Can anyone recommend a good saucy novel? Or funny? Or happy? Or SciFi?

[PetronellaSterling]

I'm thinking along the lines of the Crimson Petal which I read a couple of years ago but still adore.... Our book clubs has had it's fill of MiseryLit and are specifically looking for some fun and happy endings. They are largely Sci Fi virgins although we have read Margaret Atwood's Oryx & Crake and After the Flood. Any recommendations?

Maybe! I'll add it to the suggestions list. Thank-you.

Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks. A Scottish writer who writes the best SF around today.

Temeraire by Naomi Novik is good beginners fantasy as it is historical/fantasy cross. A good read with a happy ending.

Also watching this thread with interest as our book group may need to borrow some of these ideas, currently reading the invention of dr cake which is pretentious interesting

The Observations by Jane Harris is great.

The story of a servant girl called Bessy, told by her in a quirky, really entertaining narrative voice. Loved it and looking forward to reading Gillespie and I now, by the same author.

Agree totally slug Iain M Banks is brilliant, and Consider Phlebas is awesome.
But I'd suggest you maybe try The Player Of Games first if your group are truly sci fi virgins. (Mind you Excession is my all time favourite of his novels. )
For funny and sci-fi combined you can't beat The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Neil Gaiman? I loved American Gods (I love all of his books actually although I haven't read the comics) and also Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett) is very funny.

If you liked Crimson Petal, then how about Tipping the Velvet (Sarah Waters)?

I just finished reading the novelette Enders Game by Orson Scott Card, a film is currently being made of it so one of those books that everyone will soon have an opinion on..I personally don't think they'll be able to pull it off past the moralists in Hollywood.

Hmmm, a saucy novel eh? Would recommend 'The Bride Stripped Bare' by Anonymous (now known to be, I think, Nicky Gemelli?). Very erotic. Loved it. Not my usual fayre.

Another erotic classic is 'Venus in Furs' by Leopold Sacher-Masoch.

Hmmm, my fave is probably 'Myra Breckenridge' by Gore Vidal- not for the faint-hearted, but has the most amazing twist ever. Can pm more info if you wish. Really good- have bought it for a few friends' birthdays.

Let us know what you decide!

Connie Willis is great fun. Sort of sci fi but with a very human twist. I'm currently reading Blackout which sees some time-travelling historians dropped into WW2 and trapped. I don't know if it ends happily as I'm only 2/3rds of the way through but it is very engaging and an easy but well-written read. I would recommend 'To Say Nothing of the Dog'.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Say_Nothing_of_the_Dog

I absolutely love Iain M Banks but would not recommend for a sci fi virgin!

Sorry, link again:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Say_Nothing_of_the_Dog

Oooh, Ender's game. I read that years ago.

I second "To Say Nothing of the Dog", especially if you've read "Three Men in a Boat."

For a sheer escapist romp (also on the time-travel theme) I suggest Diana Gabaldon's "Cross Stitch" (the US Title is Outlander). Thoroughly compelling with plenty of funny, saucy, happy and tense bits. Now I think of it there's a pretty harrowing bit near the end so avoid if you're after something 100% lighthearted. But on the whole I'd say it's a feel-good read.

What about Sarah Waters? Same genre as Crimson Petal and I think if you like that you will love Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet. Both great books IMO.

Old Man's War by John Scalzi. It's a sci-fi book, has sequels so if you really like it you can read more, and is funny in parts too.
A Gift Upon the Shore would probably make a nice one for a book club, or Earth Abides.
I'd second American Gods but it is a long book, maybe too big for a book club unless you don't mind waiting for everyone to finish. Anansi Boys by Gaiman is shorter and is really good, and some of the characters from it are in American Gods if anyone reads that one too.
Neil Gaiman actually has a little "page for Book Clubs" at the back of most of his books, he answers some of the "popular questions" and suggests things for people to discuss.

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue (who wrote Room) is a rollicking tale of a girl prostitute in London and Monmouth set in napoleonic times and is very saucy (I too love Crimson Petal)but didn't get much attention when released.

The Book of Skin by Michelle Lovric is also saucy but strange.
Under the skin by Michael Faber (who wrote Crimson Petal) is sort of sci - fi and very interesting - totally different to Crimson Petal

I came on here specially to recommend To Say Nothing Of The Dog. Very funny, and charming time travel romp.

The Children of Men by PD James

Thanks so much everyone - some great recommendations. I'll pass them on!

I really enjoyed Download: The Killer E-Book - and its free on Kindle this weekend

www.amazon.co.uk/Download-The-Killer-E-Book-ebook/dp/B007HO1T0M/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333789733&sr=1-1-spell

Forget Ian M Banks. Try Hyperion by Dan Simmons.