If you enjoy reading novels by Tom Holt then you might also like the following authors:
Terry Pratchett is a writer known for clever humor and creative fantasy worlds, and he’s a great choice for readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s playful storytelling. Pratchett’s popular Discworld series blends fantasy and satire, full of wit and social commentary.
A good entry point into his world is “Guards! Guards!”, one of the Discworld novels set in the bustling, grimy city of Ankh-Morpork. The story follows the city’s misfit Night Watch as they investigate a secret brotherhood and a dragon causing trouble in the streets.
Through humorous characters, unexpected twists, and a sharp eye for humanity’s quirks, Pratchett explores heroism, justice, and the absurd side of city life. It’s a funny read, but it also cleverly reflects on human society and politics.
Jasper Fforde writes humorous novels that blend fantasy, satire, and literary wit in wildly inventive ways. If you love Tom Holt’s imaginative concepts and clever humor, Fforde offers similar charm with a twist all his own.
Try “The Eyre Affair,” the first in his Thursday Next series. In this story, detective Thursday Next lives in an alternate Britain where literature influences everyday life, time travel happens casually, and famous literary characters cross between fictional worlds and reality.
When someone kidnaps Jane Eyre from Charlotte Brontë's novel, Thursday needs to act fast to restore the beloved story. The novel sparkles with humor, wordplay, and a deep love for books and storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s clever blend of humor, fantasy, and absurd adventures will likely appreciate Douglas Adams. Adams is best known for his book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
It follows the misadventures of Arthur Dent, an ordinary guy unexpectedly rescued from Earth moments before its destruction.
With his friend Ford Prefect, a quirky traveler from a distant planet, Arthur finds himself bouncing from one hilarious disaster to another across the universe.
Packed with sharp wit, strange planets, depressed robots, and impossible bureaucracies, it’s a story for anyone who loves playful satire mixed with imaginative sci-fi.
Books by P. G. Wodehouse have a light-hearted comic style similar to Tom Holt, full of eccentric characters, clever mishaps, and sparkling dialogue.
Wodehouse is best known for his Jeeves series, which follows the adventures of the wealthy young Bertie Wooster and his astute valet, Jeeves.
One standout volume is “Right Ho, Jeeves,” where Bertie decides to take charge and handle his friends’ romantic troubles without Jeeves’s assistance. Naturally, Bertie’s efforts cause chaos, misunderstandings multiply, and Jeeves must step in to sort out the mess.
The humor comes from witty repartee and sharp observations on the British upper class, leaving readers smiling and entertained to the very end.
Readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s humorous and imaginative novels may appreciate the quirky worlds created by Robert Rankin. Rankin balances comedy, fantasy, and science fiction in unusual stories filled with eccentric characters and absurd plots.
His book “The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse” introduces readers to Jack, a young man who arrives in Toy City, a place where nursery rhyme characters live real lives with grown-up problems.
When famous nursery rhyme figures mysteriously die, Jack teams up with detective Eddie Bear—a teddy bear with a cynical view of life—to uncover a bizarre and humorous conspiracy.
Rankin offers readers a wild ride into an engaging story that combines clever humor, offbeat characters, and unexpected twists.
Christopher Moore is an author known for clever humor and off-beat fantasy elements that fans of Tom Holt will enjoy.
In his novel “Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal,” Moore explores a playful retelling of the hidden years of Jesus through the eyes of his irreverent childhood friend, Biff.
This humorous tale revolves around Biff’s outrageous adventures with Jesus, filled with comedic scenarios and sharp wit. The book mixes fantasy, history, and comedy into a playful yet thoughtful story, entertaining readers who love imaginative twists on familiar tales.
Readers who enjoy the humor and playful fantasy found in Tom Holt’s novels may appreciate Neil Gaiman. Gaiman blends myth and imagination to create whimsical yet thoughtful stories.
In his novel “Neverwhere,” Richard Mayhew, an ordinary young businessman from London, suddenly falls into a hidden world called London Below.
This version of London is mysterious and filled with bizarre characters—like assassins named Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar, the charismatic marquis de Carabas, and Door, a young girl with astonishing powers.
Richard’s life takes unexpected turns, intense danger meets quirky charm, and the boundary between reality and fantasy becomes intriguingly blurred.
Readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s witty mix of urban fantasy and clever humor should look into Ben Aaronovitch’s work. Aaronovitch’s novels blend supernatural mysteries with sharp wit, especially in his popular book “Rivers of London.”
The story follows Peter Grant, a young London cop who unexpectedly becomes apprentice to a wizard detective. Peter has to investigate bizarre magical crimes around London’s familiar streets, where ghosts, river gods, and supernatural beings hide among everyday Londoners.
Aaronovitch keeps the humor fresh and the mystery engaging, bringing the magical world close to everyday city life in a style that fans of Tom Holt will appreciate.
Books by Toby Frost offer humorous adventures set in imaginative worlds, filled with eccentric characters and sharp wit. Readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s satirical fantasy may appreciate Frost’s comic science fiction, especially the book “Space Captain Smith”.
This novel introduces Isambard Smith, a rather awkward but determined officer of the British Space Empire.
Tasked to safely escort a diplomat across a galaxy teeming with absurd dangers, Smith faces eccentric aliens, bumbling mercenaries, and hilarious misadventures at every turn.
Frost cleverly blends British imperial humor with playful sci-fi tropes, creating an entertaining journey for fans eager for laughter and escapism.
If you enjoy the humorous fantasy novels of Tom Holt, you might also appreciate author A. Lee Martinez. Martinez blends fantasy, comedy, and absurdity in imaginative stories that entertain from start to finish.
One of his novels, “Gil’s All Fright Diner,” introduces readers to Duke and Earl, a werewolf and vampire duo who stumble upon a diner haunted by zombies and other strange supernatural occurrences.
With quirky characters, clever dialogue, and hilarious twists, Martinez keeps the story unpredictable and fun. The book has the perfect balance of humor, monsters, and a dash of adventure, which should resonate well with fans of quirky fantasy fiction.
Mary Gentle is a British fantasy and science fiction author known for sharp wit and original storylines. If you enjoy Tom Holt’s playful style, Gentle’s novel “Grunts!” might appeal to you.
It turns your classic Tolkien-style fantasy upside down, focusing humorously on the orcs instead of the usual heroic elves or humans. After stumbling across modern weapons, these orcs find themselves changed by military culture and unexpected power dynamics.
Gentle cleverly shifts perspective by showing a fantasy war through the eyes—and boasts—of characters that most novels cast as disposable monsters. Her imaginative twists and subtle satire keep the story entertaining, fresh, and funny.
Readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s humorous twists on familiar genres might also have fun with author John Scalzi. Scalzi has a witty and engaging style. His stories often explore clever, funny, and absurd situations blended with sharp dialogue and fresh ideas.
Take his novel “Redshirts,” which follows a group of low-ranking crew members aboard a starship. They begin noticing a disturbing pattern—lower-ranking crew frequently face odd and often fatal situations, while senior officers mysteriously survive unharmed.
Determined to break free from this bizarre trend, these junior officers embark on a humorous adventure to uncover the truth behind their fate.
This clever parody is packed with humor and smart storytelling, offering readers an entertaining exploration of classic sci-fi tropes from a new angle.
Holt Clarke writes clever fantasy adventures with humor and vivid imagination, similar to Tom Holt. In his book “The Wizard of Wyrmfire,” young sorcerer-in-training Jed must defend his village from a horde of goblins and a cranky dragon who can’t stop sneezing fireballs.
The story is packed with funny moments, magical mishaps, and quirky characters readers won’t forget. Clarke mixes playful sarcasm and magical chaos, creating a story that feels fresh yet warmly familiar.
If Tom Holt’s witty, whimsical style gets readers laughing, Holt Clarke’s magical storytelling may also keep them turning pages.
Books by Connie Willis often blend humor, history, and sharp insight into human nature. If you enjoy Tom Holt’s playful twists on reality, Connie Willis might appeal to your taste too.
Her novel “To Say Nothing of the Dog” mixes time travel, Victorian romance, and comedic misadventure.
The story follows Ned Henry, a historian from the future who finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Victorian England, tasked with a confusing mission involving cats, church choirs, and mismatched lovers.
Willis crafts a delightful comedy of errors and misunderstandings that gently pokes fun at the conventions of Victorian society and science fiction alike. It’s witty and imaginative storytelling with clever characters and a feel-good ending.
Readers who enjoy Tom Holt’s humorous and imaginative fantasy may appreciate Simon R. Green’s playful yet darkly entertaining style. Green combines dry wit and supernatural elements seamlessly, particularly in his quirky novel, “Something from the Nightside.”
The story follows John Taylor, a private investigator with a talent for finding lost things, who reluctantly returns to London’s hidden Nightside. This secret part of the city is always three in the morning, a place filled with bizarre creatures and sinister mysteries.
As Taylor searches for a missing girl, he confronts strange entities, eccentric characters, and dark truths lurking beneath the surface. Green’s inventive storytelling and clever dialogue make the Nightside series an engaging read for fans of Holt’s whimsical fantasy adventures.