Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Robert Asprin's Myth)

Book Description

Revolution is in the air. The king's court sorcerer is being eyed with suspicion. Not for dabbling in the black arts...not for consorting with a demon...not for having a dragon as a pet...not even for being mobbed up. But for the greatest crime of all: raising taxes.

Who is this terrible tyrant? None other than Skeeve the Great.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen...

Customer Reviews:

Sweet MYTH-tery of Life part 2.......2007-07-06

It was the book prior told from another view point that gave close to the previous books cliffhanger ending. Weak. The series that went out with a whimper.

Something's MYTH Inc., all right.......2007-01-25

The MYTH series was one of my favorites, so much so that I would pick up anything with a title that used the MYTH tag in it. Reading Asprin's intros to the last few books, I understand he was under contract to write a set number of these books and was having some problems in his personal life (including with the IRS). But -- really, folks. This is an example of what happens when a publisher knows a series title will sell but the author's heart is just not in it anymore. This and its companion volume, Sweet MYTH-tery of Life, miss everything that made the earlier series great. A MYTH novel that's boring and whose attempts at humor fall flat? How can that be? There's essentially no plot to either one, and the narrative, even when he tries to recapture Guido's memorable style, reminds you of TV two-parters where you know they really didn't have enough material for two complete episodes and so throw in extended scenes of music videos and the like (so you are forced to say, "Guess they were a little short on plot.") I notice that they bundled Sweet MYTH tery not with this novel, its companion, but with the stronger MYTH Inc in Action (and most of the reviewers are commenting solely on the latter). And apparently now the series is continuing under the pen of a second author... The inclusion of entries like Piers Anthony and Harry Potter in the glossary combine with the content of these two travesties almost make you feel Asprin was thumbing his nose at the publisher who'd forced him to keep writing (either that or the two books were written by an unattributed ghost writer trying -- and failing -- to catch Asprin's wonderfully fresh style)

A finale after a break.......2006-08-13

Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. should be called Something Missing as the pun intends. This is clearly a book that was put together with very little forethought and was intended to be the culmination of a contract requirement. As Robert Aspring writes in his introduciton, this book is the 12th volume and finishes his contractual requirement to write the second set of six books. The book is actually a collection of sorts. The first 150 pages or so finish up the M.Y.T.H. series by following the tired recipe of Guido telling the story from his point of view and explaining to us why Gleep was shot at the end of the last M.Y.T.H book.

To accomplish this feat, Asprin rewinds time and starts this volume before Skeeve manages to resolve his problems with Queen Hemlock in Possiltum. One of the things that I thought Aspring really misses out on is that his original idea around M.Y.T.H. was to tell the stories from the points of view of the other members of the company. However, outside of the first one, he only uses Guido as the story teller. This is a major miss as in this volume it would have been much more fun to hear Pookie or Gleep tell their side - let alone Aahz!! But instead, we get the corny fake mob-lish that Guide dispenses with impunity.

the other thing that bothers me is that it is clear that Asprin decides to end the series of M.Y.T.H. books at this point. Now, it is clear that Aspring still has ideas about what to do with Skeeve and Aahz as the continuing appearance of Myth books attests, but the rest of the crew is apparently beyond him at this point. About halfway into the book we see the gang start to dissipate as they go off on their own pursuits and no one is surprised when Skeeve resigns from M.Y.T.H. and ends it all.

The second part of the book is written from Skeeve's point of view. What is this? Why is this? No clue!

The third part is also obviously intended to help as page filler as it is a compendium of characters and places that appeared in the various volumes of the series.

As I said, this was clearly written to complete an obligation and is therefore bereft of the normal joys associated with this series. I only recommend that you buy this book if you want to have a complete set of Asprin or his M.Y.T.H series.

This book was really dissapointing.......2004-08-03

Both I and my son have been great fans of the Myth series for some time and were eagerly anticipating this book. Unfortunately, there was little plot, action, or character development. It reminded me of someone getting tired of reading to a sleepy kid and saying "and they all lived happily ever after the end" and snapping the book shut.

Weak ending to a mediocre series.......2004-03-05

I started reading the Myth books in college and enjoyed them quite a bit until Myth-nomers and Impervections, which started the downward trend to the books. I pretty much lost track of the series since Asprin also stopped writing them on a regular basis, but recently decided to finish off the adventures of Skeeve and co. once and for all. I first reread the original 6 or 7 books that I still find entertaining, although not as much as I did some 10 years ago, then slogged through the rest of the series and finally got around to Something M.Y.T.H.Inc.

Basically, the book is a rehash as well as a cop out of the events in Sweet Mythery of Life and their consequences. What might've had some good potential for tension and drama were turned into bad jokes. Pookie shooting Guido? Gleep getting shot? All a misunderstanding. Hell, the whole "uprising" is one big joke. It's like Asprin couldn't think of a good way to resolve some plot threads he set up earlier and said hell with it all.

Also, why is it that the majority of the non-Skeeve viewpoints in the M.Y.T.H.Inc stories are handled by Guido? Nothing against the guy, but I'd really like to see some of the other characters' POV's, especially Aahz or Tanda. The faux-mob speech also really grates after a while. It really feels like Asprin missed out on several good opportunities exit the series on a high note.

My advice to anyone who hasn't started the series yet would be to stop reading at Little Myth Marker. M.Y.T.H.Inc Link is still a tolerable read, but sets up a lot of things that will require to read some very bad books to find answers for.

Average customer rating:

I waited for this?
A return to the past but not quite jelling yet
Skip This One
I would rather have not ever read it
We Mythed the Series Too Much

Myth-ion Improbable (Myth Books)
Robert Asprin
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 044100962X
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Book Description

Apprentice magician Skeeve, his scaly mentor Aahz and beautiful ex-assassin Tanda are back-and this time they're treasure hunting in a dimension that combines the Wild West with the vampire-cursed hills of Transylvania-where gold is common as dirt, and danger lurks behind every sagebrush.

Customer Reviews:

I waited for this?.......2007-07-06

I got this book when it first came out and have finally muscled my way through it after putting it down several times. I have to say, it makes me sad. First I had to wonder about the editing, or even if it was edited at all. I mean a lot of there were what seemed to be a lot of typos. Tananda was replaced with Tanda and Klah for Klahd etc. But looking at reviews for the new books it seems that it was on purpose. I will spare people the gory details but this story falls flat on its face in a kiddie pool of tripe. Sorry Mr. Asprin but sometimes the truth hurts.

While it is the authors prerogative the change cannon or continuity when he feels like, it is also the prerogative of the reader to simply stop reading. So that is what I am going to do. The original series (Myth #1-10) are in inspiration and really give other authors such as Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett a run for their literary money. But now they are quite safe.

So if you are new to the series stick with the original ace books minus this one and Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Though you may have to read SMI to get closure from Sweet Myth-tery of Life but stop there.)

A return to the past but not quite jelling yet.......2006-10-16

As Robert Asprin notes in his Forward, this book came about because of the long hiatus in the series. Apparently the author was distracted by other concerns and let eight years lapse before he was ready to tackle Skeeve, Aahz and the crew again; So, to shake off the dust, he created a new novel as a throwback in time to earlier in the career of the crew. That is why we see Skeeve back in his role as the gangly, uncoordinated, and apologetic apprentice rather than the successful CEO of M.Y.T.H. Inc.

Given that background, it is understandable that this volume does not quite measure up to the rest of the series. It is clear to me that Robert Asprin struggled mightily to recreate the bright, funny, witty, and amusing world that was the origins of this successful series. Even the quotes that grace the beginning of each chapter seemed rather strained in this volume - unlike the droll and witty ones that we were accustomed to seeing. Also, there are many slight mistakes in this book that show that Asprin was not quite where he needed to be (for instance, some of the character types in this book are also in the other volumes, but in a very different way)

So, is this book bad? No! It is not a bad book and it is not hard to read. On the other hand, it is not a "customary" MYTH book either. Clearly the author had a difficult time getting back in to the swing of things here, but that does not mean that there are no successes in this book, and it certainly does not mean that you should not pick it up and read it!

In this volume, Skeeve reveals that he purchased a magical treasure map during the ramp up to the Big Game. Aahz is immediately drawn to the thought of a treasure hunt that would yield a golden cow giving off gold-flecked milk and so Aahz, Skeeve, and Tananda are off to the races. The romping adventure leads the crew to a strange dimension where there are only cows, horses, and people. Oh, by the way, the cowboys are all vegetarians.

As is true in this world, one strange thing leads to another and the crew finds out that there are some really nasty vampires on this world (unlike the friendlier vampires that are discovered later on in their careers) who do suck the blood out of people. There is also a huge castle with all kinds of rooms and secret passages that must be traversed. Finally, Skeeve solves the various puzzles and puzzling events that occur in the book and brings everyone happily back home ... albeit with a different treasure than what they were expecting.

So that leaves one in a quandary: Is it really necessary to read this book for the enjoyment of the Skeeve saga? Yes and no. If you are interested in an orderly development of the story and the characters, then you do not need to read this book. On the other hand, if you are a collector who wants the whole series, or if you are interested in the struggles of the writer as he tries to recreate himself, then this book provides for interesting insights into the craft of writing.

Skip This One.......2005-10-23

I am a die-hard Myth series fan, but I advise you to avoid this one like the plague. The originial Myth series was great because of its characters and its humor. This book is suppose to take place during the same timeframe, but it is jarringly out of place with the originials.

Reasons to avoid this book:

1. The Skeeve, Aahz, and Tananda that appear in this book are not their old selves. They lack the freshness and energy that made the old books a joy to read and re-read. Here, they're just kind of...flat. It's like going from the characters in the original Star Wars trilogy to the ones in the new one. Something is greatly diminished and it only left me feeling disappointed.

2. The plot is terrible. I found it bizarre and creepy. It's kind of macabre and very unlike the heart-warming tone of the earlier books.

3. The storyline does not feed into any other Myth books, so you don't miss anything if you skip this one. Some of the later Myth books are not that great, but are still must-reads if you want to find out what happens to the characters. Not so with this one.

In short, I wish I had those hours of my life back that I spent reading this book. I recommend skipping this one and re-reading one of the old ones instead.

I would rather have not ever read it.......2004-05-21

Yes, it really IS that bad! It's a total aberration amongst a group of great books that I really love.

We Mythed the Series Too Much.......2004-05-17

It's been many, many years since I finished the last page of the last Myth book, reeling from the cliffhanger ending. As the years went by, the whole series faded into dim memory. So, when I began to read Myth-Ion Improbable I found myself trying to compare it to . . . what? Was the Myth series really as good as I remember it being? Ultimately, I gave up trying to fit this one into the rest of the series and decided to evaluate it on its own merits, such as they are.

Asprin gives us an interesting, if poorly developed, plot involving cow vampires in a Western-style universe (sort of a spoiler there, but it's fairly obvious well before Skeeve figures it out). There are some amusing bits here, but only a few rise to the level of actual knee-slapping. What we end up with is a short novel that can be read in a couple of hours without in any way energizing or taxing the brain cells. Pure, mindless, harmless fluff.

Book Description

Someone--or something--masquerading as Skeeve the Magnificent is racking up hundreds of thousands of gold pieces of debt. It's up to Aahz the Pervect (not pervert!) to find the myth-creant and put an end to the shopping spree.

Customer Reviews:

Shopping gone mad..........2007-04-05

This is a good book, and definately fitting of the Myth series. With that said, it was a little slow and seemed to jump from slow to "skipped over" in a few spots. Not quite as enjoyable as the rest of the series, but still worthy of the read.

Who wrote / illustrated this book?.......2007-02-03

Myth-Taken Identity is the 14th book in the Myth series so there is a kind of familiarity among followers of the series. Even with the long hiatus that took place because of Bob Asprin's IRS troubles, there is a significant body of work that one can read and appreciate the Myth world and what it represents and how it is written. In this case, this book is clearly written by someone other than Bob Asprin.

The Myth series has always relied on a kind of light humor with gentle touches - in the book just prior to this one, Skeeve goes to help the lamb-like denizen of the Wuhs dimension (that's right - wusses!). In this book there is none of that gentle humor and fun puns. Instead we are treated to a 290+ page screed against the american mall culture, wrapped around a storyline that has no mystery to it, enveloped in a pure action sequence. to give some examples of what I mean: the mall manager is named Moa (Mall of America); Many of the escapades revolve around selling "exclusive" merchandise in "exclusive" events; the main trinket that is the object of many characters is the Gold Master Card; and on and on and on.

The story is told from Aahz's perspective which is actually a first. Supposedly this happens while Skeeve is on Wuhs so only Aahz, Massha, and Chumley are involved. Chumley is described as being purple with mismatched eyes in different sizes - VERY different than the descriptions of his green sister Tananda! Since Aahz does not have magical powers, he has to solve the problem by brute force - which he does - but the problem for me is that Aahz was always the more brainy operator who could figure things out and not need to use his strength. So, this is another degradation of the Myth mythology.

The troublemakers in this story are Mall Rats (huh, huh) who try to get powerful magic by stealing people's identities (huh huh, again) and who shoplift and steal stuff for the joy of it. The Myth gang is accompanied by a few new characters who were fun to read about and eventually the gang is captured. An incongruity here is that the gang leader is supposedly a stupid janitor yet he manages to outsmart Aahz and gang repeatedly. Until the end of the book, every trap that the Myth'ers lay is foiled and the mall rats are always outprepared and outthink Aahz and his cronies.

The front cover illustration is another miss. Massha is depicted as a female pervect while Aahz is given an orange beard (!!) Obviously the illustrator had very imperfect knowledge of the characters and the story line!

So, was there anything good about this story? Well, if you set aside the expectations you might have from Asprin's previous work, then this was a pretty fun and mindless action story. The final sequence when Aahz and the gang manage to get their hands on the culprit is well paced. It is completely nonsensical in that everytime the culprit changes his shape he manages to gain the powers of that being while Aahz's changes do nothing, but overall it is a fun conclusion.

So, if you are an Asprin fan, this will irritate you. If you have no idea what Myth, Aahz, Skeeve mean, then enjoy it.

Not a Myth book.......2006-09-30

First let me say that I'm a recent convert to the Myth fan persuasion. I recently ready the first twelve books and by and large enjoyed all of them. Myth-Taken Identity, however, just is not the same. Sure the characters in this book have the same names and some of the same descriptions as the rest the characters in the rest of the series, but it just has a different feel.

At first it grated on me (actually Chumley's speech still does... just adding "what?" to the end of a sentence doesn't make it British). After about 1/3 of the way through I settled down and decided that since this isn't really a Myth book, I'll just take it on its own and see how it is. The result: nothing stellar. It's not terrible, but not particularly good. Say about 2.5, maybe 3 stars. But try as I may, I keep coming back to thinking what this book could have been. Take the same basic plot line and write a book that's really the same feel and humor as the Myth series, and that would be a good book.

Actually, my number one complaint of this book is that things are described in too much detail. One of Robert Asprin's great skills was giving enough of a description to pass on important character information and perhaps a few important physical traits. The rest is left to the reader to fill in. This book drastically deviated from my mental model of several characters. I liked mine better because they were mine. In my opinion it would have been better to stick with the original style.

pathetic.......2006-04-23

Another great writer sells out. Read the original series but forget the rest. Nothing but pap, bad puns, and even worse dialoque. It's obvious that Mr Asprin does very little in regards to providing imput on the new books. I was barely able to finish the book instead of throwing it away in disgust. To sum it up; this and the other myth books with the co-authors are pure garbage. The death of a good series and not a dignify one.

Irritating..........2005-11-07

..is the best way I can describe this installment of the resurrected MYTH series. While I was very fond of the last book (and the first one JLN co-authored), this one just doesn't ring true.

While it is good to see Aahz, Chumley, and Mashha back in action, and while I found the identity theft hook intriguing, almost everything else just fell flat. The whole Mall setting gets dull real fast. (And the depiction of the store owners in the mall as a closely knit community? As someone who has worked in retail, that's just bull-pucky. Mr. Asprin got it right in the adventure when Skeeve went to Perv and had to deal with the indifferent staff at a department store.)

And that's another thing: In Myth-Nomers and Im-Perv-ections, THERE ARE LARGE DEPARTMENT STORES! Almost mall like! Why is Aahz so stunned by the existence of a mall? I dunno. Just more of the lazy writing that has plagued the last few books of the series. In fact, any pretense of the medieval feel of the first few books is long gone. People chat on cell phones at Starbucks and type on their laptops.

The villain in this novel is pathetic and it is not really explained why he has suddenly evolved into this super magical being. The last 2/3rds of the book are just repetitious, as the gang sets up a plan to catch him and he foils it. Repeat. Again. And there really is no reason why it should take this long to catch him. (And Robert? Jody? The last Lord of the Rings movie came out two years ago. Let's move on. Please.)

On the plus side, the characters are starting to seem more like the ones I remember reading a decade ago. However, this is the first Myth book that I haven't actually bought. Since the quality has varied so much over the last few installments, I thought it best to get it out of the library. I think I'm going to keep that up for a while.

Myth Alliances (Myth Adventures, 13) (Asprin, Robert. Myth Adventure Series, 1.)

Average customer rating:

Skeeve is back! - with mods...
I can't believe Asprin wrote this.
Did it really need to take 29 chapters?
Postmodern Gobley gook
This book does not disappoint

Myth Alliances (Myth Adventures, 13) (Asprin, Robert. Myth Adventure Series, 1.)
Robert Asprin , and Jody Lynn Nye
Manufacturer: Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1592220096

Book Description

Here it is! The first novel in the brand new Myth Adventures Series, by the authors of Liscence Invoked! Robert Asprin teams up with Jody Lynn Nye (Applied Mythology and Advanced Mythology) to bring you a brand new set of Myth Adventures with Skeeve, Aahz, Tanda, and the rest of the gang! Will be followed in 2004 by Myth-taken Identity. "You want me to do what?" Aahz gasped, spitting a mouthful of beer clear across the open dance floor. The tuba player gave him a chiding glance and turned his instrument over to empty it. "Ten... Female... PERVECTS!? A dimension full of Wuhses? The Deveels cheated them out of their last dime, and the Pervects got it back for them? And now they want us to throw the Pervects out? Mmm, mmm." He slammed his mug down. I recoiled slightly at the violence of the gesture. His lips twisted. His shoulders started to heave. "Mmm mmm mmm. Ha ha ha ha. HAWHAWHAWHAWHAW! HAWHAWHAWHAWHAW!" He laughed until the building rang with the sound of his voice. The other patrons watched him nervously as he slapped me on the back, stood up, slipped to his knees, and slid down the trestle of the table until he was sitting on the floor laughing. Soon, he recovered and climbed up to his feet again. He took my hand in a crushing grip. "Aw, part-Skeeve," he said, wiping tears from his yellow eyes. "I've missed you, kid. That is one of the best jokes I've heard in months. Really did me good. Fraulein!" He held up a hand and snapped his fingers. "A round for my friends!" "But I'm serious," I stated.

Customer Reviews:

Skeeve is back! - with mods..........2006-12-23

Skeeve the Great is back. The Great Magician Skeeve is back in a rip-snorting, lollygagging new adventure and he is as good as he used to be!

This book is the first in the new series of Skeeve books and Robert Asprin has taken on an collaborator (Jody Lynn Nye) to help him write the next installment in this humorous adventure saga that manages to poke fun at mayn sacred institutions. This is the first volume from a new publisher and also the first under this collaborative arrangement which the Editor's Note at the beginning of the book attributes to the stress of writing under timeline pressure. However a quick scan of the internet also yields another possible cause - Robert Jordan's tangles with the IRS.

Neve mind that, this adventure restores Skeeve to his glory as a bumbling adventurer and apprentice mage. The story takes place after the demise of M.Y.T.H. inc. and has Skeeve back in Klahd with Bunny, Gleep, and Buttercup as his sole associates as he tries to come to grips with his own (lack of) growth as a wizard. Then, along comes a sheeplike being from the dimension of Wuhs (yes, all the inhabitants are Wuhses!) who asked Skeeve for help since his dimension has been taken over by the Ten Pervects! This is a company of female Pervects who are ostensibly taking over every dimension they can. Well, that certainly gets Skeeve's attention so he recruits Tananda and off the merry gang go to save the dimensions.

One zany episode after another takes place and the authors poke fun at all kinds of topics, like self-help authors, computer culture, mass marketing, and on and on. At the end a positive resolution takes place as Skeeve sets everyone straight and gets that Wuhses to take control of their dimension.

While it is not possible to see the seamlines of the collaboration directly, I was struck by the differences in approach. In this volume we are treated to a split screen in a sense. Some of the text is written from the point of view of The Ten Pervects which necessarily imparts a whole different viewpoint on the proceedings. I do not recall something like this being done in previous volumes with the notable exception of the Guido-views of M.Y.T.H. but then they were being told from Skeeve's party point of view - not the adversary.

About the only thing I did not like came at the end of the book. Aahz makes a cameo appearance in the first person and claims to have been involved in the epic scene that causes the resolution of all the problems. What really irritated me was the final page or so where the stage is set for the next adventure. There was really no call for that as the Skeeve books will clearly continue. So, I took away one star for that big blooper. Otherwise a very enjoyable read.

I can't believe Asprin wrote this........2005-08-12

I've loved his previous books, but Robert Asprin completely dropped the ball... that is if he even wrote the book. The glaring mistakes in the world he created, as were pointed out by other reviewers, makes me question whether or not he took much of a hand in writing it. Even more suggestive of a limitted role is the vastly different style that this book is written in which is, quite frankly, just NOT funny anymore (not even mildly amusing!). The characters don't even have personalities consistent with the previous books.

Looking at the cover, I wouldn't be surprised if Jody Lynn Nye wrote this since I have trouble believing Asprin could turn out such a painful piece. If that's the case, he needs to drop her as she's turning what was one of the greatest fantasy/humor series into garbage.

I am somewhat surprised that others haven't noticed the disparity in quality between this book and previous ones. Many readers may genuinely like the book, but people: just having "Myth" in the title and Robert Asprin's name on it doesn't make it good. Think.

Did it really need to take 29 chapters?.......2005-08-03

As a long time MYTH-series lover, I was so excited to have a new MYTH book to read. I was terribly enthusiastic through MYTH-ION Improbable but my reading pace slowed to a crawl through MYTH Alliances. The plot was predictable, the puns came across as merely a substitute for imagination, and I really didn't feel as if I were getting to know the characters any better. You could see where the plot was headed from chapter 1. Three weeks on my desk and 29 chapters later, it went exactly where I thought it would and took an inordinate amount of time to get there. In addition, Asprin and Nye have taken to making Skeeve's character just plain uninteresting. Before he had his faults, but he was still endearing. Now, he's matured into a standard, boring adult. Bring back the orginal creativity and spark!

Postmodern Gobley gook.......2005-06-09

The bad guys aren't really bad; the good guys aren't really good. There is none of the humor, sensibilities, or character of his first three books in the series.

Mr. Asprin can be a fine, funny writer but has a tendency to lose both control and track of his characters. What started out as a fine funny romp in 'Another Fine Myth' has settled down into formulaic nonsense in which the characters don't have character, they have stereotypes. The characters aren't flawed, they are plot points. No exploration of the humor of the human condition, just something else to resolve to extend the text a few pages.

What could be interesting interplay between a not quite mature or worldly boy wizard and a way too worldly Businesswoman Bunny is completely... well... nothing. There is no there there. Tananda has been relegated to a set piece (where is the fiery whimsical assassin who said "Bark at the moon, Istavon"?). The rest of the guys remind me of Michael York's Basil Exposition in the Austin Powers movies. They are simply there to inject or resolve plot points that Rob didn't have the imagination to deal with properly. Also, when did Ahaz become Yoda?

The whole series died somewhere during `Little Myth Marker' and perhaps should have stayed dead.

Let the flames wars begin!

This book does not disappoint.......2005-04-19

I enjoy humor and I love punny tales. I only started reading this series (after myriad recommendations) earlier this year. Trust me, if you have a funny bone, be sure to have a glass of water at hand, you may very well need it.

Myth-Nomers and Im-pervections (Myth Series)

Average customer rating:

What was expected
myth-ing the point
Skeeve is too stupid in this one.
to myth or not to myth
A very funny book, worth re-reading a million times!

Myth-Nomers and Im-pervections (Myth Series)
Robert Asprin
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441014615

Book Description

Skeeve is living large as the president and founder of M.Y.T.H. Inc., a co-op of magik consultants-until his demon cohort, Aahz, resigns and leaves in a huff. Now Skeeve finds himself in the missing Pervect's home dimension, the worst neighborhood in the galaxy.

Customer Reviews:

What was expected.......2001-11-15

Personally, I dont' understand the direction some of the other reviews have taken. I enjoyed the book (As I had all the books preceeding) immensely.

Though Perv wasn't quite as bad as I would have expected it to be (Picture New York, only every fat half-drunk slob has the proportional strength to dismember you in seconds, magic is interwoven to technology, and food has a tendency to leave yoru bowl if you don't eat it quickly), it was still an interesting world for Skeeve to get lost in.

As for Skeeve, we get to see that beneath the exterior we see him try to build up in the previous novel, he's still nervous, inexperienced, and for once, finding himself without the security blanket of his friends that he has been able to rely on up to this novel. Fortunatly, the dumb luck that he possessed from page one of book one still remains, and he needs it.

Due to it's late nature in the seires, one would be recommended to read eariler novels first, but if it's your first time in the myth world, it can still be a fun book, if not one as understood (Several elements in this book will make much less sense).

myth-ing the point.......2001-11-08

I love his books (up to now). I think they are inspired, quite often he is better than Pratcett, and lets face it that is good. However the main feeling I get form this book is that it lack humility, subject and perhaps most importantly a point. It has good jokes, some excelent moments but overall it has no heart. Sorry Robert but this one fails to impress.

Skeeve is too stupid in this one........1999-10-26

I greatly enjoyed the first six books in this series, but Skeeve has learned a lot in them. He can't still be this dumb. I enjoyed Aahz's world of Perv, though.

to myth or not to myth.......1999-03-06

I have been astounded once again with Robert Asprin's myth series. The series just keeps getting better and better the more you read. The way he portrays everyone. Myth Directions, M.Y.T.H. INC. Link, and HIT OR MYTH are only a few to prove what a great writer this man is. I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

A very funny book, worth re-reading a million times!.......1998-12-10

Having read every book in the Myth series by Robert Aspirin, I can say that it is very good. Mixing slapstick with a dry wit has made it a very good read. I salute the author and hope to aspire to his stature some day!

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Two stories in one slim volume
Skeeve on his own, well... sorta
Warning! This book will make you laugh!
Wow, wow and well you get the idea

Hit or Myth (Robert Asprin's Myth)
Robert Asprin
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441013953

Book Description

The apprentice Skeeve is just getting used to his duties as Court Magician of Possiltum. Then King Roderick decides to take a powder, leaving Skeeve in his place to marry his homicidal fiancée and face the Mob's fairy godfather-who makes him an offer he can't refuse.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Castles and courts suck.

Skeeve is left with a lot more than he really wants to have to deal with, let alone just the whole court magician gig. The king bails out due to impending nuptials, and this then leaves someone's mother mad at him, not to mention a fairy godfather, of the somewhat mafioso flavor, as opposed to the Glinda flavour.

Two stories in one slim volume.......2006-02-23

This Myth book is the fourth in the series. Like the others, this book is chock-full of marry mischiefmaking as Skeeve, the young magic apprentice, and his master Aahz, the powerless demon, continue to experience eeary adventures.

In this volume, Aahz is spirited back to his dimension just as Skeeve is being commanded to replace the king so the king can go on vacation. Now, why would a king want a vacation, asks Skeeve about one moment too late? Because of some deals that will likely cause him to be killed. Skeeve manages to extricate himself from this mess by creative use of his talents and his friends including Hugh Badaxe, Big Julie, Tanda, and Chumly.

Just as Aahz returns and the story ends, the second story line develops. In this one, Skeeve gets tangled up with the mob and the whole gang has to figure out how to get them away from Postillum, Klah, and the Bazaar at Deva.

Needless the say, there are plot twists aplenty as well as much of the quirky humor that is written in so well by the author. For instance, at one point, there is a wrestling match provided by midget wrestlers with four arms from the dimension Tue (sounds like too). So, of course, the puns commence: The team is known as the "terrible Tues" etc.

The book is great fun and will not take long to read. Pay close attention to the quotes that grace the beginning of each chapter. They are a hoot and a holler in their own right.

Skeeve on his own, well... sorta.......2005-06-22

This is the fourth book in Asprin's Myth series and it's just as good if not better. Aahz is transported back to his home dimension, Perv, and Skeeve is left to handle his job as court magician on his own. He soon ends up with a homicidal queen, Hemlock, and the Mob's fairy godfather, Bruce, after him.

Hit or Myth is just as entertaining as the previous books in this series. Even though Aahz was out of the story for most of the book, the storyline continued to work. It allowed the reader and Aahz to realize how far Skeeve has come in his apprenticeship. It was nice to see Skeeve develop throughout the book from an apprentice to a magician in his own rite.

Warning! This book will make you laugh!.......2003-11-03

This was my first Robert Asprin book, and it will not be my last. With a quirky cast of characters including a murderous princess, a kidnapped mentor, a silly pet dragon, a war unicorn, an absent king, and the mafia, not to mention the apprentice this story revolves around, this is truly an enjoyable read.

It goes quickly enough to be a great vacation book, but don't wait to pick it up! Run out to your nearest bookstore, grab a copy and start enjoying, and laughing. You'll be glad that you did!

And for those that won't trust me and want a preview of the plot, Skeeve, an apprentice magician, is tricked into assuming the kings likeness and place on the throne, by King Rodrick himself! The king then runs away. Why? Because he's about to be married to an infinitely rich princess! Right about then the mob shows up and things really get bad from there, but if you want to know what happens next, buy the book!

Wow, wow and well you get the idea.......2001-11-08

This was the first book by Robert Asprin I ever bought, it was the first I had ever seen and most of my friends have spent the last few years being regailed with how brilliant this guy is. The pottential this book showed made me spend ever since looking for anything written by this guy in the hope that he maintained the passion of this book. For the most part I have not been dissapointed, and I am still convinced I was one of the first Brittish people to hear of this guy.. I have one important thing left to say.... BUY THIS BOOK....

Sweet Myth-Tery of Life (Myth Adventure Series)

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You don't have to like it, but ya gotta LOVE it :)
Sweet Mythteries
One hellava good book
I loved this book!
Jumping the shark

Sweet Myth-Tery of Life (Myth Adventure Series)
Robert Asprin
Manufacturer: Walsworth Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0898658594

Customer Reviews:

You don't have to like it, but ya gotta LOVE it :).......2004-02-03

While reading the introduction to the compendium (this volume is available as a dual book format with 'Something MYTHing') I knew I was in trouble. The apologies for the long wait and the promise for the sequel were sincere and heartfelt; but the cliffhanger at the end seems to call for immediate continuation. This book, as opposed to some of the others, tends towards the advise-giving humor as opposed to the adventurous humor I have become familiar with and adore.
That being said, this book is still full of plenty of action and reaction, laughs and truisms galore, and some startling fun! Another reviewer mentioned that 'Life the Universe and Everything' should not be a viable subject for comedy... to which I reply he should read Douglas Adams (with a book by that name... also a comedy) and perhaps modify his statement.
This book was a lot of fun. Speculation as to whether Skeeve and the author are growing up simultaneously is rediculous. The book was a GREAT read... we see Skeeve 'coming of age' as a personality investigating his own shortcomings, dealing with fame (from both sides), and learning a little about women and their place in the world (or at least in his life). The ending was... abrupt... but I have faith that, as always, R. L. Asprin will come through with a wonderful tale to follow it up in the near future. If anyone has any questions about his delay in getting the sequel out, I strongly suggest reading his MYTH series publications AFTER this one (and the introductions therein) to get a short glimpse into the issues that had (past tense now) held up the process.

Sweet Mythteries.......2003-07-26

Sweet Mythteries of Life was very typical of Robert Asprin. His humorous writing is always appreciated by me. Fantasy all the way. This book showed Skeeve, the main character, growing up and his "love life", etc. Definitely interesting and worth reading, but bother to read the other "myth" books first. They are all very good. Easy read, rather humorous.

One hellava good book.......2003-05-01

I highly recomend any of Asprin's works. If you like this, try Piers Anthony on for size

I loved this book!.......2001-12-02

it's funny, it's madding but it's great. It's the first book I have read by this author and cannot wait to read his other works.

Jumping the shark.......2001-07-20

Robert Asprin had a great thing going with the Myth series -- it was funny and inspired for a long time. But, I guess all good things must come to an end.

Pretty much everything after the very good 'Little Myth Marker' has been a disappointment to me. That seems to be the point when the books became less about the story and more about the author seemingly using his characters to pontificate about the stock market, relationships, celebrity, and the meaning of friendship. I really got the feeling sometimes that he was using Skeeve and the other characters to work out his own personal issues -- the problem was that it was pretty transparent that this is what he was doing.

The earlier books were more about "adventures" -- what Skeeve, Aahz, Tanda, and company were doing. When this series started to be about "feelings," I just found it harder to keep my interest up. A comic/farcical series like this is just not the forum for rambling on about life, the universe, and everything. Also, when other characters started to serve as the narrator, it just became very annoying and silly for me. The longer the books went on, the more glaring the inconsistencies became.

My investment in the series kept me reading and will likely sustain me if Asprin ever decides to actually release the next book and resolve the cliffhanger that he so rudely left his readers with (if the guy wasn't ready to write the next book in some reasonable time period, then why the heck do the suspense ending with your audience).

Book Description

Skeeve bluffs his way into a high-stakes game of dragon poker-and wins! But now he's left with Markie, a pint-sized IOU left by a player who went broke. She conjures up a house full of trouble every time she tries to cast a spell. And now the dragon poker champion has challenged Skeeve to a game-with a pot of half a million.

M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (Myth Adventures Series)

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Other Books
Beleive it or not - it's a project management book
Different but still great.
Not as good as the previous Myth Adventures
Aspirin combines fantasy and humor for a great read!

M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (Myth Adventures Series)
Robert Asprin , and Kay Reynolds
Manufacturer: Donning Company Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0898654718

Book Description

As president of M.Y.T.H. Inc., Skeeve is in charge of a myth-chievous gang that includes a pet dragon and an artistic vampire. However, is it just luck (of the bad variety) or deliberate myth-directions that have Skeeve and his gang sleuthing around some very out-of-the-way (and dangerous) dimensions?

Customer Reviews:

Other Books.......2007-09-03

Other tales in turn.In the seventh Myth book, various and sundry of the other characters in the series get to play point of view, here, of which the best just might be Gleep the dragon, although Guido's is good, too." INEVITABLY, WHEN CONVERSING WITH my colleagues of the dragon set, and the subject of pets was raised, an argument would ensue as to the relative advantages and disadvantages of humans as pets. Traditionally, I have maintained a respectful silence during such sessions, being the youngest member in attendance and therefore obligated to learn from my elders. This should not, however, be taken as an indication that I lack opinions on the subject. I have numerous well-developed theories, which is the main reason I welcomed the chance to test them by acquiring a subject as young and yet as well-traveled as Skeeve was when I first encountered him. As my oration unfolds, you will note...but I'm getting ahead of myself. First things first is the order of business for organized and well-mannered organisms. I am the entity you have come to know in these volumes as..."

Beleive it or not - it's a project management book.......2006-02-09

If you ever read any of PMP-prep texts, you'll know right away that this book is nothing but a set of PM cases, fantasy genre notwithstanding.
Enjoy RLA classics from a somewhat unusual perspective!

Different but still great........2001-12-14

I agree with Minh Dang (the first reviewer of this book). This book gives insight into the minds and personalities of all the characters involved. I think Asprin really had to change something or risk becoming repetitive or stagnate (he pretty much says so in his introduction). He tried something new and I enjoyed it, although at a different level. This book didn't have as many laugh-out-loud moments, but it has a bit more plot than normal and since it's the beginning of a 5 book contract he was able to start some multiple/cross book subplots.

Not as good as the previous Myth Adventures.......1999-10-25

This book was good, but it hold par with the previous six. While there is more character development on Chumley, Massha, Guido, and Gleep, I liked Skeeve's narration better.

Aspirin combines fantasy and humor for a great read!.......1998-10-08

Skeeve, the struggling magician, isn't your ordinary story hero. He makes mistakes and has friends there to laugh at and help him. The humor is what makes the book a hit. Without it, it would merely be another dull fantasy involving devils, trolls, and dragons. Full of laughs.

Robert Asprin's Myth Series (4 books/slipcase) (Myth Series)

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Robert Asprin's Myth Series (4 books/slipcase) (Myth Series)
Robert Asprin
Manufacturer: ACE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TRVTPO

Product Description

4 book set in slipcase, contains Hit or Myth, Myth Conceptions, Little Myth marker and MYTH Inc.

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