Reviews

Another Fine Myth by Robert Lynn Asprin

mdpenguin's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I first read this in back in '91ish, I think, and a recent article made me want to see if I'd like it now. It's still very funny and a good adventure and the characters are definitely lovable. Plus it reminds me that the series has such a rich world to play with and does it in such a silly-fun manner. 

ferrisscottr's review against another edition

4.0

I read every one of these as they were coming out and loved the characters and the humor. I've never re-read any of them until now.

The writing is very simplistic but the humor is off the charts.
This was a good way to spend a couple hours. If you've never read them give them a try - light hearted, humour, laughs, great characters going on funny adventures.

mokey81's review against another edition

2.0

Unfortunately, reading this reminded me of why I'm not a fan of the fantasy genre. It was ok, but definitely not great. I think there became a fantasy trope in the early 2000s to try and make fantasy overly punnny and have characters make obvious jokes that the characters couldn't understand, but the reader does. Those books begin to feel like the author is trying too hard to get us to buy in. Whereas if they would spend more time on character development and plot, they wouldn't need to distract us.

Skeeve and Aahz (pronounced "Oz," (no relation, hardy-har)) are not fleshed out. I don't truly know anything about them. I realize this is the first book in the series, but it doesn't appear to be headed in the direction of exploring where they came from that made them the way they are, but rather into the future with one another and creating themselves from there.

I wasn't excited about the quest they were on and was even more disappointed in the ending.

Throughout the book, Asprin keeps the story light and amusing. Nothing really dark and heavy. Heck, even the opening scene of the magician getting murdered was very much downplayed, and not at all traumatic for the reader, or the characters really. The fact that the apprentice goes on to avenge his teacher was quite forced. In any case, the overall tone of the story is light and tongue-in-cheek. Until this sentence towards the end. Spoiler about a particular sentence I loathed:

Spoiler

"I don't believe I've had such a good time since I made love to my week-dead sister." What the HECK is that all about? It literally took me out of the story and made me want to put the book down. I know it was from the mouth of the villain, but still. It was distracting and didn't at all match the theme/tone of the book, and was a bad writing/editing choice.

Overall, it was an ok read, just not something I feel I need to dive into.

squigglybungus's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

raeallic's review against another edition

5.0

I love this series! Humorous and fantastic! Will prob read a thousand times.

crimsonpermanentassurance's review against another edition

3.0

A fun beginning to a series that nostalgia makes me place at a solid 3 stars. I think if read consecutively, the shtick would wear pretty thin.

caitief's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

tpietila's review against another edition

4.0

Skeeve is an apprentice for a famed magician Gargin. The magician is demonstrating his ability to bring up a demon from another dimension when a strange man appears and kills him. The magician manages to kill the assassin just as he dies - but that leaves Skeeve alone with a live demon. Surprisingly, the demon doesn’t eat him, but is very polite and explains he is a magician named Aahz from another dimension, called Perv, making him Pervect, and he is a good friend of Gargin. They summon each other as “demons” and act scary to convince people of their vast powers. Due to a practical joke by Gargin, Aahz has lost his magical powers. Together Aahz and Skeeve start a journey to find why someone killed Gargin and to restore Aahz’s powers. What follows is a fun romp through a fantasyland with many strange creatures. Besides Perverts, ah Pervects, Deveels and Trollops are encountered. A very fun and light book where humor works pretty well - not an easy task to achieve! I must look at the other parts of the series.

alannabarras's review against another edition

4.0

I love books that take known tropes - magicians battling for supremacy, the summoning of evil demons, the good hearted apprentice who prevails against all odds - and flips them upside down. This book is setting up the rest of the series, and if you like campy, silly fun and bad puns you'll love it. The draw of the books is the silly humor, absurd situations, and interesting worldbuilding. Some of the characters risk being caricatures and the women are pretty much all beautiful and mysterious being who must be protected despite all the evidence showing how dangerous they are in their own right. The humor is reminiscent of early Terry Pratchett Discworld books, and if you like one you'll probably enjoy the other. Overall solid comedic fantasy worth picking up in a used book store.

boleary30's review against another edition

4.0

unique book, a fantasy with lots of humor, very interesting characters.