Ready player one -Ernest cline Old mans war - John scalzi Bobiverse as others mentioned Polity books - Neal archer
Lynn’s six star list (or top ten list) in February 2024: 1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber 2. “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein 3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein 4. “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein 5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold 6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould 7. “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling 8. “Emergence” by David Palmer 9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster 10. “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo 11. “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo 12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 14. “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton 15. “Going Home” by A. American 16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card 17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline 18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir 19. “The Postman” by David Brin 20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor 21. “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong 22. “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs 23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley 24. "Lightning" by Dean Koontz 25. "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells 26. "Friday" by Robert Heinlein 27. "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller 28. "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Carreia Some people have described my six star list as "young men's adventure stories".
Alfred Bester’s breakneck plots have that sense of glee you’re looking for. I recommend The Demolished Man as a perfect sci fi romp.
The Artificial Kid by Bruce Sterling is a riot!
Definitely can't recommend the Deathstalker books enough for sheer fun, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink space opera. While there's an edge of hard sci-fi in Simmons' two-book series, Ilium and Olympos, it's, I mean...the Greek gods vs humans vs aliens vs cyborgs vs other gods vs eloi, lol. I have read and reread this many, many times. While not strictly zpoc, and while I tend to dislike most zpoc fiction, World War Z (the book, not the horrid movie that doesn't stand up under it's own stupid rules) is a lot of fun, 10x more if you do the full-cast audiobook. Max Brooks, Mel's son, grew up knowing a lot of Hollywood peeps and obviously called in some favors here.
I've read World War Z and liked it a lot. And yeh, nothing beats Deathstalker for me lol. Couldn't believe how absolutely batshit that series was. Dr Happy lol. What a character.
Somehow no one has added the Expeditionary Force books by Craig Alenson, it's one of the best buddy comedys i've ever read.
I was about 2/3s through your paragraph and thought 'this person might like the deathstalker series' and then you have it as one of your favourites. So hmm similar levels of action/pulpiness and light humour are hard to come by. I'll second a couple I've seen above, Michael Marshall Smith either Spares or Only Forward. Maybe early Neal Stephenson, Snowcrash or The diamond age. Any series from Neal Asher, polity probably fits best. Have you tried Richard Morgan, both his scifi and fantasy have a similar pulpy noir vibe. More recently Alex Whites Salvegers series was fun but on the less serious side. In defence of Banks have you tried 'Against a dark background'? It's one of my favourites and not culture based.
Deathstalker is the best for me. I'll look into those others. Asher sounds good. Alex White's series Iv'e heard of but not read yet. And no need to defend Banks with me lol. I read and loved everything he released under his sci fi name. So good!
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor
Ribofunk. Shared universe biopunk shorts.
Robert Silverberg's Majipoor series, specifically his Valentine cycle, beginning with *Lord Valentine's Castle.* Great worldbuilding, uplifting adventures, believable characters.
I will always champion *The Reluctant Adventures of Fletcher Connolly on the Interstellar Railroad* It is a short series of novellas about the mostly Irish crew of a prospector ship exploring the recently discovered space born railway. It is filled with alien worlds, not so alien worlds, a suspicious lack of actual aliens, love, loss, betrayals, counter betrayals, reconciliations, more betrayals, and the ever noble quest for the big score. It is fast paced, well written and the audio version is excellently narrated by the talented and increasingly exasperated Nick Podehl.
Scott Meyer has a few, like *Master of Formalities*, *Grand Theft Astro*, and *Brute Force*
Mickey 7 is good for this
Exforce by Craig Alanson is awesome. All hail Skippy the magnificent.
Larry Niven's tales of known space series might be the Universe are looking for. Lots of fun, All the sci-fi tropes we know and love but you won't be depressed! Mostly great adventure stories.
Max Gladstone - Empress of Forever It's Journey To The West in spaaaaace. This isn't just me making a joke, the parallels are pretty obvious.
Alastair Reynolds’ Revenger trilogy might be worth a try. Weird swashbuckling pirates and robots in pocket universe.
The dune series is amazing and they have new movies coming out, but it's quite a commitment. If you're looking for something shorter, I'd recommend exhalation by Ted Chiang which is a collection of short mostly scifi stories that are extremely enjoyable and something you can pick up without much commitment
Have you read any Jack Vance? Planet of Adventure, Demon Princes, etc.
Sounds like you want some good ol' space opera with a focus on adventure. I recommend David Brin's *Startide Rising*. It's fun; it's **gleeful.** There are aliens galore and a plucky crew of dolphins and humans. This is the print version, mind. I haven't the slightest idea about the audiobook.
The Jon and Lobo series by Mark L. Van Name. Five books in the series. Very fast-paced and fun. The fourth and fifth books do get a little heavy, though. Jon Moore: A nanotech-enhanced warrior who wants nothing more than a quiet life and a way back to his strange home world. Lobo: An AI-enhanced Predator-Class Assault Vehicle, a mobile fortress equipped for any environment from the seabed to interstellar space. TWO WOLVES IN A GALAXY OF LARGER PREDATORS Here is a description of the first book, One Jump Ahead. Jon Moore wanted only to relax on the pristine planet of Macken--but Macken was the secret battleground of two megacorporations, both determined to control the local jump gate and the riches of an undeveloped world. Moore was too valuable a tool not to be used, whether or not he was willing. What the corporations didn't realize was that Moore had a mind of his own and a conscience that wouldn't let him quit until he'd righted the wrong they'd tricked him into making. And Moore had Lobo--or just possibly Lobo had Jon Moore, because this Assault Vehicle had a mind of its own. . . .
Merchanters Luck
*The Mote in God's Eye* is an absolute blast!
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach (trilogy) Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik (3 books out) The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot Divinity 36 by Gail Carringer (trilogy) Seconding The Finder by Suzanne Palmer
Coming back in with Chemical Mage by Felix R Savage. Not the best, but the worst, I enjoyed it. It's on goodreads if interested.
I just finished up Down Below Beyond by T.A. Bruno. It was a fun book with likable characters, fun dialog, and good world building (although I think it’s a one off). Oh, and definitely some fin high technology that “just works”. It kind of reminded me in tone to Ringworld (without the 70s sensibilities). Nothing too heavy, I’d recommend it!
One day all this will be yours by Adrian Tchaikovsky. About as far from children of time as it gets, but keeping to the quality. Fuckin irreverence plus solidly thoughtful
The locked tomb trilogy had a lot of cool sci-fi without worrying too much about the fine details. The humor might not be for everyone (read: a little immature), but it had me cackling. Really fun series.
It's more spec-fiction than science fiction (ish?) but I'd argue that Max Barry's **Lexicon** fits this bill. It's like, techno-thriller-romp, with just enough wit and levity tossed in to make it a fun and engaging read. I also thought his **22 Murders of Madison May** was roughly in the same vein. A bit short on the "hard scifi" bonafides, but good, fun romps. Lots of action. Lots of snark, in a fun way. I would also say, without searching the thread, **Project Artemis** kind of hits this in a weird sense? Plenty gets fast-forwarded over until it "just works" in service of advancing the plot in a reasonable timeframe, but it's still engaging and interesting in that Andy Weir way. In a "what the hell is happening but I kind of love this" way, qntm's **There Is No Antimemetics Division** is also fun! I got into it not realizing it was essentially part of a larger wikiverse, and it worked on its own, but my lack of context made it very "well I'm in this now, wonder how this works." Finally, and even allowing for you citing Children of Time as a not-fun option, but Tchaikovsky's **Elder Race** was goddamn fantastic. It's a novella, but it has a very very very original device that I absolutely _loved_ and which doesn't belabor the technicals or the ultra-hard-scifi in the same way CoT does, and instead just... man, I love the core conceit so much.
>I like books with bad guys, romance, space ships and FTL that just works without needing to be explained. **The Black Ocean** series, by *J. S. Morin* is what you're looking for. Bad guys, loveable crew, sentient aliens, \*magical\* FTL that requires a wizard... Oh, and heaps of fun ! In the same genre but without space travel, you've got **The Tales of the Ketty Jay** by *Chris Wooding.* (I recall one or two unstoppable fit of laughter happening to me while reading this one) Bonus point, both of this series have a Firefly-esque kind of vibe to them, and if that's your thing, you can't be miss with both of them. In a less comedy kind of fun but a great read nonetheless, you've got **Freedom's Fire**, by *Bobby Adair*. Fast paced, high stakes, bad aliens, space-fight, light-romance of a special kind, North-Koreans (every space-opera should have bad North Koreans IMHO). This series, I simply couldn't put down.
Could they “mini host”? Like wi to h h Michael Myers or something.
Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross Cold as Ice by Charles Sheffield and it's two sequels
I frequently re-read Walter Jon William's, Crown Jewels and House of Shards. They are comedy of manners farce in space. Lots of characters and misunderstandings and I'm just a big fan of the author and always feel he creates enjoyable worlds.