Phule's Paradise

Phule's Company #2

by Robert Lynn Asprin

The bestselling author of the Myth series proves once again that not just anyone can join Phule's Company. They used to be the laughingstock of the interstellar armed forces--until their last mission proved successful. Now they must guard an intergalactic casino called the Fat Chance from a criminal takeover--and the odds are against the oddballs.

Genres: Science Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Comedy, Audiobook

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

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

[Kat Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will review soon at www.fantasyliterature.com.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about casinos and how they are run from this one. Not entirely sure that's what Asprin was trying to impart to the reader, but there you go.

I liked that the story was able to delve more into some of the peripheral characters from the first book. I laughed out loud at the depictions of the eye in the sky, but that was about all I remember laughing at.

It seemed a little forced to me, and I'm not sure why that was. The setting should have been perfect for a mad-cap adventure lead and controlled by Phule, but there was too much segregation of a group that we, as the reader, are just starting to get to know.

It was enjoyable, but not nearly so much as the first. Perhaps it's because I already knew what the Company was capable of, and therefore wasn't surprised by what they were able to accomplish.

[Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars? Hell yes! I loved the first Phule book and this is no exception. The pitch is simple - "The A-Team in Space". Phule's company, the classic ragtag military unit packed with well-differentiated bizarro personalities, gets assigned to provide security for a struggling casino on a Las Vegas-style space station. An inexperienced new owner is struggling against a mob takeover of his casino and Phule & crew ride in to save the day. There's a lot of enjoyable sneakiness on Phule's part and he loves it when a plan comes together. Not a bit of this is harsh or gritty or downer, heck, even the mobsters are polite. Plus, there's some welcome new bits of Phule's off-center leadership philosophies that make the whole thing feel positively positive. 100% fun.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun, light scifi read, but not without its problems. The biggest of these is how heavily the author leans into stereotypes - especially racial ones - in ways that wouldn't fly in a book that wasn't 30 years old.

What makes it interesting, though, is how much these books show that they're a product of when they were written. The casual racism is part of that, but so is a distrust of technology that isn't present in modern books.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is fun listening. I like Phule's strategizing even though he doesn't think of everything. I appreciate the loyalty of his troop members and friends.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been so much fun to revisit these books. Kudos to the narrator of the audio books.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 bk 8 In this 2nd of the PHle's Paradise series the Captain Jester and company are sent to guard a casino. The Captain does his research and turns up shenanigans and therein lies the plot - the captain and cadre make their own plans for shenanigans. With some of the company undercover and actors hired to play the role of soldiers, well, you just know that hijinks will be happening. A fun read for the end of a stressful day.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyable and entertaining. I like all the characters that are in Phule's company and I enjoyed seeing them again in this book. What could they get up to next? 3.5/5 stars.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a gamble

Phule and his company are back in action once again doing the bidding of General Blitzkrieg. Stuck in what's supposed to be a dead end assignment The company discovers a whole lot of problems that they hadn't fully anticipated.
Asprin told some fabulous stories. I've been a fan of his work really since the first Myth book came out. I like that they came out and more of a digest style with all the pictures like a comic but the detail that works in a book as well. I'm really looking forward to reading more of their work that I've missed through the years. I truly enjoy the writing style of authors like this and hope you will too.

[Freyavenlyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish the second book. Not because it wasn't good or compelling, no just too much other stuff going on. the plot was rather more elaborate than the first one. Captain Jester and his company of odd balls are getting a new assignment. a general who had it out for our captain before sends them off to a cushy guard duty job on a space station full with casinos. and that's where the trouble starts. where the first one in the series can pretty much stand alone, the second on parts on a rather sinister ending.
i really love asprins characterisation of captain jester und his crew. once again, a nice page turner for me. onward, it goes.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another episode, another mission. This time our band of misfits in Omega Company are tasked with saving an ailing Casino from a Mob takeover.

The characters are a bit more developed and the plot is a bit more complex as we have some political backstabbing going on in the brigade as well as new characters in the form of the mobsters but it all hangs together very well and the result is yet another very funny adventure.

Easy going stuff if you like a little humourous reading to offeste all that heavy sci-fi or fantasy. Keep 'em coming.

[Biblioworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хорошая подростковая книжка.
Во взрослом возрасте уже нельзя рекомендовать читать - слишком упрощенно.
И кажется похуже первой части.

[Green Hedgehog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Предлагаю сейчас продолжить аналогии с развлекательными фильмами девяностых о различных «неудачниках, которые достигают». Если вы читали то, что я писал про первую часть этой книги - можете смело пропустить следующий абзац. Я в нем повторю свои мысли о том, что цикл книг про «Шуттовскую Роту» в целом очень похож именно на этот поджанр кинематографа.

Да, сейчас подобные фильмы уже особо и не встретишь, а вот в девяностые таких историй на экране было вполне достаточно. Обычно они рассказывали про спортивные команды. Кто-то получал в свое распоряжение целую толпу неудачников, на которых все поставили крест. В команде обычно были очень странные люди, каждый со своими заморочками. Но потом владелец или руководитель, грамотно совмещая все их сильные стороны и завоевав уважение «подопечных», добивался слаженной работы этого коллектива. А в конце фильма давал прикурить всем тем, кто считался лучшим. На этом обычно первая часть заканчивалась. И вот первая книга была именно такой же.

А это у нас уже вторая. И она, как это логично предположить, идет по той же схеме фильмов. Вспомните, что обычно у фильмов жанра «неудачники достигают и выигрывают» была и вторая часть, созданная на волне популярности первой части. Обычно в ней команда, которая достигла чего-то в первой части, получала новое задание. Теперь, они должны были доказать, что они не просто лучшие, а еще, что они и достаточно гибкие. Что все, что с ними происходило в первой части – это не банальная удача, а их неотъемлемое качество. Так что, теперь они должны были сразиться с кем-то более непредсказуемым, чем их предыдущий соперник. Вновь переоткрывая себя, и обучаясь чему-то новому. Вот, здесь все то же самое.

Во второй книге команде капитана Шуттника необходимо выполнить достаточно хитрое задание. Нужно защищать космическое казино. На это казино положили глаз местные преступные элементы. А злобный начальник Легиона, который недолюбливает Шуттника, подкидывает ему это задание под видом - «райское местечко с гарантированной синекурой». Поэтому, сейчас команде надо вновь переосмыслять свою тактику и стратегию. Столкнуться со своими страхами. Типа разделения сложившихся пар. Нужно искать новые возможности и методики.

У меня до сих пор, при прочтении этого романа всплывает в голове все те фильмы, которые я видел. Вплоть до озвучки Михалева с его узнаваемым стилем. Ну и картинки в голове в точно таких же красках. Очень уж все совпадает. И какие-то стереотипы, и какие-то обязательные детали. Да тут даже в самом мире нет чего-то откровенно фантастического. Перенеси место действия в Лас-Вегас девяностых, вместо Легиона сделай какую-нибудь Национальную Гвардию и ничего не изменится. Те же бандиты, корпорации, телезвезды - все то же самое. Иногда я даже подозреваю, что Асприн писал это в надежде на экранизацию. Мол - смотрите, у меня тут уже готовый сценарий для фильма про команду неудачников, которые становятся героями. Давайте экранизируем? Да и честно говоря - это вполне себе могло сработать. Был бы у нас еще один фильм на такую тему, и даже очень неплохой.

Ну да, согласен, местами здесь не очень дотягивает динамика. Где-то ближе к концу, когда схватка переходит в «активную» фазу, кажется, что чего-то нам не договаривают. Освобождение главного героя при всей длительности подготовки смотрится довольно вяло. Мне кажется, будь все это на экране - то и выглядело бы оно куда как круче. Потому что, то, как из трех пулеметов разносят гостиничный номер - это отлично смотрелось бы в кино, но очень вяло читается на бумаге. Подобных «кинематографичных» сцен, кстати, здесь вполне хватает. И мне даже кажется, что их гораздо больше, чем в предыдущей книге.

Впрочем, книгу это не очень и портит. Это одна из книг, которые оставили у меня неизгладимые впечатления в детстве, и продолжают радовать до сих пор. Да, какие-то моменты сейчас кажутся уже не такими восхитительными, какие-то выглядят достаточно вторичными, но общее ощущение - оно не поменялось. И за это большое спасибо автору.

[Ray Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another trip down memory lane for me, as I've had the Phule's Company series for years and have been a long-time Asprin fan.

Phule's Paradise was hard to grade; I was waffling between "It was OK" and "I Liked It", finally deciding to round to the middle. It's not that there was anything really wrong with the book, or the story, or the characters. But for a book series that bills itself as a "comedy", I didn't find it very funny; I don't remember chuckling even once. The plot was predictable (although, to be fair, I've read the thing several times, but not in the last four moves, so I might have subconsciously remembered how it went), and a lot of the characters felt flat.

I think if I were reading it for the first time, or reading it when we haven't been in a pandemic for over a year, I would probably enjoy it more. I mean, I obviously liked it enough to read it several times and hold onto the books for fifteen years. But for now, it just gets what it got.

[Adam Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm finding I really enjoy this quirky military sci-fi series. There's a draw for me in the leadership aspect of Captain Jester, myself going through a leadership growth in real life. While I know I can't take his main approach (throw money at it until it's fixed), it still pulls at me. The loyalty that continues to grow within his troops brings genuine feelings of joy to me, as weird as that may be. I honestly felt pride at how his legionares handled the situation before them at the climax of the story. Again, a weird, and slightly embarrassing way to feel about it, but I guess I'm invested in their success.

This is not a difficult read, but an enjoyable one. The stereotypical troupes of the past are present but I find them minor, not as off putting as some reviews I've read have stated.

Overall a great read if you're looking for some shenanigans at an intergalactic military level.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book and despite the lack of scifi space battle action I find the way Jester twists the system with his fortune make of just one reason this book is an enjoyable read. Its humorous and Jester remains steps ahead of most problems. The cast of characters is great and they way they mesh together despite all odds makes me like them even more. I do think about how this book would transfer to the screen and it wouldn’t there is not enough action, but it doesn’t need it. The comedy overshadows the lack of action and I find I don’t need it. I read this book in few days because it is well written and not the typical scifi I read. As long as the next installment is as enjoyable I read all six of Phule’s adventures.

[Panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Phule's company protect a Casino's interests from a hostile take over by "organized crime".

I learned quite a bit about how Casino's are supposedly run. Not sure how much of it is true or if that was the intend though.

Overall this was a fun read. I lowered it by one star because the side characters.... didn't have any. They were very much there to play cheerleader and support pole for Phule. We're not given a reason for this, I'll buy that his own unit adores him but why would sub-contractors risk their well-being, safety and means of collecting an income for his sake? More than that they go out of their way to pat him on the back and relive his conscious when something happens. A bit of a Gary stu vibe which lowered the score a little.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akin to the first volume it glides about, isn't to concerned with linear storytelling or a complete rundown of occurrences and plot points, occasionally reads like a management handbook, and has a stunningly short-sighted view of technology to the point that it's 'advanced future space technologies' are nothing more than cell phones and the internet -which Star Trek had 30 years before this was published - so the idea that intergalactic travel was perfected before cheap person to person communication is a bit nuts.

All that aside it's a fun, wholesome read.

Also also, I may be a bit fuzzy with details, but it certainly seems to me like Mike Resnick ... paid tribute to this series with his "Starship" novels of the mid 2000's.*

*paid tribute in this case means ripped off.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had some moments of fun, but the story got bogged down in "how to run a casino." I found the broad mix of characters added to Phule Company diluted rather than added to the enjoyment. Phule was not the leader/manager in this book he was in the last. Yes, when you don't get enough sleep and micro-manage you are less efficient.

Stilman and Max were not as intelligent or competent as would be expected for their positions. The violence by Stilman and his thugs and Chocolate Harry was jarring in its viciousness. Nothing in the first book or earlier in this book led me to expect that kind of interaction.

This book was easier to set down than the first one.

There are still characters I like with Beeker and Super Gnat high on the list.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Phule's Paradise" is an enjoyable light read, a well told piece of fluff.
It's not so much Space Opera as a caper novel.
Omega Company is working as the security detail on the new Fat Chance Casino. It turns out that the business is one step away from being taken over by local criminal mastermind Maxine Pruet.
Willard Phule/Captain Jester comes up with his usual elaborate plan to foil their plans but will it backfire?
There's one moment of viciousness which seems to promise a lot more, but it is allowed to fizzle out, just like the book eventually does.
It gave me a few chuckles and that was about the size of it.
2.5 Stars.

[M.W. Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Lynn Asprin's _Phule's Paradise_ receives three stars from me. While I enjoyed the book, it lacked some of the elements in the previous book that I remember enjoying.

This is an audio book, so a word regarding the reader, Noah Michael Levine. It remained the same good performance as the previous book.

I remember enjoying the characters mostly in the previous novel. They are still there, but I didn't find them as engaging as I did in the previous novel. Still, the novel is fun, but just not as fun as the first.

Recommended: Sure, while I didn't love it as much as the first, it is still a good story and there are some interesting things about it.

[Dennis Keithly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun Phule’s Quest

Robert Aspirin wrote another fun entry with Phule’s Paradise. After whipping his company into shape in the prior novel, Captain Jester now has a new assignment protecting the opening of a new casino. He has faith in his company, but inside forces at the casino might be working to sabotage his assignment.

Like it’s predecessor, this book blends humor, corporate tactics, and military life into a fun and enjoyable read. Add some casino action, and it is even more fun.

[Bryan Ewert]

By page 50 I realized my interest was waning. Introducing a new cast of characters sent the Phule story arc off track. And the whole casino schtick felt like a rehash of Little Myth Marker. I wouldn't be surprised if Guido and Nunzio to make an appearance at some point.

You've got a whole new universe to explore, Mr. Asprin, and the best you can do is a mob-run casino?

DNF

[Paul Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I guess it's a good thing I've grown enough as a person that I can't enjoy books I read as a teen the same way anymore. The writing's really a mess. Characters often act against their own self interest for the all-important reason of... being polite. They can also do things that are bafflingly stupid at times. While Asprin created a great cast of characters that I would like to spend more time with, the stories themselves are really lacking. I still had fun with the book, but I'm ready to shelve this series as something I've outgrown.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of Phule’s Company. This book takes the series to a whole new level. Intrigue, bluffs, counter-bluffs and a wonderful villain leave you wanting more. The themes of this book continues on the lines of treating a person how You see they can be, and they will rise above your expectations. I love that even in a win there is a direct path for more antics and issues to tax the young mega rich commander. The fun question is still the why he is doing this. I suspect we won’t know that until the end of the series. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Michael Tildsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am writing this review almost a month after reading this. Shame on me. I remember enjoying it, but not all of the specifics. Like all of Asprin's work, the author has this weird skill with logistics in what characters set up which thing here and there that I don't think most writers are as good at doing. I liked the setting and the setup, but I never really felt that Phule or his company were in any kind of real danger. That's the only 'flaw' I can remember.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is second in a series, but each book has enough recap that you can hop in without having read other books.

Someone else described this as "the A-team in Space," which feels about right, with a bit less action. Silly but lightly flushed out characters, fun situations, with amusing solutions. It's a bit of a popcorn kind of book, but I think enjoyable enough to keep it around. I particularly enjoy the dry intro by the butler at the beginning of each chapter.

[Chris Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Phule’s Company, but still pretty good. A bit dated, there’s a lot of casual sexism, some borderline racism, but mostly seems a product of the times. Some humor, moderately interesting story. Characters are a little flat at times, and there is a ton of stuff that just gets skipped over—this probably could have been another 100 pages longer, and probably would have been a bit better.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Phules books are dumb, fun, escapist sci-fi with a whole dose of wink and nods thrown in. They are not good literature but they are fun and the second in the series delves more deeply into some of the side characters and keeps the dry humor very dry. This is a book that is very much a style and if you like the style you will enjoy the book but if you don't or take it too seriously than this will not be up your alley.

[Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get to learn a little more about those brave heroes serving in Phule's company. There is a Yakuza, simulated. There is organized crime. A hawg is present. In short, many things are included on this trip to a space station loaded with casinos. For those of you interested in the fine arts, actors, actresses, stuntmen and a camera guy are also heard from.

Everything is brought together in a fun way to make rereading this book after at least twenty years, well worth it.