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Mirth & Mayhem #9
Live and Let Kill: Mission 9
A friend in greed is a friend indeed.
Comedy doesn't pay. Some might claim that's the wrong cliché, but Chuck Ramsey knows the truth of it all too well. That's why he resorts to crime to pay the bills. His latest scheme isn't to pick up odd, questionably legal jobs near his gigs; this time he's found the perfect opportunity, and he's willing to buy a gig to be in the right place at the right time. All he has to do is get a certain wizard to play his part without knowing it. Meanwhile, the colony Chuck chose is a real dump, an old asteroid mine turned barely-viable colony. And there's not much for kids to do there. At least, nothing that ticks all the boxes of safe, legal, and interesting enough to keep their attention. We already knew the Ramsey scheming gene had passed to the next generation, but the oldest isn't the only kid getting ideas outside the law. Live and Let Kill is the ninth mission of Black Mirth & Mayhem . It follows a mismatched duo of itinerant comedian and outlaw wizard as they roam the galaxy trying to eke out a living and stay ahead of the consequences of their actions. Black Mirth & Mayhem looks back at an earlier era in the Black Ocean universe, and returning readers will get to see how some of their favorite characters came to be. Fans of morally gray heroes and slick talking conmen will love this series. Grab your copy before someone else does.
Comedy doesn't pay. Some might claim that's the wrong cliché, but Chuck Ramsey knows the truth of it all too well. That's why he resorts to crime to pay the bills. His latest scheme isn't to pick up odd, questionably legal jobs near his gigs; this time he's found the perfect opportunity, and he's willing to buy a gig to be in the right place at the right time. All he has to do is get a certain wizard to play his part without knowing it. Meanwhile, the colony Chuck chose is a real dump, an old asteroid mine turned barely-viable colony. And there's not much for kids to do there. At least, nothing that ticks all the boxes of safe, legal, and interesting enough to keep their attention. We already knew the Ramsey scheming gene had passed to the next generation, but the oldest isn't the only kid getting ideas outside the law. Live and Let Kill is the ninth mission of Black Mirth & Mayhem . It follows a mismatched duo of itinerant comedian and outlaw wizard as they roam the galaxy trying to eke out a living and stay ahead of the consequences of their actions. Black Mirth & Mayhem looks back at an earlier era in the Black Ocean universe, and returning readers will get to see how some of their favorite characters came to be. Fans of morally gray heroes and slick talking conmen will love this series. Grab your copy before someone else does.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2023
About the author
J.S. Morin
196 books634 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 23, 2023
As the Ramsey crew sets down on asteroid colony Birmingham, all members scatter across the colony, each with their own agenda. In this installment of the Mirth and Mayhem series, we get a bit more of a "slice of life" view for our favorite anti-heroes. This installment truly started to show some of the dynamics and attitudes that shaped the characters that we become familiar with in the later installments. While the background story is on a bit of a slow burn with this installment, there is enough going on with our usual suspects to keep me interested, and turning pages.
September 2, 2023
Let loose on a hollowed-out asteroid, everyone gets into their own kind of trouble
The run of paying comedy gigs has run out for Chuck Ramsey and the crew of the Radio City, so when they pull up at the run-down mining asteroid Birmingham, Chuck puts a plan in place to earn a few extra Terras. He is so caught up in his own business, however, that he fails to notice everyone else in the family heading out to indulge in their own kinds of mischief.
The book hops back and forth between the separate stories as they quickly become as tangled as the shafts and tunnels which riddle the asteroid. In the process, we get to know the different characters in the family better as they chase their own desires and schemes around the physical and social maze of the asteroid.
The run of paying comedy gigs has run out for Chuck Ramsey and the crew of the Radio City, so when they pull up at the run-down mining asteroid Birmingham, Chuck puts a plan in place to earn a few extra Terras. He is so caught up in his own business, however, that he fails to notice everyone else in the family heading out to indulge in their own kinds of mischief.
The book hops back and forth between the separate stories as they quickly become as tangled as the shafts and tunnels which riddle the asteroid. In the process, we get to know the different characters in the family better as they chase their own desires and schemes around the physical and social maze of the asteroid.
September 1, 2023
The Ramsey family definitely has issues. While Chuck and Becky don't do well thinking about anyone besides themselves, Brad tries to help those he thinks need it, and does his best to protect his siblings, while doing whatever he deems necessary to get the job done. Michelle is a great blend of 'look after others' and take care of no. 1'.
Mort continues to be a frightening yet fun character, and woe to Chuck if Mort ever learns of his con.
Mort continues to be a frightening yet fun character, and woe to Chuck if Mort ever learns of his con.
April 30, 2025
Michelle takes a role in this book and it's really fun and heart warming. Every character J.S. Morin writes about becomes amazing. Most books you get on a story arc and when it switches you may be disappointed or have a favorite arc. I never experience that in these books, each arc being just as incredible as the others. What a pleasure to read.
August 31, 2023
The stories in Mirth and Mayhem make the Astral Prime series seem down right cheery. What a disfunctional mess that family is. At least this explains why the various characters turned out the way they did.
A good (but depressing read).
A good (but depressing read).
July 20, 2024
You'd think after seeing Mort incinerate multiple people first hand that Chuck would think better than try to scam him, but that's just what he does, in order to try to make more money than he ever could as a comedian.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews