Satirical and Dark-Witted Authors

[tylenol4000]

A lot of my favorite novels can be described as satirical or dark, or witty, or having a dark wit etc. (or all).

I love early Palahniuk like Invisible Monster, Lullaby, Survivor. I love those 3. Not a fan of his new stuff. I'm also not looking to read anything that's written from a 1st person POV.

I love the 3 novels Eric Bogosian has written. They have satirical elements in such a way i really enjoy. There's also a dark wit that's part of his style. When he writes in the 3rd person he seamlessly transitions in and out of his characters thoughts; his novel Wasted Beauty does this sooooo well. And when it comes to realistic dialogue, Bogosian is a master. His books are realistic, character driven, an darkly satirical.

I'm looking for other authors like this to get into. Would you recommend Rick Moody? I'm also curious about Tom Wolfe- I know his stuff isn't known to be satirical, but i hear he's great with dialogue and characters and one of Eric Bogosian's books was compared in style with Wolfe.

Someone once recommended Augustus Burroughs. But he seems to only write memoirs, and uses a 1st person POV. But maybe I'm wrong about him? ;p

Tom Robbins? What is his stuff like? Heard of him but have yet to read. Does he mainly use 1st person or 3rd person narration?

AAAAAnyways.....I'd like to hear what you guys think about the authors I'v mentioned above and if i should check them out. And I really appreciate any author or book recommendations you may have for me

 

[Grunkins]

I love Tom Wolfe. I've read Bonfire of the Vanities four or five times. Fantastic book. Wolfe isn't dark at all though. In his journalism he sometimes used vicious satire, in his fiction he lets the ridiculousness of the world be satire in itself. I recommend reading him if you have any interest.

 

[J-Sun]

I guess, in a sense, Robbins does have a "dark" wit but he seems so happy about it that it's hard to see it that way. I mean, he can talk about the end of the world but it's not all bad. For instance, Vonnegut, to me, is funny but it comes from a very painful place so it is pretty dark. Robbins is much more whimsical. Aside from tone, pretty much all his books that I've read have fantasy or even SF elements though he's not an in-genre writer.

As far as 1st person, I don't think he ever has, though he uses a strong authorial voice and sometimes comes right out and addresses the reader in first person. But the stories are third person.

I'd recommend him - in order, maybe something like Still Life with Woodpecker, Jitterbug Perfume, and Another Roadside Attraction. Skinny Legs and All is still pretty good but I felt like I'd pretty much gotten the gist by then. The only one I didn't much like - though even it was sort of okay - was Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. (So, of course, they turned that one into a movie. That, of course, I didn't see.)

For dark witty authors, you might like Frederic Brown, Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth (some of the short fiction of each and their collaborative novels), and possibly aspects of some PKD, Rudy Rucker, and Bruce Sterling. I can't think of many more modern authors - maybe sometimes Charles Stross.

 

[tylenol4000]

Thanks for the recommendations, but with this thread I'm mainly seeking out non-SF/fantasy stuff. I'm not ruling it out as i love genre, but i'm not looking for hardcore sf or anything like that. If it's a unique mix of non-SF/Fantasy with SF/Fantasy, then by all means suggest! Doesn't hurt I like surreal novels, like Don Delillo. Delillo gets surreal with some books like Cosmopolis, so stuff like that I'm into getting into more too.

I guess I don't mean, like, all out satire. Like Tom Wolfe portrays the real world, right? He has very well made characters and explores their thoughts thoroughly. (at least i get that impression hes like that). Tom Wolfe focuses a lot on inner dialogue, and is all around good with dialogue. I'm looking for other authors like that.

I'm not necessarily looking for all out dark satire and humor. But authors who tell things the way the truely are. Their stories and characters feel real. The novel I mentioned above by Eric Bogosian, "Wasted Beauty", is compared to the winding narratives of Tom Wolfe on the cover. It's described as being told "with a wry wit and corrosive dialogue". If that makes you think of a certain book, please by all means mention it

But yea, I'm not just looking for wry, dark wit. I like realistic dialogue and characters with well written inner dialogue. Idk, I'm describing so many thing!

Just, if this makes you think of any books or writers, let me know!

 

[Fishbowl Helmet]

Tom Robbins definitely fits the bill. Start with Still Life and you can't go wrong.

I also highly recommend Indecent Exposure by Tom Sharpe. It's a humorous and dark reflection of the real world that borders on the surreal.

Also try these, they're all humorous novels, some darker than others:
Lucky Jim, Kingsley Amis.
Auntie Mame, Patrick Dennis.
One for the Money, Janet Evanovich.
Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde.
The Liar, Stephen Fry.
Skin Tight, Carl Hiaasen.
Expecting Someone Taller, Tom Holt.
Gun Seller, Hugh Laurie.
Bloodsucking Fiends, Christopher Moore.
Anything by James Thurber or P.G. Wodehouse.

 

[Musky]

Books like Neighbors and Sneaky People, maybe a couple others by Thomas Berger might fit the bill. Or Reuben, Reuben or Slouching Towards Kalamazoo by Peter DeVries. Sneaky People is one of my all time favorite books.

 

[Grunkins]

Ooh, have you read Nelson Demille? The Gold Coast might be right up your alley.

 

[Mirannan]

Some of the classics do this quite well. Don Quixote, for example. Although some knowledge of context is needed in some cases; apparently, that particular book was written in response to the popularity of trashily written stories with a faux-mediaeval background and an excess of knightly chivalry.