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Skulduggery Pleasant #1.5
The Lost Art of World Domination
A shot of Skulduggery action for free. It isn't easy to take over the world. First you need the scheme. Then you need the muscle. Then you need to come up with a system for ruling six billion people and keeping them fron revolting. It takes a certain kind of man to take over the world. Scaramouch Van Dreg, however, is not that man. But he has one thing going for him. He has his arch enemy, Skulduggery Pleasant, chained in his dungeon, and the only person who is coming to save him is the skeleton detective's 13 year old sidekick. What could possibly go wrong?
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2011
52 people are currently reading
3514 people want to read
About the author
Derek Landy
253 books5,285 followersDerek Landy is an Irish writer and screenwriter. In addition to the bestselling children's/YA series of Skulduggery Pleasant books, a supernatural mystery series starring Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton detective, and Valkyrie Cain, a young female magician, he has written two screenplays that have been made into films: the IFTA award winning "Dead Bodies" and the IFTA nominated "Boy Eats Girl". Landy himself was nominated for an IFTA for Best Script.
He doesn’t like to brag about all the awards he’s won, such as the Irish Book of the Decade, or the Red House in the UK, or all the other awards that he humbly displays on his mantelpiece. He is also far too modest to mention things like the first book being a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, but would like to extend an invitation to Oprah to pop around one day for tea, in thanks for selecting his book for the Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List.
Derek plays too many video games, reads too many comics, and watches too many movies. He lives in Ireland with too many cats. Occasionally he talks to real people, but only when he absolutely has to.
He doesn’t like to brag about all the awards he’s won, such as the Irish Book of the Decade, or the Red House in the UK, or all the other awards that he humbly displays on his mantelpiece. He is also far too modest to mention things like the first book being a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, but would like to extend an invitation to Oprah to pop around one day for tea, in thanks for selecting his book for the Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List.
Derek plays too many video games, reads too many comics, and watches too many movies. He lives in Ireland with too many cats. Occasionally he talks to real people, but only when he absolutely has to.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 29, 2017
This was honestly hilarious. I grinned the whole way through. The humour in this series is definitely my favourite.
December 9, 2019
Hilarious short story in which the skeleton detective doesn't have much trouble defeating an inept villain bent on world domination. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
January 2, 2014
The people in this series honestly have the coolest - and weirdest - names.
I mean, 'Skulduggery'? I get. But...Scaramouch? And not just Scaramouch but 'Scaramouch Van Dreg'?!
I just can't imagine him as a baby. Or what people said to him as a child.
"Come over here, 'ickle Scaramouch!" or "Aww, little Scaramouch is just so adorable!" I dunno, I just can't picture it!
Seriously, who names their kid Scaramouch?!
The other option is that, like Valkyrie, he chose his name so as to protect his true name...which makes the whole situation worse. Because out of the millions of names he could have picked to name himself, he choose Scaramouch!
Why not Peter? John? Or even Sven?
The Lost Art of World Domination? Try The Lost Art of Name Allocation! ;)
I mean, 'Skulduggery'? I get. But...Scaramouch? And not just Scaramouch but 'Scaramouch Van Dreg'?!
I just can't imagine him as a baby. Or what people said to him as a child.
"Come over here, 'ickle Scaramouch!" or "Aww, little Scaramouch is just so adorable!" I dunno, I just can't picture it!
Seriously, who names their kid Scaramouch?!
The other option is that, like Valkyrie, he chose his name so as to protect his true name...which makes the whole situation worse. Because out of the millions of names he could have picked to name himself, he choose Scaramouch!
Why not Peter? John? Or even Sven?
The Lost Art of World Domination? Try The Lost Art of Name Allocation! ;)
April 14, 2021
Derek Landy is really good at writing stories for any length and i can easily fall in love with the story he's telling straight away. Even though it was very short i still managed to enjoy every single moment of the story and any information I can get about this world the better.
Derek can write a good short story and honestly he has made me feel so many different emotions while reading it. I went through the journey with the characters and even felt sorry for the villain which rarely ever happens for me and its a testament of Derek's writing.
I highly recommend this novella that you can read between the main series books because there just as good and as funny so it really makes for light and easy reading.
Derek can write a good short story and honestly he has made me feel so many different emotions while reading it. I went through the journey with the characters and even felt sorry for the villain which rarely ever happens for me and its a testament of Derek's writing.
I highly recommend this novella that you can read between the main series books because there just as good and as funny so it really makes for light and easy reading.
January 31, 2012
You can read it free here: http://www.skulduggerypleasant.co.uk/...
May 14, 2019
World domination is indeed lot of hard work!!
May 10, 2014
World Domination requires a lot of work, megalomaniacs never seem to realize that :D The World is lucky Skulduggery's one of the good guys :D
July 1, 2022
Another hilarious instalment of my all-time favourite series! Whilst I’ve read this series over and over, I never thought to read the in-between short stories, and had no clue how accessible they actually were. After seeing this idea on tiktok, I’m also going to be re-reading this series with all the stories in between, and I can’t wait!
August 11, 2019
This was HILARIOUS!!!
The Lost Art Of World Domination is a short story that comes as a little bonus at the end of the first Skulduggery Pleasant book and what a treat it was!
I giggled all the way through.
Such a Pleasant little story when you have finished the dramatic and action packed novel.
The Lost Art Of World Domination is a short story that comes as a little bonus at the end of the first Skulduggery Pleasant book and what a treat it was!
I giggled all the way through.
Such a Pleasant little story when you have finished the dramatic and action packed novel.
February 13, 2016
Hilarious, really wonderful. Poor villian, getting all that over him.
January 1, 2015
Pane Bože Kriste na nebi, Panenka skákavá aj s Matkou Božou po boku!
Ja som sa práve na tejto 12 stranovej novelke pošťal od smiechu!!!
Good work, Derek Landy, a teším sa na ďalšie!
Ja som sa práve na tejto 12 stranovej novelke pošťal od smiechu!!!
Good work, Derek Landy, a teším sa na ďalšie!
January 24, 2016
Haha Hilarious!
June 9, 2017
нощното четене ми става навик
January 20, 2018
A very quick and super funny read with just enough glimpses of what is to be expected in the later books.
September 16, 2023
That was hilarious. I’ve had that short story for years and only now read it- I should have a look at the rest of the series.
September 29, 2012
This is a series that I've really fallen behind on, but my daughter's up to the latest book and she keeps telling me to catch up. LOL. So I decided to get back into it with this in-between-the-novels short story.
Scaramouch Van Dreg has Skulduggery Pleasant just where he wants him--chained up inside a dungeon. He's convinced he's the baddest of Pleasant's archenemies, but as he soon finds out... he's way off.
OMG. This shortie was a lot of fun! Really funny. Oh, and every time I read the name Scaramouch, I expected him to do the Fandango. ;)
Scaramouch Van Dreg has Skulduggery Pleasant just where he wants him--chained up inside a dungeon. He's convinced he's the baddest of Pleasant's archenemies, but as he soon finds out... he's way off.
OMG. This shortie was a lot of fun! Really funny. Oh, and every time I read the name Scaramouch, I expected him to do the Fandango. ;)
February 1, 2015
4 stars... just because it was so short, but i loved it.
April 24, 2022
This is a delightful short story about a (literally) skeletal detective who has been captured by a delusional villain. If you've read and enjoyed Skulduggery Pleasant (which I just did), you should pick up a digital copy of this. It's free for Kindle on Amazon.
May 24, 2019
We need more villains like Scaramouch Van Dreg. A hilarious short story!
December 30, 2020
This had the same humour as in the first book and it was cleverly plotted for such a short story. Makes me excited to continue on in the series, but I don’t necessarily think it added anything to the world of the books.
May 10, 2021
The way Skulduggery just smushes the bug!😂😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2025
This short story was nothing short of hilarious! Loved it!
June 10, 2018
Hahaha!
December 9, 2022
looking back on it i’m like 90% sure this was in armageddon outta here so it’s def not fair to count as a book read but idc
March 5, 2013
Ever wanted to question the specifics of a villian's clichéd world domination plan? Call a villain out on the infantile nature of it, presenting the difficulties he'll face in accomplishing such a feat, and then maintaining leadership should he succeed? Skullduggery Pleasant does all that and more with his quick, dry wit and that sharp, sarcastic tongue of his, and it's deliciously satisfying and rib-ticklingly funny. An excellent non-essential freebie.
*I found this at the back of the 2007 paperback of Skulduggery Pleasant.
*I found this at the back of the 2007 paperback of Skulduggery Pleasant.
January 15, 2012
Ok this is short - I mean this is shorter than some chapters in books but all the same it's a Skulduggery Pleasant book with all the humour and dry wit in it you come to know and expect from the series - its a standalone episode which does not really need to much of an explanation (if you have not guessed it or know there is a story arch but its not important for this one) - so for a short 15 mins read its good fun. would be interesting to see more of these as little tasters for the bigger deals.
February 20, 2015
Derek Landy's style suits the short story format probably better than the novel - his humour and comic book style writing lends itself to fast paced short humorous showdowns. Good fun.
Printed at the back of book 1.
Printed at the back of book 1.
May 24, 2014
This was too short and a bit predictable. Skulduggery can do much better than that!
April 2, 2016
I love him :D
August 7, 2019
Detailed Summary
Scaramouche wants to take over the world. He thinks Skulduggery is his arch-nemesis so he captured the skeleton. Skulduggery asks him what his plan is, bringing up issues like famine, wars and the media. Scaramouche says he’s got this box with an insect which will drain sorcerers’ powers. Skulduggery asks if he’s sure the insect IS still in there. Scaramouche opens the box and Skulduggery squishes the insect. Scaramouche screams in rage and Stephanie comes in and blasts him. He’s shackled and left for the Cleavers to find. The duo keeps looking for Fines and Nocturnal–two villains they’re really after.
Plot and Pacing: This was a short story but I still LOVED it. It’s funny, I never considered any of those things when thinking about world domination. The book made me think about all the villains who want to rule the world and also Peter Wiggin (I liked that guy) who never seem to have all the little details figured out. So that was interesting.
Characters: Scaramouche was a ridiculous albeit funny villain. He was kind of endearing actually. Skulduggery was just as witty and wonderful as ever. And it seems that Stephanie has learnt how to use magic successfully now!
Writing Style: Honestly, even for a short story, this was incredibly well written and I’m super hyped for the second book.
Scaramouche wants to take over the world. He thinks Skulduggery is his arch-nemesis so he captured the skeleton. Skulduggery asks him what his plan is, bringing up issues like famine, wars and the media. Scaramouche says he’s got this box with an insect which will drain sorcerers’ powers. Skulduggery asks if he’s sure the insect IS still in there. Scaramouche opens the box and Skulduggery squishes the insect. Scaramouche screams in rage and Stephanie comes in and blasts him. He’s shackled and left for the Cleavers to find. The duo keeps looking for Fines and Nocturnal–two villains they’re really after.
Plot and Pacing: This was a short story but I still LOVED it. It’s funny, I never considered any of those things when thinking about world domination. The book made me think about all the villains who want to rule the world and also Peter Wiggin (I liked that guy) who never seem to have all the little details figured out. So that was interesting.
Characters: Scaramouche was a ridiculous albeit funny villain. He was kind of endearing actually. Skulduggery was just as witty and wonderful as ever. And it seems that Stephanie has learnt how to use magic successfully now!
Writing Style: Honestly, even for a short story, this was incredibly well written and I’m super hyped for the second book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews