Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Phule and his publisher, November 10, 1999
ACE should have given Robert Asprin a swift kick in the butt. Instead they hired a piece of crap writer to carry Asprin and he screwed up the book. Heck obviously had a story of his own in mind when he was handed the reins to "A Phule and His Money". The beginning of the book was typical Asprin; funny, lighthearted and an enjoyable read. Then Heck sat down in front of the computer and proceeded to butcher Asprin's jovial artistry. The following is a list complaints I have with the book. Too long- I should have known something was up when I saw the size of the book and Heck's name on the cover (I love long books but it wasn't appropriate for the Phule series). Side Plots- Heck killed all the side plots within just a few pages of each other and wasted an opportunity to write a better book. New characters- This book was supposed to be about the new additions to the Omega crew. Instead, these new characters had very small roles in this book. Heck took a fun loving commander who involved his troops in everything he did and only used his money to take care of minor inconviences and he turned him into a self centered, secretive individual who instead of using his team to solve problems used his money. I can honestly say I wish I had never read this book and if the next book in the MYTH series is anything like this, ACE shouldn't even bother to print it.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, Fun, and a Quick, Easy Read -- Really!, April 18, 2000
The "Phule" books -- all of them -- are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted reads, and "A Phule and His Money" fits the bill, following in the entertaining footsteps of its predecessors. All of the characters are there -- the butler (who plays a major role despite what a previous reviewer claimed), Chocolate Henry, Mother, Sgt. Brandy, et al -- and Phule's escapades as he outwits his superiors in rank while accomplishing his mission's goals are as humorous as ever. There's mystery, organized crime, abductions, even romance! Note: you must read the two previous books in order to understand this one. Also, don't expect in-depth plots or character exposes. This book is meant to be fun, not something on the book-club list.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A recipe for disaster, October 17, 1999
This was actually the subtitle of the book, found inside the cover, and it is an accurate assesment of the book on the whole. It's been roughly six years since the previous Phule book was published, and it seems this is the best effort Ace could come up with. I would have preferred to wait another six years for another book of the same quality rather than be duped into buying this ill-conceived and poorly written attempt at trying to cash in on Asprin's creation. I can't imagine that Robert Asprin had much to do with this latest volume of the series, other than by providing a general outline and then allowing Peter Heck to have his way with the Phule universe. I've never read anything by Peter J Heck before and have no idea if this effort is representative of his other work, but I can't imagine that he spent much effort in researching for the book. Anyone who has read Asprin before will be gravely dissappointed, especially if they've read the previous two books in this series. Characters often behave inconsistently in speech and action, doing and saying things that never would have happened if they were under the control of the original author. It was a painful experience just trying to finish it. The material introduced at the closing of Phule's Paradise is wasted here, with old characters making appearances with no purpose other than to show that they're still alive, and many subplots still left dangling as the book eventually derails, a rollercoaster ride gone horribly wrong. Even the cover art is lame, with Jester looking like a 16 year old with braces. I encourage anyone curious about Asprin's MYTH and Phule series to look at the earlier installments, and not to be put off by this latest. The bottom line, save yourself the money and the aggravation, and stay the "Heck" away from this one!
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