Jasper Fforde’s books are a total blast. He creates these worlds where Thursday Next is a literary detective or you can actually go inside books. His stories are packed with clever jokes, wordplay, and plots that take unexpected turns.
For readers who enjoy this type of imaginative and funny fiction and want to discover writers with a similar feel, here is a list of authors you might like.
Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s playful storytelling and clever humor will likely appreciate Terry Pratchett’s imaginative world in “Guards! Guards!”. Pratchett’s novel follows the misadventures of Ankh-Morpork’s bumbling city watchmen.
They face unexpected trouble when a secret society releases a dragon to control the city. The watchmen, quirky and flawed heroes, must rise to the challenge with wit, courage, and more than a little luck. Filled with sharp satire and memorable characters, “Guards!
Guards!” offers a delightful mix of fantasy, mystery, and comedy that fans of Fforde will find familiar and refreshing.
Douglas Adams is known for his clever wit and playful take on science fiction, combining humor with intelligent commentary on society.
His novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” tells the story of Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered man whose house is demolished to make way for a highway bypass.
Shortly after, Arthur discovers that Earth itself is slated for demolition by an alien crew, intending to clear space for an intergalactic freeway.
With his friend Ford Prefect—who turns out to be a researcher for a quirky galactic guidebook—Arthur escapes and embarks on a wild, absurd journey through space. Adams creates a universe full of bizarre aliens, quirky situations, and unforgettable humor.
Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s inventive storytelling and playful language might find Douglas Adams similarly entertaining.
Books by Tom Holt offer clever humor mixed with fantasy, making him a great choice for readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s playful style. In “The Portable Door,” Holt introduces readers to Paul Carpenter, an ordinary guy who accidentally takes a job at a mysterious London firm.
Soon Paul notices strange doorways appearing out of nowhere, unpredictable coworkers, and tasks involving peculiar magical contracts. Holt fills the story with dry wit, absurd situations, and twists that cleverly bridge the gap between mundane office life and magical chaos.
If you enjoy Jasper Fforde’s playful mix of fantasy, literature, and quirky humor, then Neil Gaiman might be a great next author to explore. Gaiman is imaginative and witty, with stories full of fascinating characters and strange but charming events.
In “Neverwhere,” readers meet Richard Mayhew, a regular young man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he helps a mysterious girl named Door. Suddenly Richard slips into “London Below,” a secret world beneath the streets of the real city.
This hidden underworld is filled with odd creatures, vivid scenery, eccentric characters, and a dangerous quest that draws him entirely away from the safe but predictable life he once knew.
If you enjoy Jasper Fforde’s clever humor and sharp wit, Christopher Moore could be your next favorite writer. Moore has a knack for taking ordinary characters and throwing them into completely absurd and hilarious situations.
One of his most popular novels is “Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal,” which tells the story of Jesus from the irreverent point of view of his best friend, Biff.
The book fills in the gaps of Jesus’s teenage and young adult years, blending biblical events with loads of humor and quirky adventures. Moore’s storytelling style is fresh, original, and wonderfully funny, perfect for readers who love smart, offbeat fiction.
Connie Willis is an author praised for her humorous blend of history, science fiction, and sharp wit. If you’re a fan of Jasper Fforde’s playful storytelling and inventive plots, Willis’s novel “To Say Nothing of the Dog” could be a refreshing discovery.
Set in a future where historians travel through time to observe the past firsthand, this book plunges Ned Henry into Victorian England on an amusing quest.
Ned must retrieve a trivial object known as the “bishop’s bird stump,” but his simple mission quickly becomes a tangle of misunderstandings, unexpected romance, and comic misadventures.
Fans of quirky mysteries and time-travel chaos will appreciate Willis’s clever twists and humorous mishaps.
Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s playful blend of literary wit, imaginative plots, and unique characters may appreciate Michael Chabon’s engaging storytelling and richly detailed worlds.
Chabon’s novel “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” offers a clever mix of alternate history, detective fiction, and humor.
Set in a fictional version of Alaska that has become a Jewish refuge after World War II, the book follows detective Meyer Landsman as he investigates a surprising murder mystery within the complicated political dynamics of the region.
Chabon’s creative narrative pulls readers into an intricate web of clues, colorful characters, and fascinating “what if” scenarios. Fans of Fforde’s inventive imagination and smart humor may find Chabon’s writing equally enjoyable.
Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s quirky blend of fantasy, clever wit, and literary charm could find Lev Grossman equally engaging.
Grossman’s novel “The Magicians” introduces Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant but dissatisfied high school senior obsessed with a fantasy world from his favorite childhood books.
When Quentin unexpectedly gains admission to Brakebills, an exclusive school of magic, he discovers that real magic is complicated, thrilling, and dangerous.
The book combines elements of magical fantasy, complex characters, and sharp humor into an absorbing story filled with surprising twists and unexpected emotional depth.
China Miéville writes imaginative, genre-blending books full of creativity, wordplay, and intricate plots. Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s offbeat humor and unexpected turns might find similar pleasure in Miéville’s “The City & the City.”
This unusual detective novel takes place in two cities that occupy exactly the same territory but whose inhabitants carefully ignore each other through years of strict tradition and law.
When an investigator tries to solve a murder, he must navigate the strange rules and hidden barriers between the two overlapping cities.
Miéville creates a richly detailed world—with sharp social commentary, clever narrative twists, and a mystery that keeps unfolding right until the end.
Books by Genevieve Cogman are an excellent find for readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s quirky worlds filled with literature and adventure.
Her novel “The Invisible Library” features Irene, a spy and librarian who travels between alternate realities to collect rare and unique books. She gets more than she bargained for when a mission takes her to a London full of magic, danger, and supernatural creatures.
With secret societies, clever banter, and twists around every corner, Cogman creates a playful world tailored perfectly for book lovers.
Books by A. Lee Martinez blend humor, fantasy, and a dash of absurdity in ways fans of Jasper Fforde will appreciate. His novel “Gil’s All Fright Diner” offers readers a fun take on supernatural adventures.
Duke and Earl, a laid-back werewolf and a practical vampire, stumble into a diner with zombie problems and decide to stick around to fix it. What starts as a simple job quickly escalates into dark rituals and otherworldly threats.
Martinez combines clever writing and engaging characters with plenty of satisfying humor and action throughout.
Ben Aaronovitch is a British writer known for blending mystery, urban fantasy, and witty humor. If you’ve enjoyed Jasper Fforde’s clever literary adventures, you’ll probably appreciate Aaronovitch’s “Rivers of London.”
The novel introduces Peter Grant, a young London police officer who discovers he’s able to interact with supernatural elements. Soon, he’s assigned to investigate an unusual crime—a ghost who appears as an eyewitness.
The book cleverly mixes police procedural with a world of magic, spirits, and river gods set in modern-day London. Aaronovitch weaves historical references and London folklore into this smart and funny detective tale.
Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s imaginative storytelling might also appreciate Patrick Ness. Ness writes inventive novels that blend fantasy and reality seamlessly. His book “The Rest of Us Just Live Here” offers a fresh spin on typical fantasy tropes.
Instead of focusing on the usual heroes and epic battles, it centers around ordinary teens in the background, people not chosen or destined to save the world.
They deal with friendships, relationships, family drama, and everyday struggles, while supernatural events happen on the edges of their lives. Ness brings humor, realistic dialogue, and genuine emotion into a clever twist on familiar genre clichés.
Readers who enjoy Jasper Fforde’s blend of imaginative storytelling and clever wit might want to check out Kate Griffin.
Her novel “A Madness of Angels” introduces Matthew Swift, a sorcerer brought back from death and merged with a powerful entity known as the blue electric angels.
Returning to a vivid and magical London, Swift navigates a city alive with urban magic and hidden dangers as he sets out to solve the mystery behind his own murder.
Griffin creates a world where magic crackles through phone lines, underground stations hold mystical secrets, and the city’s overlooked places become channels of unexpected power.
If you love stories where familiar cityscapes become magical playgrounds filled with mystery and adventure, Kate Griffin’s urban fantasy could be your next favorite read.
Rob Wilkins collaborated closely with the beloved fantasy author Terry Pratchett. In “Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes,” Wilkins shares vivid personal stories from the life of the creator of the Discworld series.
He describes Pratchett’s clever wit, insightful observations, and his deep passion for storytelling.
Through humorous anecdotes and touching memories, the biography brings readers backstage into Pratchett’s world of imagination—but also reveals the challenges he faced along the way.
Fans of Jasper Fforde, who appreciate smart satire and imaginative storytelling, will likely enjoy this engaging portrait of an iconic author.