(From the "About the Author" section of Only Human): Tom Holt studied bar billiards, ancient Greek agriculture and the care and feeding of small, temperamental Japanese motorcycle engines at Oxford. This led him, perhaps inevitably, to qualify as a solicitor and specialise in death and taxes for 7 years before becoming a full-time writer.


Doesn't sound like a promising start? Well, trust me, it bizarrely is.

Holt's books are set in the real world, but it's not quite the real world we know. It's a world where the supernatural interacts nicely (if anything can be said to do so) with corporations, where God has another son whose name is Kevin, and where goblins live inside the walls of business blocks on St Mary's Axe in London.

Not all of these things are in the same book, mind you.

Holt definitely writes adult fairytales, stories about working life the way you sometimes wish it could be. It would be wise, though, to consider the adage "be careful what you wish for" when daydreaming about your occupation. Holt would have you understand that a portable door to anywhere isn't such a fun toy, nor is it brilliant when God's away on holiday and paintings can switch place with accountants.

On second thoughts, that last doesn't sound like any fun at all.

So far, I've just read three books by Tom Holt: The Portable Door and its sequel In Your Dreams, and the divinely funny (ooooh, I made a pun ... RAFO) Only Human. However, I really need to read more of them because I am certain they'll be just as great. He's written quite a few, as the wikipedia article I've linked below will tell you. Most of them reference (or simply parody) well-known myths and stories.

They're absolutely worth picking up when you want something light and funny and charming, or if you're looking at becoming British and need tips on sense of humour. If you've got a spare couple of hours, Only Human is a good place to start.

And then you should read more of them.

Yes.