Another Fine Myth Book Discussion

Photo of old and used hardback books.

Editors note: Dawn is an avid reader and library roamer who selects interesting books to review and discuss monthly

Another Fine Myth is the first book in the Myth Adventures series by Robert Asprin. It was also my introduction into the world of adult literature. Never again was I limited to grade school chapter books or teen novels for me. Over the past twenty years or so, I have reread this book many times. My copy is worn and dog-eared. Only in the past decade did I realize that my favorite fantasy novel was part of a series. Needless to say, I quickly began hunting down copies of the rest of the series. Aspirin wrote the first twelve books of the series on his own. Then he joined forces with Jody Lynn Nye to continue the series. Due to Robert Aspirin’s death in 2008, Jody Lynn Nye wrote Myth-Quoted on her own. In total, there are twenty-one books in the series both novels and anthologies. I enjoy them all!

As for Another Fine Myth itself, this novel has everything one could possibly want in a good story: an old magician, assassins, a dangerous beauty, a dragon, a unicorn, a demon hunter, con artists, etc. In addition, there is the ordinary kid who suddenly realizes that there’s a whole lot more to life than he ever realized was possible. Who can’t imagine himself in the Skeeve’s place? The kid comes from the backwater dimension of Klah. Magic and demons are something to be feared in Klah. Skeeve believes stealing is better than magic, so his mentor, master magician Garkin, summons a demon. It turns out that “demon” is just slang for a dimensional traveler. As the demon appears in the house, Garkin suddenly died!

The demon introduces himself as Aahz. Aahz is also a master magician. Yet, due to a trick Garkin pulled shortly before his untimely demise, Aahz doesn’t have any magical powers. Aahz’s knowledge combined with Skeeve’s magical abilities binds the two strangers together as master and apprentice. They set off on their adventures and meet wonderful characters along the way. Quigley is a demon hunter with a war unicorn. First off, I had never imagined a war unicorn. I usually think of them as elusive forest creatures. My image of exquisite creatures of life and purity is totally shattered by picturing a powerful unicorn in battle gear with a demon hunter as its master. Then again, the unicorn is named Buttercup, again invoking the image of a graceful creature grazing in a secluded forest glen.

One of the neatest things about Another Fine Myth lies in the setting. Unlike most of the fantasy novels I’ve read, the Myth Adventures series is not set entirely in one land or world. The characters often travel to other worlds. One such world consists entirely of a giant bazaar. Skeeve picks up his pet dragon at the bazaar. The stall owner was furious with Skeeve for bonding to his merchandise.

Fair warning, if you don’t enjoy puns and other tongue in cheek humor, skip this read! Otherwise, enjoy!

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