Robert Rankin is an author in the same vein as Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Jasper Fforde (the Friday Next series), ie he is a British fantasy humourist. He seems to be lower-key than those other guys (not sure why I can’t think of any female British fantasy humourists off-hand), and indeed, while I feel I must seek out each new Pratchett, I don’t feel obliged to seek out Rankin – but I’m always happy to pick up one of his books.

He tends towards the very fast, absurdist style of humour – if you find British humour a little iffy in general, you probably won’t like Rankin. He’s written in a number of ‘worlds’. Of the trilogy (though this is a trilogy as defined by Adams) I’ve read, the books are set in the real world, where strange things are inevitably happening, usually in the town of Brentford and often involving a talking vegetable named Barry. There are a couple of other series, but characters and many running gags tend to cross over. He also, like Pratchett, enjoys the footnoting.

I would say that while Pratchett is getting less thigh-slapping funny (but more wise) with time and many books, Rankin is actually getting slicker with the jokes and the layering on of set-ups and plots.

If you like British comedy, give Rankin a go. Fast and easy reads, lots of laughs, lots to pick up on if you pay attention, but no actual need to pay attention if you’re not in the mood.