Well, one characteristic is the use of absurd situations. For example, in 'Catch - 22', the idea that you can't be excused from flying dangerous missions because only insane people would want to fly them, but if you ask to be excused, you're considered sane so you have to fly. It's a really absurd concept that is funny in a dark way.
A sense of the absurd is crucial. 'Three Men in a Boat' is full of absurd moments. The men's over - reactions to small problems like thinking they have every disease in the book when they just feel a bit unwell. It's this kind of absurdity that makes the reader laugh out loud.
Dark humour novels often deal with serious or taboo topics like death, war, and social problems in a humorous way. For example, they might make jokes about the absurdity of war or the silliness of human behavior in the face of mortality.
One of the best is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It's set during World War II and uses black humor to expose the absurdity of war and military bureaucracy. The situations the characters find themselves in are both hilarious and tragic at the same time.
The use of irony is a big characteristic. Consider a story where a fitness fanatic is always talking about healthy eating but is caught secretly eating a whole box of chocolates. This irony creates humour. Satire can also be present in English humour stories. They can poke fun at social norms or human vices. And of course, the element of exaggeration, like a man claiming he has a million things to do when in fact he just has a few errands, is also quite common in these stories.
One characteristic is unexpected twists. For example, in a story where a character is expecting one thing to happen, like getting a big promotion at work, but instead they end up getting a job as a janitor in the same company. Another is the use of exaggerated characters. A character might be extremely clumsy or overly confident, which leads to humorous situations. Also, a lot of humour long stories play with language, like using puns or mispronunciations.
They often have comical characters. For example, in 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', characters like Ford Prefect are really funny. They also use absurd situations, like in 'Good Omens' where an angel and a demon team up. And there's usually a lot of witty dialogue.
One characteristic is that they often deal with taboo or serious topics in a light - hearted or unexpected way. For example, death, which is normally a very solemn subject, can be made into a joke in dark humour stories. Like the story where a man at his own funeral wakes up and says, 'You guys are making way too much noise.', which turns the very serious event of a funeral into something with a bit of dark comical twist.
One of the great ones is 'The Hating Game' by Sally Thorne. It's full of witty banter between the two main characters who start off as office rivals. Another is 'Red, White & Royal Blue' which has a humorous take on a fictional relationship between a British prince and the US president's son. And 'Beach Read' also stands out, with its two writers who challenge each other to write in different genres and the comical situations that unfold as they get to know each other better.
They often use irony. In dark humour short stories, things are not as they seem on the surface. The situation might be really bad, but the way it's presented, like through the use of sarcasm or a play on words, makes it humorous in a dark way. Take 'The Cask of Amontillado' where the narrator's false friendship and his act of revenge are told in a way that has this ironic and darkly humorous undertone.
Many of the best black novels often deal with themes related to race, such as discrimination, identity, and the struggle for equality. For example, in 'Native Son' by Richard Wright, we see the main character's battle against the systemic racism that surrounds him.