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New York Times bestselling fantasy author Robert Asprin invites you into his popular "mythtifying" series that magically blends mayhem, wizardry, and mirth. In this frolicking tale, a naive and lazy magician's apprentice must stretch his powers to protect himself and his companions as they travel through exotic dimensions. When his master is assassinated, young Skeeve teams with Aahz, a yellow-eyed demon who has lost his powers. As they zip around the universe, looking for the killer, they show more match wits and spells with devilish imps, fire-breathing dragons, and a host of eerie, mythical beings. show lessTags
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Asprin, Robert L. Another Fine Myth. 1978. Myth Adventures No. 1. Ace, 2005.
When Robert Asprin died of a heart attack in 2008, the story is that his body was found on his sofa with an open novel by Terry Pratchett. I do not know for sure, but I would not be surprised to find that Pratchett had a collection of Asprin novels on his shelf. The first three of the myth adventures novels were published in the years leading up to The Colour of Magic. Pratchett and Asprin share an interdimensional fantasy world with a whole cast of reimagined figures from folklore and fairy tales, and it is hard not to draw comparisons between Asprin’s sorcerer’s apprentice Skeeve and Pratchett’s Rincewind. Both writers share a love of puns and are show more perfectly willing to let the quotidian world bleed into the fantasy realm when they feel like it. Asprin’s first tale begins when Skeeve, a student magician who has barely learned the first principles of levitation—only light objects, please—is left in the care of a demon from Perv who has lost his powers. Yes, some folks do call him a Pervert. What else? Many of the chuckles in Another Fine Myth come from the banter between the demon, Aahz (say it aloud), and his new student. Another bit of fun comes from the epigraphs at the heads of each chapter which give us fractured quotes—Darth Vader, for example, extoling the importance of good relations with employees. Some, I should warn you, have dated to the point that you may need a trip to Wikipedia to find the sources. D. Graeme, for instance, was world snooker champion in 1977. This series is definitely enjoyable the second time around. show less
When Robert Asprin died of a heart attack in 2008, the story is that his body was found on his sofa with an open novel by Terry Pratchett. I do not know for sure, but I would not be surprised to find that Pratchett had a collection of Asprin novels on his shelf. The first three of the myth adventures novels were published in the years leading up to The Colour of Magic. Pratchett and Asprin share an interdimensional fantasy world with a whole cast of reimagined figures from folklore and fairy tales, and it is hard not to draw comparisons between Asprin’s sorcerer’s apprentice Skeeve and Pratchett’s Rincewind. Both writers share a love of puns and are show more perfectly willing to let the quotidian world bleed into the fantasy realm when they feel like it. Asprin’s first tale begins when Skeeve, a student magician who has barely learned the first principles of levitation—only light objects, please—is left in the care of a demon from Perv who has lost his powers. Yes, some folks do call him a Pervert. What else? Many of the chuckles in Another Fine Myth come from the banter between the demon, Aahz (say it aloud), and his new student. Another bit of fun comes from the epigraphs at the heads of each chapter which give us fractured quotes—Darth Vader, for example, extoling the importance of good relations with employees. Some, I should warn you, have dated to the point that you may need a trip to Wikipedia to find the sources. D. Graeme, for instance, was world snooker champion in 1977. This series is definitely enjoyable the second time around. show less
The first book in Robert Asprin's MythAdventures series, Another Fine Myth introduces us to an apprentice wizard Skeeve and his frustrated mentor, Garkin. Skeeve is only half-heartedly studying his lessons as his real desire is to be a thief. Everything changes when Garkin is assassinated while summoning a demon. Now Skeeve and the purple-tongued demon Aahz the Perv must track down Garkin's killer.
Despite the grim sounding synopsis above, Another Fine Myth is a very light-hearted and funny fantasy story that never takes itself too seriously. Filled with narrow escapes, plenty of magic and encounters with strange and interesting characters, Skeeve and Aahz tend to escape using their wits and magic rather than brute force.
I very much show more enjoyed this first entry to the series. Robert Asprin spins a terrific yarn filled with humor. The universe he has created for this story is interesting. Similar enough to other fantasy stories that it is familiar, but unique enough that you don't feel like you are reading a parody of Tolkien. This is a funny book, but the humor is situational rather than slapstick and obvious. The jokes never seem forced; rather they arise organically from the story.
I very much enjoyed this first MythAdventure and am planning to read the rest of the series. show less
Despite the grim sounding synopsis above, Another Fine Myth is a very light-hearted and funny fantasy story that never takes itself too seriously. Filled with narrow escapes, plenty of magic and encounters with strange and interesting characters, Skeeve and Aahz tend to escape using their wits and magic rather than brute force.
I very much show more enjoyed this first entry to the series. Robert Asprin spins a terrific yarn filled with humor. The universe he has created for this story is interesting. Similar enough to other fantasy stories that it is familiar, but unique enough that you don't feel like you are reading a parody of Tolkien. This is a funny book, but the humor is situational rather than slapstick and obvious. The jokes never seem forced; rather they arise organically from the story.
I very much enjoyed this first MythAdventure and am planning to read the rest of the series. show less
All I can say is, I don't know why I've waited all these years to read these!!! I remember when these books first came out, and thinking that I would want to own them some day.
This first installment of the Myth Adventures was just absolutely witty and a lot of fun! Great characters and a great adventure! The character development was very thin, but I think that's what makes this a great (and short) book. Robert Asprin wastes no time in drudging his story down with pointless fleshing out of his characters. Get to the point and move on!
Aahz... I love this guy!!! Brilliant, funny and clever!!! Hands down my favorite character here!!! Even the minor "main" characters of Gleep and Tanda, not overly necessary but a great addition to the show more adventure, even though they didn't appear until much later in the story.
I will definitely be reading the rest of these little gems! show less
This first installment of the Myth Adventures was just absolutely witty and a lot of fun! Great characters and a great adventure! The character development was very thin, but I think that's what makes this a great (and short) book. Robert Asprin wastes no time in drudging his story down with pointless fleshing out of his characters. Get to the point and move on!
Aahz... I love this guy!!! Brilliant, funny and clever!!! Hands down my favorite character here!!! Even the minor "main" characters of Gleep and Tanda, not overly necessary but a great addition to the show more adventure, even though they didn't appear until much later in the story.
I will definitely be reading the rest of these little gems! show less
Punny, funny lighthearted romp in fantasy setting. The majority of the book is built on character conversations because Asprin excels at witty banter and wordplay. The fast-paced story is fun and good for a weekday read. Definitely plan to read some more in the series.
I am not a fan of Fantasy. I have only read a few and found I just couldn't get into the story.
This book was so different. Right from the very beginning until the last word. It slowly took me through the adventure, step by step. Throughout the book, I found myself smiling and giggling to myself. I couldn't wait until I picked it up again.
I look forward to reading the rest of the Myth series.
This book was so different. Right from the very beginning until the last word. It slowly took me through the adventure, step by step. Throughout the book, I found myself smiling and giggling to myself. I couldn't wait until I picked it up again.
I look forward to reading the rest of the Myth series.
Reread before giving to grandchildren.
Still funny as ever, but they won't get any of the current-events allusions and probably not any of the historical or literary references.
Such is life.
Note: reading dates are approximate.
Still funny as ever, but they won't get any of the current-events allusions and probably not any of the historical or literary references.
Such is life.
Note: reading dates are approximate.
A friend lent this to me saying it was funny. It wasn’t.
(Aside: This same friend really liked [b:Redshirts|13055592|Redshirts|John Scalzi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348617890s/13055592.jpg|18130445], so this is probably a matter of taste.)
Oh, it tried. It really tried. But every single one of the jokes fell flat for me.
We have a bumpkin wannabe-thief called Skeeve (that name really annoyed me; I wanted to just mentally substitute Steve or something) who uses hung when he means hanged (for hanging a person). Skeeve was apprenticed to a magician Garkin, who dies in the midst of calling up a demon, Aahz. Aahz offers to take Skeeve on as his apprentice instead (yes, he’s really just a magician from another dimension) and show more proceeds to teach Skeeve more magic (sorry, magik) in a few days than he’d learned in the last three years with Garkin. They go on an adventure. Yawn.
I’ve seen a few reviews comparing this series to Discworld. That’s a false comparison. Discworld is clever (yes, even [b:The Colour of Magic|601238|The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1365691644s/601238.jpg|194190]). This is just words on paper with some supposedly fast talking that lets you see the logical flaws coming a mile away while dumbfounding the characters. There’s a lot of talking.
I think I'll be passing on the rest of this series. show less
(Aside: This same friend really liked [b:Redshirts|13055592|Redshirts|John Scalzi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348617890s/13055592.jpg|18130445], so this is probably a matter of taste.)
Oh, it tried. It really tried. But every single one of the jokes fell flat for me.
We have a bumpkin wannabe-thief called Skeeve (that name really annoyed me; I wanted to just mentally substitute Steve or something) who uses hung when he means hanged (for hanging a person). Skeeve was apprenticed to a magician Garkin, who dies in the midst of calling up a demon, Aahz. Aahz offers to take Skeeve on as his apprentice instead (yes, he’s really just a magician from another dimension) and show more proceeds to teach Skeeve more magic (sorry, magik) in a few days than he’d learned in the last three years with Garkin. They go on an adventure. Yawn.
I’ve seen a few reviews comparing this series to Discworld. That’s a false comparison. Discworld is clever (yes, even [b:The Colour of Magic|601238|The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1365691644s/601238.jpg|194190]). This is just words on paper with some supposedly fast talking that lets you see the logical flaws coming a mile away while dumbfounding the characters. There’s a lot of talking.
I think I'll be passing on the rest of this series. show less
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Author Information
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
Some Editions
Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Another Fine Myth
- Original title
- Another Fine Myth
- Original publication date
- 1978
- People/Characters
- Skeeve; Aahz; Gleep; Buttercup; Tananda
- Important places
- Klahd; Deva
- Epigraph
- "There are things on heaven and earth, Horatio, Man was not meant to know." — HAMLET [epigraph to Chapter One]
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to
Bork The Indestructible
(Known to lesser mortals as George Hunt)
whose gruff but loyal friendship has seen me through many crises in the past...and probably in the future!... (show all)> - First words
- One of the few redeeming facets of instructors, I thought, is that occasionally they can be fooled. It was true when my mother taught me to read, it was true when my father tried to teach me to be a farmer, and it's true now ... (show all)that I'm learning magik.
- Quotations
- From the About the Author:
This first sally into the field of Sword and Sorcery promises to be to devotees of that genre what gunpowder was to warfare: a new and exciting way of getting the point across...but totally... (show all) unreliable and impractical. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I had an ugly feeling he was right.
- Original language
- English
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