Customer Reviews

Little Myth Marker

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Even now (years after my first reading of this book), I still pick it up every once in a while for fun. I love the "Myth" series (I still futilely hope Asprin will write another one!), and I think this one is the best of them all. I appear to be in the minority, but I like "Little Myth Marker". It reveals an interesting depth to the characters, particularly Aahz and Massha. And its take on parenthood is alternately funny and touching.

This book is really terrific. It's not quite as good as the previous books in the series, but that's still pretty good.

I think that this was an excellent addition to the Myth series. I did, however, not enjoy the ending. I believe that Markie should have joined Myth Inc. Skeeve's decision did not fit, because Skeeve comes off as a character willing to accept new friends, or at least think twice about not letting them in. The rest of the book was excellent though, so I would most definately recomend it as an addition to any home library.

Little Myth Marker (1985) is the sixth Fantasy novel in the Myth series, following Myth-Ing Persons. In the previous volume, Aahz disappears out the back door into an unknown dimension searching for three people. After several days, Luanna knocks on the door to say that Aazh is in the local jail charged with murder. Skeeve and his friends go looking for him.

In this novel, Skeeve is the representative for Mob on Deva. He is also receiving a retainer from the Devan Merchants Association to keep the Mob out of the Great Bazaar. Skeeve still doesn't know how to travel between dimensions without a D-hopper.

Aahz is a Pervect from the Perv dimension. He had been a master magician, but lost his magical powers due to a practical joke. Now he is Skeeve's partner and mentor.

Massha is a mechanic from an unknown dimension. She uses devices to produce her magic. Now she is learning real magic from Skeeve as his apprentice.

Chumley is a Troll from the Trollia dimension. He is also the big brother of Tananda. He uses the Crunch persona to hide his shyness.

Tananda is a Trollop from the Trollia dimension. She has green skin and hair and a very voluptuous body. She is Chumley's little sister and an assassin.

Don Bruce is a fairy Godfather, a senior member of the Mob on Klah. He is responsible for the Deva operation.

Guido is a senior gangster in the Mob. He is now the personal bodyguard of the Great Skeeve.

Nunzio is Guido's cousin and also a senior gangster. He is now another personal bodyguard of Skeeve.

Bunny is a top-heavy little redhead. She is also the niece of Don Bruce.

The Geek is a Deveel from the Deva dimension. He is also a bookie, of which Deva has many.

Pidge is a human living on Deva. He likes to play dragon poker. His name comes from "pigeon" because he loses so often.

Markie is the daughter of Pidge. IF he loses, Pidge leaves Markie as his marker.

In this story, Skeeve is playing dragon poker in a game run by the Geek. He is winning big, although he doesn't really understand the game. Instead, he bets against the players, based on their observed patterns.

At one point, Pidge runs out of cash. He asks the Geek to take his marker. When another player objects, Skeeve offers to take his marker. When Skeeve wins the hand, everybody else cashes in their chips and leaves.

Then the Geek brings over Markie and gives her to Skeeve. He is confused, so the geek explains that she is collateral for Pidge's debt. She asks if Skeeve is her pretend daddy.

On the way back to the tent, Markie asks Skeeve if they will be living alone or does he have a girlfriend. He answers "No". Then he explains about Tananda, Chumley, Guido, Nunzio, Buttercup, Gleep, Massha, and Aahz. Markie is impressed by the bodyguards, but not much else.

Before reaching home, Skeeve warns Markie about Aahz. He tells her to stay behind him. Then he walks into the lion's den.

Naturally, the inside of the tent is much larger than the outside. But Aahz rather fills the expanse. He has heard about the card game and is very upset. After learning that Skeeve won the game, Aahz starts to cool down.

Then Markie speaks up. Aahz boils over, actually yelling at Skeeve about slavery until Skeeve explains that she is only Pidge's marker. Eventually he understands and Markie is accepted into the household. Massha takes her to the pantry for a snack.

Then Guido tells him that Don Bruce has sent him a present. The fairy Godfather has given Bunny to him as his moll. Skeeve objects strongly, but Guido insists that he has to have a moll.

So Skeeve sends Bunny with Nunzio to the pink bedroom and Markie with Massha to the blue bedroom. He sends Guido to explain Bunny to Aahz. The next morning, he wakes up with Bunny in his bed.

This tale involves Skeeve in a very confusing mess. He is gaining a reputation as a hotshot dragon poker player. He is the target of a character assassin called the Ax. And he is surrounded by beautiful women.

Who could blame Skeeve for being confused? The next installment in this series is M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Asprin fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of simple magic, raging rumors, and maturing magicians. If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is Another Fine Myth.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Asprin continues with his pun-filled world of Deevils, Perverts...err...Pervects, and other assorted characters of an odd nature. However, this time he adds two interesting new characters. One is a young child whom Skeeve wins in a card game. As the player who lost didn;t have the money to pay, he leaves Skeeve with a marker - hence the title of the book. The other is Bunny, Skeeve's appointed moll from the Fairy GodFather. Both characters set forth to wreack havoc on Skeeve and his gang of friends in a variety of ways that remains delightful.

Not as much action in this one in that it all takes place in the bazaar as opposed to Skeeve being chased through alternate dimensions. It wasn't as funny as the others but it was still good. For it's length it was worth it. I don't think I would have enjoyed it if it was a lot longer.

Asprin has created the most unforgettable set of characters I can think of. I feel like I have lived with these characters all my life (but I guess I almost have considering I started reading them years ago).

I have been a fan of Skeeve and Aahz since the "Another Fine Myth". Some of the books are better than the others, but this is my favorite. The novice magician Skeeve is finally coming into his own. The MYTH family is all there and in fine comic form, though some real growth occurs in the character interaction. The book is funny and heart-warming. There are some great surprise twists in the story. The final big dragon poker game with the Sen-Sen Ante Kid is wonderful.

Best card game ever.


Dragon poker, that is. You should give it a try some time. That is, if you can actually manage to keep track of some of the rules. Anyway, while that may be fun, actually winning a kid as part of a game is not so much fun, at least if you are the ones lumbered with looking after the little brat.

WOW! this book was really funny at some parts. though, at other points you wonder if skeeve is...perhaps, frigid? i liked the part where he VS'd the Kid. you know, the mint thing...

I love Robert Asprin's Myth series. Little Myth Marker was not exactly with his usual Myth stuff. I loved it, it was a good turn for the series.