by Robert Asprin (208 pgs)
Rating: 4
We open with Skeeve playing Dragon Poker, a game he has absolutely no understanding of. He should be losing his shirt but somehow he's winning. Not just winning. Beating the pants off of everyone else at the table. He's so good he ends up with Markie, one of his opponents kids and his promise to make good on his loses. Aahz will not be pleased. But Aahz is less pleased to find out there's a character assassin out after Skeeve.
Whatever problems there were with Myth-ing Persons, Little Myth Marker makes up for them. The plot is complicated without being inscrutable. There's marked growth in Skeeve's character and the character interactions become a bit more savvy.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
17. Myth-ing Persons
by Robert Asprin (208 pgs)
Rating: 3
Skeeve and Aahz, newly ensconced in a 'humble' dwelling in the Bazaar at Deva have developed a reputation. Skeeve, at least, is learning that there are both pluses and minuses to having one. When three fugitives use Skeeve's back door to make a hasty escape, Aahz and Skeeve find that the Devan business association is holding them personally responsible.
Myth-ing Persons starts out promising but quickly bogs down. I'm not sure exactly why this one doesn't come off as well as the previous books, and I've thought about it quite a bit. It might be a flaw in the setting (Limbo) or it could be that the plot twists didn't fit together as well. On a certain level, I feel that there was a general lack of character development.
Still recommended as a part of the Myth series but I think generally it could be skipped with very little resulting confusion.
Rating: 3
Skeeve and Aahz, newly ensconced in a 'humble' dwelling in the Bazaar at Deva have developed a reputation. Skeeve, at least, is learning that there are both pluses and minuses to having one. When three fugitives use Skeeve's back door to make a hasty escape, Aahz and Skeeve find that the Devan business association is holding them personally responsible.
Myth-ing Persons starts out promising but quickly bogs down. I'm not sure exactly why this one doesn't come off as well as the previous books, and I've thought about it quite a bit. It might be a flaw in the setting (Limbo) or it could be that the plot twists didn't fit together as well. On a certain level, I feel that there was a general lack of character development.
Still recommended as a part of the Myth series but I think generally it could be skipped with very little resulting confusion.
16. Hit or Myth
By Robert Asprin (208 pg)
Rating: 4
In many ways Hit or Myth feels like two separate books. The first begins when Aahz leaves with his Nephew Rupert and the King of Possiltum asks Skeeve for a favor. Somehow with Aahz gone, Skeeve must figure out how to deal with an amorous/murderous would be royal bride and the Mob turning up looking for their missing army (Myth Conceptions). In the second book, Aahz is back and discovers Skeeve isn't nearly as dependent on him as he thought. They relocate to the bazaar at Deva only to discover the Mob has also opened shop there and the local business association would like the Great Skeeve to do something about it.
In many ways this is a transition book. The relationships between Skeeve and his friends all change. With the move to Deva, the entire tenor of the series changes. While it's still plenty lighthearted, Skeeve's voice takes on a pensive aspect. There is a great deal of character development in this book and despite its dichotomous nature.
Highly recommended as a book in the Myth series and as a fantasy book in general.
Rating: 4
In many ways Hit or Myth feels like two separate books. The first begins when Aahz leaves with his Nephew Rupert and the King of Possiltum asks Skeeve for a favor. Somehow with Aahz gone, Skeeve must figure out how to deal with an amorous/murderous would be royal bride and the Mob turning up looking for their missing army (Myth Conceptions). In the second book, Aahz is back and discovers Skeeve isn't nearly as dependent on him as he thought. They relocate to the bazaar at Deva only to discover the Mob has also opened shop there and the local business association would like the Great Skeeve to do something about it.
In many ways this is a transition book. The relationships between Skeeve and his friends all change. With the move to Deva, the entire tenor of the series changes. While it's still plenty lighthearted, Skeeve's voice takes on a pensive aspect. There is a great deal of character development in this book and despite its dichotomous nature.
Highly recommended as a book in the Myth series and as a fantasy book in general.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
15. Myth Directions
by Robert Asprin
Rating: 4
Tananda, the Trollip, appears out of the blue and whisks Skeeve away to go dimension hopping on a mysterious shopping trip. Skeeve's ecstatic, not only does he get to spend time with the luscious Tananda, he also gets to see new dimensions. Things go a bit awry, though, since Tananda's idea of shopping doesn't necessarily include paying for things. Eventually, Aahz gets involved and that's when the really fun starts.
Myth Directions sees a real smoothing of Asprin's style. I think it is interesting how well he manages to juggle so many characters and still round them out. While the style improves, the plot line itself is weaker than the previous two. It's both disjointed and a little slow. The omnibus edition is so typographically flawed that it aggravates the problem.
Recommended to Myth fans but get a stand alone edition of the book.
Rating: 4
Tananda, the Trollip, appears out of the blue and whisks Skeeve away to go dimension hopping on a mysterious shopping trip. Skeeve's ecstatic, not only does he get to spend time with the luscious Tananda, he also gets to see new dimensions. Things go a bit awry, though, since Tananda's idea of shopping doesn't necessarily include paying for things. Eventually, Aahz gets involved and that's when the really fun starts.
Myth Directions sees a real smoothing of Asprin's style. I think it is interesting how well he manages to juggle so many characters and still round them out. While the style improves, the plot line itself is weaker than the previous two. It's both disjointed and a little slow. The omnibus edition is so typographically flawed that it aggravates the problem.
Recommended to Myth fans but get a stand alone edition of the book.
Monday, February 05, 2007
14. Myth Conceptions
by Robert Asprin (217 pgs)
Rating: 4
Skeeve and Aahz have set up shop in abandoned inn. Aahz teaches in his surly manner and Skeeve learns. Every thing's going pretty smooth until a courier arrives from Possiltum to summon 'The Great Skeeve' to appear before the court as a potential court magician. This apparently qualifies as a cushy job according to Aahz so they pack up and head out with Buttercup, the war unicorn, and Gleep, the juvenile dragon, in tow. Of course, nothing is ever that simple and Skeeve finds himself fighting a war against a massive army...without Possiltum's military backing him up.
Myth Conceptions is every bit as light as Another Fine Myth but Skeeve starts to pop into three dimensions. Before both he and Aahz were more like paste board caricatures and with this book they've developed into more believable characters. The one major criticism I have is that the resolution of the conflict happens abruptly and feels a little like a cheat. I still enjoyed the book but I found that one point just a tad frustrating.
Recommended as part of the Myth Series and more generally as well.
Rating: 4
Skeeve and Aahz have set up shop in abandoned inn. Aahz teaches in his surly manner and Skeeve learns. Every thing's going pretty smooth until a courier arrives from Possiltum to summon 'The Great Skeeve' to appear before the court as a potential court magician. This apparently qualifies as a cushy job according to Aahz so they pack up and head out with Buttercup, the war unicorn, and Gleep, the juvenile dragon, in tow. Of course, nothing is ever that simple and Skeeve finds himself fighting a war against a massive army...without Possiltum's military backing him up.
Myth Conceptions is every bit as light as Another Fine Myth but Skeeve starts to pop into three dimensions. Before both he and Aahz were more like paste board caricatures and with this book they've developed into more believable characters. The one major criticism I have is that the resolution of the conflict happens abruptly and feels a little like a cheat. I still enjoyed the book but I found that one point just a tad frustrating.
Recommended as part of the Myth Series and more generally as well.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
13. Another Fine Myth
By Robert Asprin (208 pgs)
Rating: 4
Skeeve, native of the dimension Klah, is studying to be a magician...or a thief. He doesn't actually seem to be terribly sure which, but the point becomes moot when his teacher suffers an unexpected crossbow bolt to the chest while incidentally summoning a demon to impress his sneaky apprentice (that's Skeeve) with. Garkin (that's the teacher) manages to deal with the assassin before falling to the ground lifeless. That leaves Skeeve alone in the hut...with a demon. Lucky for him, demon is short for dimensional traveler so he survives although, as the story progresses, I think he sometimes wishes he hadn't.
Another Fine Myth is the opening book in Robert Asprin's Myth series. Aside from few typographical errors that have surfaced in the omnibus edition, this a beautiful quick read. I mean really quick. Like I read it in about two hours kinda quick. This is not serious fiction, but it's light and fun. Worth reading on a whim or just because a pick me up is required. I actually met both Rober Asprin and Phil Foglio(who does all the cover art and illustration inside) they are very interesting guys. Phil reminds me a little of Aahz.
Recommended to fantasy fans and teenagers (lighten up with the angst, yo)
Rating: 4
Skeeve, native of the dimension Klah, is studying to be a magician...or a thief. He doesn't actually seem to be terribly sure which, but the point becomes moot when his teacher suffers an unexpected crossbow bolt to the chest while incidentally summoning a demon to impress his sneaky apprentice (that's Skeeve) with. Garkin (that's the teacher) manages to deal with the assassin before falling to the ground lifeless. That leaves Skeeve alone in the hut...with a demon. Lucky for him, demon is short for dimensional traveler so he survives although, as the story progresses, I think he sometimes wishes he hadn't.
Another Fine Myth is the opening book in Robert Asprin's Myth series. Aside from few typographical errors that have surfaced in the omnibus edition, this a beautiful quick read. I mean really quick. Like I read it in about two hours kinda quick. This is not serious fiction, but it's light and fun. Worth reading on a whim or just because a pick me up is required. I actually met both Rober Asprin and Phil Foglio(who does all the cover art and illustration inside) they are very interesting guys. Phil reminds me a little of Aahz.
Recommended to fantasy fans and teenagers (lighten up with the angst, yo)
Febuary List
This is indeed a motley assortment of books. I'm a little behind now. I read 12 books in January which means I now need to read 17 books a month for the rest of the year or I can read 21 books this month to catch up. And it's a short month too. ;) A couple of comments about the list: I've included the D&D core rule books because I've started picking up freelancing gigs and need to reread them. I don't plan on reading through the entire D&D cannon on this blog in case anyone's worried. There are also two 'cookbooks' on the list. Generally speaking, I don't think cookbooks count but Cookwise is actually more of a food book with some recipes and this edition of The Joy of Cooking actually is very interesting in the text about how American cuisine has changed in the last 75 years.
1. Cookwise by Shirley Corriher (NF)
2. Wicca by Peter Cunningham (NF)
3. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
4. About a Boy by Nick Hornby
5. Players Handbook (D&D)
6. Dungeon Master's Guide (D&D)
7. Monster Manual (D&D)
8. Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin
9. Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin
10. Myth Directions by Robert Asprin
11. Chapterhouse Dune by Frank Herbert
12. Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin
13. Myth-ing Persons by Robert Asprin
14. Little Myth Marker by Robert Asprin
15. Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Addition (NF)
16. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
17. On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Bonuses:
18. Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram (NF)
19. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
20. The Day of the Dissonance by Alan Dean Foster
21. Eats Shoots & Leaves: A Zero Tolerance Guide to Punctuation by Lynne Truss (NF)
1. Cookwise by Shirley Corriher (NF)
2. Wicca by Peter Cunningham (NF)
3. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
4. About a Boy by Nick Hornby
5. Players Handbook (D&D)
6. Dungeon Master's Guide (D&D)
7. Monster Manual (D&D)
8. Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin
9. Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin
10. Myth Directions by Robert Asprin
11. Chapterhouse Dune by Frank Herbert
12. Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin
13. Myth-ing Persons by Robert Asprin
14. Little Myth Marker by Robert Asprin
15. Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Addition (NF)
16. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
17. On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Bonuses:
18. Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram (NF)
19. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
20. The Day of the Dissonance by Alan Dean Foster
21. Eats Shoots & Leaves: A Zero Tolerance Guide to Punctuation by Lynne Truss (NF)
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