Another Fine Myth

Myth Adventures #1

by Robert Lynn Asprin, Walter Velez (Illustrator)

Skeeve was a magician's apprentice until an assassin struck and his master was killed. Now, with a purple-tongued demon named Aahz as a companion, he's on a quest to get even.

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction, Comedy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic, Adventure

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Robert (Lynn) Asprin was born in 1946. While he wrote some stand alone novels such as The Cold Cash War, Tambu, and The Bug Wars and also the Duncan & Mallory Illustrated stories, Bob is best known for his series fantasy, such as the Myth Adventures of Aahz and Skeeve, the Phule's Company novels, and the Time Scout novels written with Linda Evans. He also edited the groundbreaking Thieves' World anthology series with Lynn Abbey. Other collaborations include License Invoked (set in the French Quarter of New Orleans) and several Myth Adventures novels, all written with Jody Lynn Nye.

Bob's final solo work was a contemporary fantasy series called Dragons, again set in New Orleans.

Bob passed away suddenly on May 22, 2008. He is survived by his daughter and son, his mother and his sister.

Reviews

[Savage Bookwolf (new Mario the lone bookwolf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid entertainment with unused potential that could have made it a pearl of the comedy fantasy genre.

But there are some problems:
Redundancy in dialogues, similar running gags, very many dead horse tropes.
The first person view is a mess, it could have been much better with different perspectives and funny one time use characters. Asprin has a hand for comedy, I imagine many openings and endings with secondary characters for quick laughs, all things not possible from this narrative point of view.
First, it takes far too much time to get started for the action, then the action is over without really much happening.
The humor doesn´t reach higher levels, it´s always based on scenery or superficial character traits, no deeper meaning, connotations, relation to a meta scenery. The positive aspect of this is that it is pure entertainment without any darkness.

It´s still a solid work and if it would have been the average stereotype fantasy novel I wouldn´t have criticized it so much, but there was the chance of a rare, really funny fantasy read and after the first half or something it gets a bit boring because there is no more new under the sun. It had such a great start but became repetitive and just average that it´s truly a mess.

Absolutely not sure about continuing this, it´s short, which is always fine, and all parts are solid 4 star ratings, but I don´t think that there is still much potential for development and suspense, especially because of the lack of other character perspectives. Maybe I´ll give the second part a chance, funny writing is so rare that I´ll possibly just consume it for the laughs and vivisecting the used tropes.

[Adina ( not enough time ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this series in a list of best fantasy blah blah. I did not have high expectations after reading the blurb, but I saw it was included in my audible subscription and decided to give it a go. I think I’ve been saying this a lot lately. Boy, it was a fun ride.

Skeeve was a wannabe thief who became a magician's apprentice. Just when he was showing Skeeve how to call a demon, his master gets killed by an assassin. An inconvenient timing, especially since Skeeve now has a demon to deal with. Fortunately, Aahz is a nice demon, who was a good friend of the boy’s master. They become companions and decide to get even with the mastermind behind the assassination, Isstvan, the sorcerer

This was pure cosy escapist fantasy, perfect for a day when you just want a laugh.

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There are things on heaven and earth, Horatio, Man was not meant to know. "
-HAMLET

Another Fine Myth follows Skeeve, who is apprenticed to a magician. This apprenticeship does not last long though as the magician is assassinated in the first few pages, coincidentally just after summoning a demon to show off the possibilities of magic to Skeeve. Needless to say, Skeeve is panicked as he has no idea how to control a demon, but the demon is not what he expects and pretty soon Skeeve finds himself on an unimaginable adventure with the demon, or dimensional traveller, who is named Aazh. No relation to Oz. Aazh is also a magician, but has been stripped of his powers, and so offers to teach Skeeve to better use his own budding abilities, doing them both a service and thus forming a new master / apprentice duo. What follows is an adventure that takes Skeeve to new dimensions and entertains throughout, with a regular doses of humour served up through fun banter, crazy characters, and unlikely situations.

Lighthearted and amusing, Another Fine Myth is a quick, enjoyable read that is perfect material for that not sure what to read moment. If you are a fan of Terry Pratchett, you will most likely enjoy this one quite a bit.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so, it turns out I'm a huge fan of Robert Asprin already. It only took one book but he's already better (to me) than Piers Anthony's Xanth series.

From 1978, this first one hits all the right tones of the brand new D&D sessions just out on the market mixed with delightfully light humor. You get a master con-man demon, a newb wizard being trained by the con-man demon, and a series of misadventures that feel like Han Solo is running the show.

It's truly delightful. And funny. And I LOVE the (mis)quotes between chapters. It made me look at each chapter in an utterly new light even as I enjoyed the (mis)adventure.

Nice twists, too. I totally expected one thing and got two others.


WHO IS THIS FOR?

Anyone into funny fantasy. I expected this to be something like Pratchett but while it DOES have some of the elements, it's on a much smaller scale. This still makes it quite light and fluffy. Like cotton candy. :)

[Stefan Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read quite a few of the books in this series several years ago. I remembered enjoying it then, so I thought I'd give it a re-read now and see if the magik was still there. Indeed it is! Another Fine Myth is a highly entertaining light read that I couldn't put down.

The story revolves around the adventures of a young magician's apprentice, Skeeve. Skeeve is a likable character, if a bit naive and the misadventures that he gets into with his friends are a magical romp through a universe of magik, demons, dragons and all sorts of other fantastical creatures. Because Asprin has incorporated different levels of technology in each dimension, there are really no limits on what might appear to challenge or aid our heroes. It's a lot of fun and always keeps you guessing as to what will happen next.

Also, at only 200 pages, this book makes for a nice, quick break from other more weighty readings. I hope that I'm right in remembering that the rest of the series continues to be this enjoyable and I look forward to joining Skeeve and the gang again very soon.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unabridged audio.

Skeeve was a magician's apprentice, until the magician got killed that is. Unfortunately he was killed by an assassin just as he summoned a "demon".

"Demon"-that's short for "Dimensional Traveler". Things just go from bad to worse once they find that he (the Dimensional Traveler that is, the demon) is stuck in Skeeve's dimension, a real backwater. See as I said, Skeeve is just an apprentice. The "demon" (Aahv)instead of killing Skeeve explains that he is a wizard in his own dimension. You see there are thousands of dimensions, Skeeve's is Klah, this makes those who live there...Klahds, there are others, for example if you're from the dimension of Deva you're a Devil. Aahv is from Perv, this make him a Perver errr...I mean Pervect, that's it, Pervect (though there is another more, common name).

Anyway from here things start to get well, complicated...

I don't know how reading this book will effect you, for some reason my sides ached a lot.

[Orient · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Evgeny’s great review about this book and decided that it's just perfect for me. Thanks, Evgeny, for turning my attention to this book ;)

The story in “Another Fine Myth” is filled with humor, puns and it is quick, easy, and a pure delight to read. I swallowed it in one day time enjoying each light-hearted and entertaining page (if not for my work it would have been quicker!). And I definitely had a laughable good time. It’s not a serious book with lot’s of depth, but it’s quick-paced and entertaining. Such things as death, serious feelings have no major attention and there isn’t much of character development but there are other books in the series (and quite a lot), so I really hope to know more about the main characters. There isn’t a character who overrules everyone, so I can't discern any of them, as the characters are different and they supplement each other. Though, book is more concentrated on the story than characters. But still I found fun and believable characters that made the book so entertaining for me.
An unskilled-skilled-to-be, naive and lazy apprentice with a baby dragon

a sarcastic Pervert (oops, sorry, a Pervect!!!) demon, made powerless by a practical joke

a beautiful, lustful, hot-tempered, green haired assassin

and other. I was happy to meet the green haired assassin as I enjoy rough-tough female characters and I hope to read about her more.
Each character comes alive and alluring with sarcastic/naïve comments, plays on words and the unexpected tricks. Also I liked that characters from other dimensions are presented as having certain qualities due to their home dimension. It’s a good start for other stories.
All in all, this book mixes fantasy, adventure, humor, and the facts of life into one awesome cocktail. The plot is quite simple, but unpredictability and wit made this book an enjoyable read to me.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lighthearted and humorous fantasy novel packed full of witty dialogue, action, and magic. I'm not a massive fan of books that have the main focus on humor, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I laughed while reading this. It was a surprisingly enjoyable read.

Skeeve is an apprentice magician who's master is unfortunately assassinated while summoning a demon. Skeeve and the Demon are forced into an unlikely alliance with hilarious consequences and they flee the assassins and plot to foil the plans of the mad wizard who hired them.

The characters were likable and interesting. I loved the banter between Skeeve and Ahaz. The secondary characters were a diverse bunch who provided plenty of laughs. My favorite was probably the naive demon hunter Quigley, who was tricked by the quick witted Ahaz into all sorts of unfortunate mishaps.

The world building was pretty good for such a short book. Skeeve's world of Klah is just one of many in a diverse universe. I'm eager to explore some of the others.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Audio Note: Jeff Woodman gave an almost perfect performance. His character voices were well chosen and his sense of comic timing was excellent.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio re-read: This was warm, sweet nostalgia for me, though at first the narrator's "Shecky Greene meets Krusty the Klown" voice for Aahz (always a personal favourite character for me) set me a little aback I came to embrace it as it did match his fast talking, streetwise patter pretty well in the end.



Cursory investigation has determined that my local library doesn't have the next books available on streaming audio, I am bereft! In a just universe I'd binge the whole series by Xmas.

UPDATE: Turns out they're all on Hoopla! Huzzah!

[Carrot :3 (on a hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

This was fun. It’s fantasy filled with light fluff and enough comedy to get you through. It’s reminiscent of Pratchett’s Discworld though this one is very lighter in tone.

My only disappointment is the plot resolution. I really loved how the world was set up with fantasy tropes and hints of modern tech. Loved the banter between our characters. Looking forward to the sequels.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Review on English, followed by the Bulgarian one. Ревюто на английски е първо, следва това на български.

The hardest thing is to write a fresh and original fantasy, in which adventures and practical magic entertain the reader to the maximum. Aspirin has definitely succeeded and it is a pity that only four books from his series have been translated and published in Bulgaria.

Skeeve is the apprentice of the magician Garkin, but he definitely has difficulties in his studies. Summoning a demon should be a valuable lesson for him, but in fact it turns out to be the beginning of a crazy and radical change in his life. Add to the pot a demon hunter, a green-skinned assassin, a dragon and a war unicorn - the enemy of the humanity that is conveniently hidden in Buna dimension has no chance of winning!

I reread it with pleasure and I continue with the next one!

My rating - 4.5*. 🐉🦄🧙😈

—————————————————————————

Най-трудно е да напишеш свежо и оригинално фентъзи, в което приключенията и практическата магия да забавляват читателя максимално. Аспирин определено е успял и е жалко, че на български са излезли едва четири книжки от неговата поредица.

Скийв е чирак на мага Гаркин, но определено има трудности в учението. Призоваването на демон би трябвало да е ценен урок за него, но всъщност се оказва начало на щура и радикална промяна в живота му. Добавете в гювеча ловец на демони, зеленокожа наемна убийца, дракон и боен еднорог - врагът на човешкия род скрил се удобно в измерението Буна няма никакви шансове за победа!

Препрочетох я с удоволствие и продължавам със следващата!

Моята оценка - 4,5*. 🐉🦄🧙😈

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this back in the dim and distant past and wondered if a series revisit was apposite.

It was and it wasn’t. I won’t be reaching for the others on the shelf any time soon. Mostly wasn’t.

The literary equivalent of Jack Daniels sauce. Too sweet, to obvious, covers up blandness.

[boxer_dogs_dance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun series from my youth.

[Gary Sundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a big fan of this series since it first appeared. I listened to the audio book version and thought it was excellent. Time to dig into my boxes and find more books in the series or maybe the graphic novel version with art by Phil Foglio.

[David Sarkies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure with a smart mouthed demon and his cheeky apprentice
3 February 2015

One of the main reasons that I read this book was because it kept on appearing on the Goodread's sidebar entitled 'Readers also enjoyed' which I suspect has something to do with all of the Terry Pratchett books that I have read. Okay, I generally don't pay all that much to Goodreads recommendations, but when I was much younger a friend of mine was really into the series and he had been trying to get me to read them as well. Well, it has taken years but I finally (after being prompted by Goodreads) asked another friend, who also has the series, if I could borrow the first one – this one, and yes, I quite enjoyed it (though I am still not going to be blindly taking on Goodreads recommendations, especially with the number of books still on my shelf).

Okay, it's not Terry Pratchett, and while it is only the first book, the world itself didn't seem to be hugely developed, but it was still quite entertaining, and amusing. In fact, it seemed that the story was much more character driven and unlike Discworld, the world of Another Fine Myth, seems to sit quietly in the background allowing us to focus on some of the rather strange, and comical, encounters that the two main characters, Skeeve and Aahz, experience.

Basically Skeeve used to be a farmer, or was supposed to be a farmer, but instead decided to become a thief, and it seemed that that occupation didn't work out because he landed up as an apprentice to a magician. However, during one of his lessons, when the magician summons a demon, the magician is killed by an assassin which results in the demon (which actually means 'dimension traveller') being trapped on Skeeve's world. Adding the Aahz's problems is that Skeeve's master had stripped Aahz of his powers literally stranding him (otherwise he would have simply gone home). Then there is the assassination, which triggers a hunt for a magician that wants to take over the dimensions, as well as trying to escape from a couple of nasty imps that appear to be on their trail.

As I said, it is not satire in the vein of Terry Pratchett where the story pokes fun at modern society through the lens of a fantasy world, but rather a couple of larger than life cartoonish characters making their way through the adventure (though not necessarily stumbling because Aahz at least knows what he is doing and what is going on) poking fun at each other and those around them, and in a way outsmarting their enemies without actually drawing any blood (which also adds to the lighthearted aspect of this story). As I said, the characters are larger than life, such as Tananda, who regularly refers to Skeeve as 'handsome' even though she is leading a group of thugs to roll him, and the dragon Gleep (because all he says is 'gleep') who becomes attached to Skeeve because he nibbled on his shirt. Still, I've probably given way too much away already because this is one of those little gems that you should read knowing as little about it as possible.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 stars. This was a fun, quick read that I would compare to the "Discworld" novels as far as the "light hearted" tone of the novel (though in my opinion the Discworld novels are better). The book did have some interesting ideas (my favorite being the "Great Bazaar" in the realm of the Devas which I thought was very cool). All and all, a pretty good, "light" story. I will certainly read the next book in the series.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun read! I really enjoyed the story line, the characters and the comic misadventures they find themselves in. The wacky conversations between Skeeve and Aahz are very funny and make this book a very entertaining read!

I had no idea that "Another Fine Myth" was the first in a series, what a nice surprise! Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series:)

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my most childhood (well, teenagerhood) possessions is a pair of graphic novels based on Robert Asprin's "Myth" series, illustrated by Phil Foglio. I also read most of the books themselves and enjoyed them nearly as much. When I recently decided to re-read the first three books (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, and Myth Directions) I was surprised to find out how well they held up. They're still really fun!

Now while "fun" isn't the word I'd use to describe most books in the fantasy genre these days, these books certainly are. On the surface they're about a newly master-less magician's apprentice, Skeeve, who is mentored by a demon, Ahz, whose wisdom and experience are only matched by his panache for con jobs and profit. Each book is essentially a caper where Asprin weaves a huge cast of vivid characters into entertaining and often amusing situations. The author has a real gift for plotting to the point where even when the situations are outlandish and complicated, you can trace a clear line of how the characters got into them.

And that's the point at which the real entertainment usually starts --when the characters have to get out of one mess and usually end up in another. What I like about these books is that Skeeve and Ahz and company don't win the day by being the strongest or the most powerful. They win it by using guile, trickery, improvisation, wits, and imagination. It's really satisfying to see these traits win out over seemingly impossible odds, and again Asprin has a gift for making it all believable within his own (admittedly self-created) rule set for the world he's constructed.

It's also worth noting that the books are consistently upbeat and lighthearted, with minimal violence and only mild sexual inuendo. The humor is situational and character driven, but also makes extensive use of puns and pop culture references (though some of those are a bit dated at this point). I'd highly recommend them to people of just about any age. I plan on reading more of the series whenever I want to take a break between other books for something more refreshing and fun.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Fine Myth was the first book in the long-running Myth Adventures humorous fantasy series, Asprin's most-popular creation (well, Thieves' World, too, I guess). They're pun-laden stories, as one can see from a quick glance down the list of titles, but they're mostly fine fantasies as well as being entertaining and amusing. (One must remember that this was published in the 1970s, so the humor isn't as sensitive to possible social offense as one is currently used to.) Anthony's Xanth and maybe Foster's Spellsinger and definitely Asprin's Myth books paved the way for the popularity that Pratchett was to find in the coming years. In this one we meet Skeeve as he meets Aahz from Perv, a green-skinned demon who offers to complete his magical training and help on his quest to avenge his master's murder. More laughs per page than the recommended daily allotment!

[Wee Lassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No joke here: Quigley is my favourite character

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skeeve, a hapless young magician’s apprentice whose mentor is killed during a summoning gone wrong, so he turns to Aahz— a cynical “demon” (dimension traveler) who has lost his powers. Together they embark on a series of misadventures across dimensions

3/5 It feels like a DND campaign given form, including the pacing problems. While more sugar than substance, it comes with some good enough banter but the comedy falls flat.

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one I picked up as a daily deal that was a very cute fantasy with many different characters from other dimensions. A fun twist on the mystical scale Skeeve is a magicians apprentice and when his master is killed he and his new master set out on a quest to find his killer. His new master is a hoot and you never know if he is telling the truth or not. Quite the little story teller. While cloaked in different appearances they go to different dimensions and pick up a few friends along the way. A great story for all ages and the narrator was very good with all the different voices. Highly recommend for the youguns.

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes me back…

[Jeffrey Caston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading some of these as a teen. I honestly don't remember how far I got in the series.

It was entertaining. It had some humor, which I recall. Also so innuendo, which I recall.

It wasn't phenomenal, but it was a nice little literary time capsule. I'll try another few volumes and see how far I want to go.

[Brent Weeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably not a great book, but I read it young, and it occupies a special place in my heart.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skeeve ist eigentlich ein Dieb, nur widerwillig lernt er die Kunst der Magie. Er ist bei dem Zauberer Garkin in die Ausbildung gegangen, aber noch meint er nichts Brauchbares gelernt zu haben. Garkin platzt der Kragen und er beschwört einen Dämon, als kleine Demonstration seiner Macht. Doch bevor der Dämon sich vollständig materialisiert hat, wird Garkin von einem Pfeil getroffen und stirbt. Doch der Dämon Aahz will nicht Skeeves Leben, er will ihn als Lehrling.

Ich hatte einen humorvollen Fantasyroman erwartet und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Ein Dämon, der auf die Hilfe eines ungeschickten Zauberlehrlings angewiesen ist, war einmal etwas ganz anderes, als die ganzen Helden, die alles können und nie versagen. Ich mochte das Zusammenspiel von Skeeves und Aahz, das mich oft zum Schmunzeln brachte. Mein Herz konnte der kleine Drache erobern, der im Laufe der Geschichte auf das sonderbare Duo trifft. Die Geschichte ist temporeich und konnte mich immer wieder mit vielen kreativen Ideen überraschen. Ich mochte die über jedem Kapitel befindlichen Zitate, die Größen wie Napoleon, Dagobert Duck oder D. Ick und D. Oof in den Mund gelegt wurden. Allein die Ideen eines Austauschprogramms zwischen Magiern und Dämonen und der situationsbedingten Ethik, konnten mich überzeugen.

Ein gelungener Auftakt und Neuauflage der Dämonen-Reihe. Ich freue mich schon jetzt auf den nächsten Teil 'Als Dämon kriegst du nie genug' der im März 2022 erscheint.

Das Buch wurde mir als kostenfreies Rezensionsexemplar zur Verfügung gestellt.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read anything from this author before so I had no idea what to expect with Another Fine Myth (Myth Adventure #1) by Robert Lynn Asprin. It's a lot of fun and quite funny. I wish I was able to read this back when it was brand new because I'm sure it really would have been something else way back then. It's a short read and while for the most part the sense of humor worked for me there are some moments that just made it drag on for me. I think I'll have to continue this series - I might have to see it I can get my hands on the audiobook editions.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skeeve is a magician’s apprentice (and a wanna-be thief) until an assassin’s bolt kills his master, Garkin. Along with Aahz, the green-scaled, purple-tongued demon and master magician summoned by Garkin, he sets out on a quest to get even. The road to vengeance is bound to prove rocky, however, because Skeeve can barely light a candle with his beginning magic, and Aahz has lost his own considerable magical abilities as a consequence of Garkin’s summoning spell. Before they can confront the power-mad wizard who ordered Garkin’s assassination, they must survive a trip to a weird alternate dimension, encounters with Impish hit-men and a somewhat dull but persistent demon hunter who rides a friendly war unicorn, outwit a sharp-dealing Deevel, and deal with other uncanny enemies and even stranger friends ... all without killing each other in the process!

We chose two short books to read for our December book club and this fun comedic fantasy was one of them. This is the first book in a whole series of adventures, and it was quite funny at times. Overall I liked it, but it does unfortunately have a very dated looking cover. If you are looking for a humorous type fantasy, maybe in the vein of Discworld, then give this series a try. It has everything that makes for a good humorous fantasy story, including puns, characters that are absurdly silly, and situations that will make you laugh.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader

[Desinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I embarked on this read with low expectations as to the story and characters and high ones for having a few good laughs. I was very pleasantly surprised to get an interesting bank of characters and a fun story, apart from funny dialogue that made me laugh more often than not.

Skeeve and his demon master Aahz were both quite funny and likable and I loved their banter. The secondary characters were also quite amusing.

I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

The narrator Jeff Woodman did a fantastic job!

[Nenad Pavlović · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you crave for a new taste in fantasy-comedy (other than Discworld) and you're willing to ignore the plot that seems like a fifth grade stage play, unbelievably gullible paper-thin characters and the most incompetent villain in the history of the genre, there might be something for you here. Myth's sf/f plane-hopping setting and whacky characters that communicate almost exclusively in comedic (often hilarious) banter has a certain unique charm that immediately grows on you, making you forget the book's flaws and wanting for more (luckily, there's plenty of that)