I've just finished my umpteenth reading of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, and I think I've now experienced it in every format possible (radio series, books, audiobooks read by Douglas Adams, comic books, BBC miniseries, movie, and even the videogame....and for the record the comic book version was the least memorable ).

So I started thinking, surely there are some other funny sci-fi books out there, but I'm not sure where to start looking to find them. You gotta help me before I do something crazy like start listening to the audiobooks again, only this time the Stephen Fry narrated version.

You should check out "Starship Titanic," an idea by Douglas Adams written by, well, his name escapes me-I think he was involved in monty python-anyways, it's a fun read and similar to Hitchhiker.

"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

It's not really sci-fi, but it's very much in the same mold. Sort of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Apocalypse."

It's fantasy instead of Sci-Fi, but definitely check out the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

Also, try Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! and Hokas Pokas! (Poul Anderson, with Gordon R. Dickson.)

Then there is Robert Asprin's Phule's Company series: Phule's Company, Phule's Paradise, A Phule and his Money, Phule Me Twice, No Phule Like an Old Phule (as well as his Myth series, but that is fantasy.)

Steven Brust has Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grill.

Joe Clifford Faust has Desperate Measures, and Precious Cargo.

Take a look at Craig Shaw Gardner's Cineverse cycle: Slaves of the Volcano God, Bride of the Slime Monster, Revenge of the Fluffy Bunnies

Mel Gilden has Hawaiian U.F.O. Aliens, although I am not sure how much humor there is. There may be others in the series, as well.

Harry Harrison has two series, The Stainless Steel Rat, and Bill the Galactic Hero. Both are great.

I have one by Jack Hopkins called Satellite Night Fever.

Also check out the Retief series by Keith Laumer.

Spider Robinson's Callahan series is good.

Harry Harrison wrote Bill the Galactic Hero as a parody of Heinlein's Starship Troopers.
He also wrote Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers as a parody of E.E. 'Doc' Smith's books.

R.A. Lafferty wrote some very funny stuff, but I can't remember any titles.

Chistopher Anvil wrote Pandora's Planet.

James Branch Cabell wrote many fantasy novels filled with 'sophisticated' humor. Overly-clever writing bugs some people, and charms others. You know who you are. A good book to start with is Jurgen.

I just did a Google search, and it looks like the whole of Pandora's Planet (and more) is available here

and the forthcoming Phule's Errand - July 26th

Not sure I should recommend this, but Christopher Stasheff (of the Warlock and Wizard in Rhyme series) started a space series called Starship Troopers. Sadly, 3 books in (of 5) he stopped. (Just checked his messge board, and he still plans to finish the series, he's just not able to put words to paper yet.) Good stuff though.

He also wrote a book called Escape Velocity that is a kind of pre-origin story for his Warlock series. Interesting and entertaining sci fi story.

Thanks. Need to add this.

And Steven Brust has a new book coming out too!

Is the Phule series still worth reading? I used to love them and the Myth series, but the Myth series seems pretty horrible since Asprin started writing them again with a cowriter.

I haven't read the latest released Phule or the last 2 Myth ones yet, but the one's I have read have been fine. Maybe not as good as the originals, but still enjoyable.

Thanks for the tips, guys. I think I'm going to order Phule's Company from Amazon. In the meantime, I found a book at a local bookstore call Mallworld for 60 cents that I've been reading.

Shamefully, most of the books by Fredrick Brown are out of print, but show up at used bokstores. etc.

His novels are great fun (Martians Go Home) but it's his short stories that are the true gems. Think Rod Serling meets O.Henry with a little James Thurber tossed in, especially the collection entitled What Mad Universe.