A Review by: Tommy N. Jeffers
The Myth series by Robert Asprin is a wonderful and exciting read. The series is full of excellent humor and is well worth the effort to acquire and read. The author has a wonderful wit and a super command of satire.
The Myth series centers around a young mage named Skeeve and his mentor and best friend Ahaz. Ahaz is a money hungry demon from Perv who has lost all of his magical powers. Ahaz takes it upon himself to teach the fledgling mage all he knows of magic and in the process attempts to gain as much wealth and fame as he can for the young magi and himself.
With this fame come endless chances for adventure. The book series takes these two as well as a host of friends on many misguided and hilarious quests. I have rarely laughed out loud while reading, but I found myself chuckling constantly as I read this series. With friends like Tananda the sexy female troll or trollop as they are called and Chumley her very ugly, super smart brother with and English accent and proper manners, the story is a virtual paradise of laughter. Throw in the very overweight but sweetly dedicated Massha, and a loving but mentally limited pet dragon, and the mix is complete. This party of individuals gets into and out of all sorts of messes.
The story is rich in reference humor as well. An example of this includes a reference to Elfquest. While adventuring in one realm the party of friends encounter two werewolves named Ydnew and Drahcir. Please note the reverse spelling of these two characters. They are known as the Wolf Writers. The obvious reference is a friendly nod to WaRP graphics. Asprin has worked with Richard and Wendy in the past so this makes even more sense. In short, the adventures of Skeeve and Ahaz take them many places.
While hilarious, this series does not forget to deal with more serious issues. In essence, it is a story about growing up. It is also a story about the wonderful power of friendship. Morality is constantly important to the series, and Asprin deals with this superbly.
The Myth series, as it is called, includes the following books in the order they should be read (They are not labeled and can be confusing):
Myth Directions
Hit or Myth
Myth-ing Persons
Little Myth Marker
M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link
Myth-nomers and Im-pervections
M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action
Sweet Myth-tery of Life
Something M. Y. T. H. Inc.
The misadventures of the characters in this series are both fun and interesting. Asprin is able to capture good fun and somehow combine it with serious issues. Friendship is a major subject in the series as well as loyalty. The “growing pains” of young Skeeve remind us all of youth and its difficulties. This mixed with excellent humor makes for a fantastic read. Simply put, I cannot recommend this series high enough.