Customer Reviews

Myth-Fortunes (Myth Adventures)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hmm.. good action sequences, everyone in character, a non-derivative plot, Skeeve finally (and logically) being able to do a bit of big magic, and finally, the team exploring a new and interesting dimension again. I really enjoyed the book, and felt it was closer to Bob Asprin's style from the book Dragon's Wild than from the muddled book Myth-Chief.

The story is a M.Y.T.H. Inc case, and is set up well. Aahz's motivation makes sense in the end. I don't want to give away too much, because I really found the book worth reading.

There's also an afterword from Ms. Nye that I found to be quite moving.

I have read all the Myth Series since noticing picking up one on impulse on sale at the book rack at a grocery store. It was so good, I sought out at the time all those books in the series then published and have read everyone ever since. But knowing that the series creator had died, just the setting, with a pyramid scheme involving real pyramids and a tomb forever, it was sense of Deja Vu. Robert Asprin has died, he has left no pyramid, but he left us this series which live for many years. I have enjoyed the Myth Series and the Phule series over the years.

Myth-Fortunes (2008) is the nineteenth Fantasy novel in the Myth series, following Myth-Chief. In the previous volume, Skeeve decided to return to the Bazaar and establish a new business. His return was seen by his M.Y.T.H., Inc., partners as direct competition with the group.

After Skeeve completed a couple of successful cases, Aahz returned from Perv. They talked about Skeeve leaving the company. Somehow the conversation became adversarial and led them into competition to become president of M.Y.T.H., Inc.. The contest became too personal and they both were disqualified for the position.

In this novel, Skeeve is a Klahd. He was an apprentice magician in Klah, but has grown in skills and reputation under Aahz. He had originally started M.Y.T.H., Inc., with a few friends.

Aahz is a Pervect. He is big, green, scaly and has four inch long teeth. He is a fearsome sight, but is also Skeeve's mentor and friend.

Samwise is an Imp, a lesser version of the Deveels. He is building a pyramid in Aegis and offering sales commissions -- reducing their bill -- to buyers who bring in new customers.

Diksen is a strong magician and Samwise's competitor in the pyramid construction business. Samwise used to work for him, but quit after coming up with his new business plan.

Bunny is now president of M.Y.T.H., Inc., and is doing a great job.

Chumley is a Troll and the brother of Tananda. He uses the persona of Big Crunch with strangers and outsiders.

In this story, Aahz gets a visit by an Imp salesman and asks Skeeve to listen to the proposition. After several death threats, Skeeve and Aahz finally get the Imp to present the core of the deal. Samwise is having onsite accidents that cut into the construction schedule.

Skeeve and Aahz visit Aegis with Samwise. Their dimensional hop brings them into the dark interior of the tomb of Waycross. Getting out of the tomb is rather strenuous, but finally they all emerge into the bright and hot day.

The environment is much like the Bazaar on Deva. The natives mostly seem to have animal heads and feet, but some look like Klahds. On the way to his office, Samwise shows Aahz and Skeeve the shining white pyramid built by Diksen.

In his office, Samwise explains his prior experience and his brilliant financing scheme. He also renews his sales pitch on memorial stones and hooks Aahz on taking a top stone. Aahz claims that he wants to leave a legacy for the future.

Skeeve and Aahz soon appreciate the kind of accidents that have been occurring. A stone slips away from the scarab lifters and slams into the office building. Fortunately, none are hurt this time.

Skeeve and Aahz return to the Bazaar for the weekly staff meeting. They discuss their experiences on Aegis and run the contract by Bunny. She asks for their recommendations and then approves the contract.

Skeeve and Aahz are surprised to find Chumley working at the Pharaoh's court. He has gained a reputation within Aegis as a wise man and is helping with a problem. Although Chumley refuses to talk about it, Skeeve knows that the Pharaoh is having nausea spells.

This tale takes Skeeve around -- and under -- the kingdom. He meets Diksen and is not impressed by his manner. He also meets some friendly people during his travels.

In case you haven't noticed, the later novels have footnotes shilling the earlier books. They aeem to work, as witness my orders for these books. But you don't have to believe the hype if you are emotionally callous.

The primary author of this series passed away in 2008. But the series shall be continued by the secondary author. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Asprin fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of pyramid schemes, major curses, and clever solutions. If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is Another Fine Myth.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Having competed for the presidency of M.Y.T.H. Inc., Skeeve the Klahd magician and Aahz the Pervect eliminate each other leaving more capable Bunny running the show (see Myth-Chief). Samwise the Impish salesman offers a deal to Skeeve and Aahz to join in on making a fortune with the construction of a pyramid in Aegis.

The three visit the site where accidents have slowed down the work. The Imp eventually sells his memorial stones concept to Aahz. They soon see first hand the accidents that hinder the building of the pyramid, but must return to the M.Y.T.H. Inc. office to attend Bunny's weekly staff meeting. They explain the contract to Bunny who approves the deal with the Imp. While Aahz dreams of eternal memorial at the top, Skeeve seeks the source of the accidents that seem deliberate.

This is an amusing entry, apparently the last one in which the late Robert Asprin was involved as capable Jody Lynn Nye takes over the reins solo. The pyramid scheme story line is fast-paced though the plot is thin even with Skeeve giving readers a tour of the kingdom. Filled with the usual fun satirizing, fans will enjoy Myth-Fortunes, a fitting homage to Mr. Asprin.

Harriet Klausner

It was a loss when I lost another of "MY" Authors with the death of Robert Asprin. I had first found him in the pages of "Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe" wich he co-authored with Star Trek's George Takei. Not sure if what I liked about the book was his or George's (which really was why I had bought the book) I tracked down "Tambu" and "The Bug Wars" and then added another name to my "MUST BUY" list.

The arrival of the first "Myth" book a few years later was like falling into a Bing Crosby/Bob Hope "Road" movie, and the charm endured for decades. Thank you for the gift oh departed Storyteller, and may you spin for the Gods in Valhalla after the day's battles are won.

I now wait to see what his co-author, Jody Lynn Nye, will do as she takes up the task of writing the chronicle of our friends, and hope she can see them as clearly as Robert did. No easy task, but we "Weird" ones know our own, and she's been a member of the club for a while, now.

As long as she remember M.Y.T.H.'s credo, she'll do fine...all together now:

"When the going gets weird, the Weird get going!"

While the story lags a bit pacing-wise, it's well edited compared to its most recent predecessors. There's a lot that's familiar in this book, but the humor, a new dimension (that's "deeper" than it seems at first), some decent character development, and the tight focus on Aahz and Skeeve makes it a winner for me.

....to the fun at least.

This is the first Myth book to be fun to read in years. It doesn't quite come up to the level of the first books, but it is certainly better then the more recent work.

If you enjoy a good fun "Myth-Read", read this book and remember Robert Asprin as how good he could write

If one is hooked on Skeeve and the gang then this will be a good one. Need, but not required, a knowledge of Egyptology for the setting !
Skeeve 'developes' his dating skills, which are a fun sub theme along with the fear that Aahz is dying ( ironic juxtaposition ) !
Devotees will find the references to previous installments, as usual, add flavor. While newbees will have just as much fun with the story alone. Annotations are presented at the bottom of the page to direct one to when particulars occurred. A ploy to get first timers to read the previous stories? Nice move..
A sad aside: In the afterword, if the reader did not know, we are informed that Mr. Asprin passed in '08. Mrs. Nye has promised to shoulder the yoke and not let the series pass also. TY TY TY TY !!!

I enjoyed this latest book in the series. I am looking forward to the next book.

These books started out by skewering the old tried and true formulas...the characters were great ...the one liners were awesome... the fun and magic has slowly gone out of it...it is not the myth we grew to love...I think that unless robert takes back his books and devotes himself to them ...that it will no longer be worth reading...please ...bring back the magic and what have you done with Phule