fyrefly98: Both are send-ups of fantasy conventions (and D-heavy titles!): Dealing with Dragons focuses more on fairy tales while Dark Lord of Derkholm deals more with high/quest fantasy.

erikrebooted: Another crossover between the mundane and the magical.

nessreader: both pick up on fantasy-novel tropes and wring them out like a dishcloth.

lquilter: Send-ups of the tropes. *Dark Lord of Derkholm* is rather more humorous; *Grunts!* is rather more darkly and scatalogically humorous.

lquilter: I picked Dark Lord of Derkholm almost at random, but I would recommend any of Diana Wynne Jones's books to folks who enjoyed Zen Cho's "Sorcerer to the Crown". There's a similar sort of dry, wry, whimsical humor that is ticklishly familiar. Sorcerer to the Crown: "She started awake when Mr. Wythe entered the room, but before she could decide what to do, he began to talk. After a moment's confusion Prunella realised he was not speaking to her. Indeed, he did not seem to be addressing anybody that she could see. This was pleasingly sorcerous of Mr. Wythe." If that line tickled you, then Diana Wynne Jones' writing will also tickle and delight.… (mehr)