Comments on: Inconceivable!

Question: Inconceivable!

eurasian — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:19:37 -0800

Is there another book like "The Princess Bride"?

I've tried using tool such as What Should I read Next and Whichbook but they don't seem to turn up anything that is close enough. At least, from reading the synopses.

I'm looking for humour/fantasy/romance with witty one liners and a memorable story.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:21:16 -0800

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. A humorous fable set in a China That Never Was.

By: beowulf573

beowulf573 — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:23:19 -0800

I've heard some compare Neil Gaiman's Stardust to "The Princess Bride". I don't really see it, but it was a great book none the less.

By: AwkwardPause

AwkwardPause — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:31:15 -0800

I've only seen the movie version of "Brincess Pride", so on that fairly slim foundation I'd recommend "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende.

By: inigo2

inigo2 — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:39:36 -0800

There is nothing even comparable to The Princess Bride. That said, I think I know a couple you might like, I just can't remember right now. I'll have to check at home. Once they're unpacked.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:39:38 -0800

"Neverending Story" is nothing at all like "Princess Bride". If you're looking for something with the kind of wit that was exhibited in "Princess Bride", what you need is the Discworld books by Terry Prachett. Obviously not identical, but similar.

By: eurasian

eurasian — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:43:14 -0800

Yes, I love "The Never Ending Story" as well as all of Pratchett's stuff. "The Princess Bride" is a slightly different beast, IMHO. It's something my wife would actually read. Something that many non-fantasy readers would read, and love.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:53:19 -0800

The conceit in the book of "Princess Bride" is that it's a digest of an older, much longer book written by some obscure (fictional) author. I haven't ever run into anything like that anywhere else. So the actual story is interspersed with author comments. In the movie they dealt with that aspect of it using the old man and the boy.

The movie of "Neverending Story" was actually a lot better than the book. The movie was a lot more charming, and it's based on the first half or so of the book. The second half, the part they left out, is really a lot less interesting, and the whole book is actually a bit insipid -- or so I found it. And it has an unpleasant twist ending.

As to the Discworld books, what they would offer which is similar to Princess Bride is the dry wit and the colorful offbeat characterization.

By: ShawnString

ShawnString — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:56:01 -0800

Try "Good Omens or The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Its a really good read.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:02:41 -0800

I haven't read it, but the Amazon review of Bridge of Birds compares The Last Unicorn to Bridge of Birds and The Princess Bride.

The Name of the Rose uses conceit that's similar to The Princess Bride's (here's an old book I found in the shop), but it's not a fantasy book or especially witty.

By: jferg

jferg — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:06:06 -0800

Stardust by Neil Gaiman might be a good choce, and I'll second kirkaracha's recommendation of "The Last Unicorn".

By: jellicle

jellicle — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:06:30 -0800

You can try Steven Brust - the Jhereg series - Jhereg, Teckla, Taltos, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca, etc.

Actually, The Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After might be even better for you. There is even the conceit of another writing the books - i.e., these books are allegedly written by the biographer Paarfi, as a historical account of events. Yes, try those two, you'll like them.

By: junkbox

junkbox — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:16:16 -0800

Second Good Omens. I've also heard positive things about Goldman's other book The Silent Gondoliers.

By: casarkos

casarkos — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:35:35 -0800

Some Discworld books are probably closer than others to what you're looking for. I would rec The Truth and Going Postal if you haven't read Discworld before, and Thief of Time if you know about Susan. There's probably one or two books featuring the Witches that are even closer to The Princess Bride's particular humor/fantasy/romance mix, but I haven't read those yet.

Nth Good Omens.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:03:40 -0800

The conceit in the book of "Princess Bride" is that it's a digest of an older, much longer book written by some obscure (fictional) author. I haven't ever run into anything like that anywhere else. So the actual story is interspersed with author comments. In the movie they dealt with that aspect of it using the old man and the boy.

Not exactly the same thing, but Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton follows a similar format- Crichton pretends he's translating a ficticious text by an Arab travelling in Viking lands. It's the book The 13th Warrior was based on, so if you're into Beowulf and and Conan-like swordplay adventure you might like it.

If you like the conceit of an author making fun of the genre in the midst of dictating it, then nothing beats the Hitchhiker's Guide series. It's science fiction by someone who clearly recognized how silly science fiction is.

By: lekvar

lekvar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:26:07 -0800

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke has a metafiction feel that is similar to The Princess Bride, and it has fantasy and romance, but it's not "comedy" humorous. It concerns the re-emergence of magic in England during the Napoleonic Wars, and is written as a history, complete with footnotes. It's an excellent read.

By: The Bellman

The Bellman — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:27:09 -0800

Third Bridge of Birds, which I loved but it doesn't have the book-in-a-book conceit. Also, I might recommend Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, which has the same feel to it i think.

By: The Bellman

The Bellman — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:27:32 -0800

On lack of preview, hi lekvar!

By: cerebus19

cerebus19 — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:27:40 -0800

Well, there is The Silent Gondoliers, which William Goldman wrote originally under the name "S. Morgenstern." It's not that much like The Princess Bride in its form or plot, but it is a delightful, well-written book.

By: natabat

natabat — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:50:41 -0800

I'll Nth Good Omens and Bridge of Birds. You may also like Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles. It's children's lit, but it fits your criteria.

LibraryThing suggests some DiscWorld books, Wrede (though not the series I mentioned), and another "S. Morgenstern" book called The Silent Gondoliers. (Note: I haven't read any of these).

On preview, cerebrus beat me to The Silent Gondoliers.

By: everichon

everichon — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:04:04 -0800

Jonathan Strange kicks ass, as people have said above. Not exactly metafiction, but very knowingly, affectionately written. If that makes any sense.

By: forrest

forrest — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:28:53 -0800

For the fantasy/comedy/romance angle, you might try some of Christopher Moore's books like Practical Demonkeeping or The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove.

By: AmbroseChapel

AmbroseChapel — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:59:00 -0800

This just popped into my head and may not work for you at all but "The Wonderful O" by James Thurber, if you can find a copy, might appear to you.

By: TheOtherGuy

TheOtherGuy — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:15:39 -0800

I think books by Jasper Fforde are just what you are looking for

By: of strange foe

of strange foe — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:38:25 -0800

I second the Patricia C. Wrede recommendation up-thread.
Orson Scott Card's "Enchantment", a retelling of 'Sleeping Beauty', might also fit the bill.

By: BoscosMom

BoscosMom — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:41:21 -0800

She might like Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series.
The main charater is male but there are strong female character too. Lots of smast ass dialogue.
I started with Warriors Apprentice and that got me started on the rest.

By: lockedroomguy

lockedroomguy — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:42:39 -0800

Closest thing I've ever read was John Barnes's One For The Morning Glory

Not as good as TPB, though.

Regards,

By: choragus

choragus — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:52:01 -0800

Allow me to introduce Master Skeeve and Ahaz from Robert Asprin's Myth Adventure series. Throughout the series there are paragraphs of of laugh out loud situations.

Piers Anthony's Xanth novels are excellent reads ... if you enjoy pages of puns, that is.

And, Spider Robinson's Callahan's Crosstime Saloon series are also vignettes I can recommend too.

PS I seriously hope you were able to read The Princess Bride before the movie ruined the reader experience for you. It is so much different the movie producers should have had to put a SPOILER label in the opening credits of the movie!

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:52:25 -0800

S. Morgenstern is also the fictional author of The Princess Bride.

By: milarepa

milarepa — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:06:06 -0800

Whenever I think of the Princess Bride, I think of the first book of Gogol's Dead Souls.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:40:10 -0800

"The conceit in the book of "Princess Bride" is that it's a digest of an older, much longer book written by some obscure (fictional) author. I haven't ever run into anything like that anywhere else."

The palimpsest is a pretty common conciet. Don Quixote?

But I assume that what will help the asker more is a nod to the Zelazney and Robert Sheckley series that starts with Bring Me The Head of Prince Charming. The second two books aren't as good, but are still worthwhile. I'm not sure it's AS good as PB, but I really liked PB when I read it in high school, and I'm not sure if it's aged as well as it might.
Anyway, BMTHOPC is a pretty funny chockablock approach to fables under the aegis of a millenial contest between good and evil. And it's a brief, breezy read, so you haven't lost much by checking it out.

By: Manjusri

Manjusri — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:48:49 -0800

It's about the hundredth time I've recommended it here, but the book that comes to mind for me is The Three Musketeer by Alexandre Dumas. Laugh-out-loud funny, and the historical setting feels quite at home to a fantasy fan. The romance is humorously cynical, realistically portraying the battle of the sexes.

By: flibbertigibbet

flibbertigibbet — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:56:26 -0800

Oh, I have to nth Jonathan Strange -- it is definitely a book that fantasy readers or fantasy haters can delve into -- along with many things by Gaiman and just about everything by Pratchett.

By: zengargoyle

zengargoyle — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:19:19 -0800

Darn it jellicle, I was going to say Steven Brust, but I would recommend To Reign In Hell for an entertaining first read that isn't part of a larger series. Meet Leviathan, Lucifer, Satan, Lilith, Beelzebub, Ariel, Abdiel, Asmodai, Gabriel, Michael, Cherubim and Seraphim, and even Yaweh himself. Learn what really happend in Heaven before the creation of Earth. Hear the true story of the Downfall. With a talking dog and a wise owl who speaks in Iambic Pentameter it has to be amusing.

By: eurasian

eurasian — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:00:45 -0800

Alrighty, thanks for all the great answers. I'm not sure how to mark the best one answer. I think I'll just have to slowly and carefully go through all the books that seem to be recommended multiple times (or just once emphatically), and remember to come back and mark :)

Just to clarify, although the idea that he was editing a larger piece was... interesting, I can't say I liked that bit. In other words, the entire book without the interuptions with the flashbacks of his grandfather reading it to him and his fictious 'editing' , would have been just as good for me.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was fabulous in certain ways (a wet and dreary, well-realized world, a consistent and interesting voice, and it's own brand of humour), not in the ways I think "The Princess Bride" is fabulous. The Mything series, Piers Anthony, and the venerable Pratchett I know about. I've read some Pratchett, and think he's great. But again, a slightly different flavour than what I'm looking for. It's a gentler, absurdist humour with a courageous stab at unabashed romance. Perhaps that's what I'm looking for.

So, the Coles Notes version. Humour, romance, adventure, and solid lines like "never get involved in a land war in Asia".

By: cgc373

cgc373 — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:24:21 -0800

Do read Steven Brust, then, eurasian, and try Ellen Kushner's book Swordspoint, which is sharper and harder, perhaps, than what you want, but is bitingly funny and charming and wintry and just read it okay? Also, Diane Wynne Jones wrote a knowing book called The Tough Guide to Fantasyland in the form of a glossary of clichés in genre fantasy writing that is truly astonishing, fun to read, and wicked in its depictions of cheap writing.

By: hazelshade

hazelshade — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 05:01:03 -0800

Another whole-hearted recommendation for The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.

By: chaosscontrol

chaosscontrol — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:35:35 -0800

What about the "Myth" books by Robert Aspirin?

By: jdroth

jdroth — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:51:05 -0800

Let me add another voice for Bridge of Birds. I believe it's exactly what you're seeking.

By: emd3737

emd3737 — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:55:56 -0800

Hmmm... I second The Three Musketeer by Alexandre Dumas and add The Count of Monte Cristo. Not as funny, but similar plot lines, i.e. revenge and swordfights.

I must be the only one who didn't like Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Thought it was a snoozer.

By: jdroth

jdroth — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:54:52 -0800

I must be the only one who didn't like Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Thought it was a snoozer.

I prefer to think of it as undestated and subtle.

By: lhauser

lhauser — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:57:47 -0800

I'm not sure I can give an adequate reason why, but I think you'd enjoy John Crowley's "Little, Big." It bears re-reading, has a distinctive voice, is rather metafictional.

FWIW, I enjoyed the film of "A Princess Bride" much more than the book, though the book was certainly good.

I'm a bit into Jonathan Strange right now. Not sure how much further I'll go, or at least not how fast...

By: tcskeptic

tcskeptic — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 09:22:59 -0800

Mark Helprin's "Freddy And Fredericka" meets at least most of your requirements.

By: booksherpa

booksherpa — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:06:02 -0800

Multi-nth the Steven Brust books, particularly The Phoenix Guards and 500 Years After. Humor, romance, adventure, and solid lines. The writing style takes a little getting used to, but is a lot of fun.

Also second Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan books. The humor, romance, and adventure aren't always in the same book in the same amounts, but they are throughout the series. I lent those to a friend who loved fantasy but "didn't read sci-fi" and she tore through 'em.

I personally didn't enjoy Jonathan Strange, though I recognized the literary and well-written quality of the book. More for folks who appreciate the subtle and poetic. I was bored.

Oh, hey, you might like The Lies of Locke Lamora. Good, rollicking read with lots of humor and adventure. Not much in the way of romance, though.

By: LizardOfDoom

LizardOfDoom — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:01:37 -0800

nthing Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. It is gentler than some of the others and does have genuine romance. It mixes traditional storybook magic with modern life, and throws in some very clever twists. I wouldn't call it a funny book, but parts are quite humorous. Don't be turned off if you've read and disliked (or heard bad things about) Card, this book is unlike his others.