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Robert Asprin's classic fantasy seriea, now available in eBook! With cover and interior illustrations by Phil Foglio! A Myth-Adventure in C Having defeated the mad wizard, Isstvan, Skeeve and Aahz have taken over the remote inn that was the enemy's hideout. They're generally safe from visitors, and if not, Skeeve's growing magical abilities allow him to disguise himself and his friends as such repulsive serving staff that potential guests flee, screaming. Skeeve has grown bored of studying show more magic at the isolated inn, however, and one visitor who does not flee offers him an invitation for employment as court magician in the kingdom of Possiltum. Seeing a chance for easy profit and a little on the job training for his apprentice, Aahz agrees, Skeeve defeats the other applicants in a trial of magic to win the position, and that's when the fun really starts - the pair find out they've actually been hired in lieu of a professional national army or mercenaries to defeat a huge military invasion! They've also been used as pawns in a game of influence between the king's and General Badaxe is particularly unhappy that he got a magician for the kingdom's money instead of a few thousand soldiers. Even if they win, they'll most likely be killed by one court faction or another. What can a poor apprentice wizard and his demon teacher do? # 1 - Call on some good friends. # 2 - Cheat the odds. # 3 - Do whatever it takes to WIN! Weapons of Myth-D "Now that we've got a minute," Skeeve said, "would you mind telling me what your plan is? "Well," Aahz explained, "the way I figure it, we aren't going to overpower them. There are only seven of us and thousands of them. So the name of the game is Delay and D Right off the bat we've got two big weapons going for us,: "The gargoyle and the dragon?" Skeeve put in helpfully. "Fear and Bureaucracy," Aahz said. "What's Bureaucracy?" Skeeve asked. "The organization to get things done that keeps things from getting done," Aahz continued. "In this case, it's called the chain-of-command. An army the size of the one we're facing has to function like a well-oiled machine or it starts tripping over its own feet. I'm betting that if we toss a couple of handfuls of sand into the gears, they'll spend more time fighting each other than us." For once, Skeeve wished he hadn't asked Aahz for an explanation. show lessTags
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I finally got around to this series which I started forever ago, long before ebooks were even an idea. It's comic fantasy along the lines of Terry Pratchett but different. Easy to read/listen to, fun and usually has me enjoying it with a dopey smile on my face. This story sends Skeeve the apprentice magician on another adventure with Aahz the Pervert/Pervect Demon, the voluptuous Tanda and Gleep the dragon along with various other characters, becoming a court magician and attempting to stop a war against an immense army.
Great for a fun read with characters that are well written. Noah Michael Levine the Narrator does a fantastic job with so many different voices for the characters that it really brings them to life.
The quotes at the show more start of each chapter range from clever to amusing to hilarious. A worthy 5 star book. show less
Great for a fun read with characters that are well written. Noah Michael Levine the Narrator does a fantastic job with so many different voices for the characters that it really brings them to life.
The quotes at the show more start of each chapter range from clever to amusing to hilarious. A worthy 5 star book. show less
I usually find the second book in a series to be somewhat disappointing but this one is pretty solid. I've forgotten enough about the Myth series that rereading them makes it all seem new again but the absurdity of the resolution for the war is exactly what I love about this series by Robert Aspirin.
A marked improvement over the first installment in the series, with more likable characters and a more interesting plot. Besides, I'm a sucker for ensembles and team books, high this becomes. That being said, it's written in a somewhat simple style, as if for younger readers, and that doesn't really work for me.
Asprin Robert L. Myth Conceptions. 1981. Myth Adventures No. 2. Ace 2005.
If you like Another Fine Myth, you will find the same pleasures in Myth Conceptions. Of special note is the character of Ajax, the old archer, who always hits what he aims at between naps. I cannot help but believe Terry Pratchett had him in mind when he created Cohen the Barbarian. Asprin is a writer who deserves to be more recognized for his influence on other writers. If you have never read his work, you owe to yourself to pick one up.
If you like Another Fine Myth, you will find the same pleasures in Myth Conceptions. Of special note is the character of Ajax, the old archer, who always hits what he aims at between naps. I cannot help but believe Terry Pratchett had him in mind when he created Cohen the Barbarian. Asprin is a writer who deserves to be more recognized for his influence on other writers. If you have never read his work, you owe to yourself to pick one up.
Myth Conceptions, the follow up to Another Fine Myth finds Aahz talking Skeeve into trying out for a court magician’s post in the tiny kingdom of Possiltum. Those civil service jobs are a magicians dream!
As usual there’s more than meets the eye and the next thing you know Skeeve is caught up in a power struggle between a general and a chancellor. Did I mention he also has to single-handedly defend Possiltum from an invading roamin' empire?
As in the first book, Robert Asprin gleefully piles the complications on Skeeve and Aahz who solve their troubles with wit and magic rather than brute strength.
I’d say this book is more humorous than the first book. Aahz can always be counted on to throw out a bad pun, usually one with a show more reference to Earth culture that the other characters don’t get but we do. Old friends return for another go and new guys are introduced. I hope we see more of Gus the gargoyle. But again with all this going on, Asprin doesn’t lose sight of the story. The story never felt like a framework to hang jokes on. I was always interested in what was going to happen next.
Overall, I am very much enjoying this series and plan to read all twelve of the original Asprin books. I hope they are as entertaining as these first two have been. show less
As usual there’s more than meets the eye and the next thing you know Skeeve is caught up in a power struggle between a general and a chancellor. Did I mention he also has to single-handedly defend Possiltum from an invading roamin' empire?
As in the first book, Robert Asprin gleefully piles the complications on Skeeve and Aahz who solve their troubles with wit and magic rather than brute strength.
I’d say this book is more humorous than the first book. Aahz can always be counted on to throw out a bad pun, usually one with a show more reference to Earth culture that the other characters don’t get but we do. Old friends return for another go and new guys are introduced. I hope we see more of Gus the gargoyle. But again with all this going on, Asprin doesn’t lose sight of the story. The story never felt like a framework to hang jokes on. I was always interested in what was going to happen next.
Overall, I am very much enjoying this series and plan to read all twelve of the original Asprin books. I hope they are as entertaining as these first two have been. show less
Wizard-in-training Skeeve and his demon mentor Aahz take a job as court magicians for the kingdom of Possiltum. Seeking a comfortable life, they instead find themselves tasked with defending the realm against a massive invading army using only wits, illusion, and a small team.
The duo must navigate the high-stakes, comedic, and, in fact, dangerous situation to protect the kingdom without actually having a functional military force.
The duo must navigate the high-stakes, comedic, and, in fact, dangerous situation to protect the kingdom without actually having a functional military force.
...wherein Skeeve lands a job as court magician for the King of Possiltum. Very soon he and Aahz find out that their first task is to stop the huge army about to invade Possiltum, and whether or not they succeed their lives are on the line. But things are not always as hopeless as they seem — sometimes they are even worse.
Inconsequential but funny and fluffy fantasy. I rather liked the way Asprin hints, without saying it in so many words, that using magic is largely a question of psychology — not unlike Pratchett's witches, in other words.
Inconsequential but funny and fluffy fantasy. I rather liked the way Asprin hints, without saying it in so many words, that using magic is largely a question of psychology — not unlike Pratchett's witches, in other words.
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Author Information
222+ Works 49,825 Members
Robert Lynn Asprin was born June 28, 1946 in St. Johns, Michigan to Daniel and Lorraine Asprin. Asprin attended the University of Michigan from 1964-65. In 1965, Robert served in the U.S. Army until mid-1966. Asprin then began a career as an accountant, moving up to cost accountant in a small subsidiary of the Xerox Corporation in Ann Arbor in show more 1976. In 1975, Asprin began working upon a science-fiction novel called Cold Cash War. Asprin sold this idea to St. Martin's Press and soon found himself a published writer. When other publishers approached him for a second novel, Asprin revealed that he had written up a draft of a comedy-fantasy work originally entitled The Demon and I, but they felt that he shouldn't stray far from the science-fiction of his first work. So Asprin began work on The Bug Wars. While working on The Bug Wars, Asprin was approached by Donning Publishing, and asked if he had a submission for their new publishing house, Starblaze. Asprin showed them The Demon and I, which Donning quickly accepted. At the last minute the title was changed to the familiar Another Fine Myth, which became quite popular. With that, Asprin quit his job and started his career as a fulltime freelance writer. Asprin wrote and edited over 50 books. He died of a myocardial infarction at home in his bed on May 22, 2008. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Myth Conceptions
- Original title
- Myth Conception
- Alternate titles*
- Drachenfutter
- Original publication date
- 1980
- People/Characters
- Skeeve; Aahz
- Important places
- Possiltum; Deva
- First words
- Of all the various unpleasant ways to be aroused from a sound sleep, one of the worst is the noise of a dragon and a unicorn playing tag.
- Quotations
- "I still say the job‘s too big for one person, or three people for that matter," I insisted.
"You‘re right, kid," Aahz said solemnly.
"We just can‘t… what did you say, Aahz?"
"I said you were right," Aahz rep... (show all)eated.
"I thought so," I marveled. "I just wanted to hear it again."
"You‘d hear it more often if you were right more often," Aahz pointed out. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I had a hunch that was going to be the best news I would hear for a long time.
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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