Mason Quayle is a bard living in a town whose heroes have long since fled. No heroes = no adventurous tales and nothing for a bard to write about....
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Dec 17, 2009
John
rated it: 
Two young lunks venture out on a search for Heroes to save their town from Orc thugs. It seems to me that more and more fantasies are taking longer and longer to pick up the pace, and this one's no exception--but parts are gut-bustingly funny (one of the lads is a would-be bard who can and does spin out lame verse on demand, and one of the Heroes who shows up is narcoleptic, but a fearsome swordsman in his sleep), and the last third or so is pretty strong. Some of the Heroes are Sheroes. There's
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Oct 03, 2008
Jamie
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In his first novel (YA), Anderson creates an entertaining parody of the fantasy genre, where heroes are profiteers, faithful steeds are hard to come by, and reputations depend on good marketing. Involves a sleeping swordsman, a teenage witch trying to perfect her cackle, and loads of orcs and pixies. Underlying the dry humor is a well-orchestrated tale of two teenagers trying to figure out what to do with their lives, which currently includes barding and plume selling.
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May 26, 2009
Additeenlibrarian
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This is a fun fantasy read. Mason is a bard and Cowel is a plume salesman ... and they're both pretty much losers. When Mason accidentally discovers that the town hero (the only thing standing between destruction and the town) is an even bigger loser with a secret, what's he to do? He and Cowel set out to find some real heroes to save the town, of course. If it's not a sleep-walking swordsman or a swallowed pixie (with a very tiny, pointy sword), then it's a 300-lb. bully in a flowered dress or
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Sep 23, 2008
Miss Clark
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 12, 2008
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Natalie Tsang for TeensReadToo.com
STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR by John David Anderson is the funniest and most enjoyable quest story I've read in awhile. I've always been under the impression that there is something inherently serious about quest stories, but here heroics and humor are combined in a combination as smooth and delicious as cookies and milk.
This is not to say the stakes aren't high. Mason Quayle, a teenage bard, and his best friend, Cowel, have three More...
STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR by John David Anderson is the funniest and most enjoyable quest story I've read in awhile. I've always been under the impression that there is something inherently serious about quest stories, but here heroics and humor are combined in a combination as smooth and delicious as cookies and milk.
This is not to say the stakes aren't high. Mason Quayle, a teenage bard, and his best friend, Cowel, have three More...
Jul 22, 2008
Molly
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Mason Quayle, malcontented Bard, is the only son of Diedra and Edmond Quayle. His father left some years back, off on another high stakes adventure. After all, Edmond was one of the most famous of all Heroes that the town of Highsmith ever saw, and when the heroes needed an adventure (read: money) Edmond when where to find them.
Now, its Mason's turn as the town's last remaining protector, Duke Darlinger, has been uncovered as a fraud, and a marauding party of Orcs is on the way to p More...
Now, its Mason's turn as the town's last remaining protector, Duke Darlinger, has been uncovered as a fraud, and a marauding party of Orcs is on the way to p More...
Sep 20, 2008
Mary
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Mason is a struggling bard who dreams of going on real adventures even while he has to work hard to pay off his Protection Tax. You see, the town of Darlington (formerly Highsmith) no longer has its own heroes. Instead, the entire town pays their taxes to Duke Darlington in return for him keeping them safe from orcs, goblins, trolls, and whatever else may attack. When Mason finds out that not everything about the Duke meets the eye, he also realizes that the town is in danger, and only he and hi
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Jun 15, 2009
Kelly
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Mason and his friend Cowel go upon a quest to save their town, Darlington. This humorous heroes tale was quite entertaining; sometimes the humor reminded me a bit of The Princess Bride and a little bit Monty Python. However, the story isn't all funny as Mason struggles to find the truth surrounding his father's disappearance when his was very young. I would like to read more from this author and more stories set in this magical world. I almost didn't want the tale to end.
May 08, 2009
Cathy
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an odd book... starts off a bit too slow, plods through the set up, THEN takes off. Not sure boys would stick with it. But a true hero tale- not the cocky swashbuckling kind the blurb hints at, but the do-the right-thing becuase its the right thing, no matter how scared kind. You know, the kind us regular people can be. A few pages of editing would've really helped this one.
Jun 03, 2009
Doris
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Written for young adult (about 14 actually) but good - conversational and worth reading even when you have figured out where the story is headed.
Aug 15, 2009
Deb
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This story is cute, clever and funny. A great afternoon read. Seems like the author is a clear fan of the likes of Terry Pratchett and this is a great homage to that style.
Oct 29, 2011
Ariel
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Well, the author did try very hard, and I feel for him. This tried to be a parody of the fantasy genre, but fell quite short.
May 24, 2011
Jacqui
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Enjoyable read. Self deprecating humour, orcs, witches, heros, bards. All good stuff. Liked the plot, kept me guessing
Dec 03, 2009
Melanie
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The town of Darlington needs a hero.
Mason, a 15 year old bard is tired of his poor paying job and uneventful life.
Mason, a 15 year old bard is tired of his poor paying job and uneventful life.
Mar 02, 2011
Ruth
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This is a light-hearted, funny, and easy read - great for kids - an adventure of self-discovery. “Because most of us aren't really heroes, per see, we're just every day people having heroic days”.
May 21, 2010
Richelle
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didnt finish it.....It was a little bit slow for me.... you might like it though.... It was very funny!!!
Oct 25, 2009
Alisa
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Very funny book filled with fantasy action. Written by an Indiana author. Laughed and laughed.
Aug 04, 2009
Donna Jo
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Mock heroic tale of the hero quest. Don't believe all the tales of epic deeds and mighty heroes.
Jun 12, 2009
Lu
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Loved it! The characters are quirky and funny. I think kids will really enjoy it.
Mar 20, 2009
Breanna
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It was enjoyable most of the time, but I did not like the end very much.
Jun 29, 2008
Cindy
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Mason and his friend Cowel set off on a quest to find a few good men - or women - to come and save their town from the goblins. Along the way, Mason tries to figure out what really happened to his father and what it means to be a hero.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. Mason is a very likeable character and there are some really funny parts. I liked the female characters, the witch and the warrior. But there were occasional swearwords that popped up and kind of caught me off guard. Other t More...
Overall, I enjoyed this one. Mason is a very likeable character and there are some really funny parts. I liked the female characters, the witch and the warrior. But there were occasional swearwords that popped up and kind of caught me off guard. Other t More...
Jul 28, 2010
Molly
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I really liked the characters, but got lost in some of the secondary characters. It was an interesting hero tale, but I wasn't riveted.
Mar 29, 2010
Angela
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This would have been just a kid's book but there was quite a bit of swearing in it. A good mixture of fantasy, search-for-self, and humor!
Apr 13, 2011
Chandra
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This book was well written and funny. I enjoyed the friendship between Cowel and Mason and what the two became after their adventures. This book would be really good for someone who is a bit younger because it was an easy read, but it is a book that is fun for everyone.
Mar 24, 2011
Alethea
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I know it's supposed to be YA but I think that aside from some coarse language it's appropriate for younger kids. Nothing risque apart from a cross-dressing ogre and a line about sucking venom out of your own butt (in a Cosmo-type quiz, "Is your Hero a Stud or a Dud?")
Very funny, reminds me of Munchkins (it's a game).
Very funny, reminds me of Munchkins (it's a game).
Apr 24, 2008
Cara
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This book was pretty good. Two young men set out on a quest to save their town from impending doom. Along the way they meet some interesting people that help them. The plot wasn't quite in depth enough. Some parts of the story felt rushed, but all in all I enjoyed it.
Feb 24, 2010
Ryann
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This was fun to read out loud to my husband. The story seems light-hearted at the beginning, but toward the end it digs deep at what it means to be a hero and to take responsibility for one's actions.
Mar 28, 2008
Savannah
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Starts off like a sort of alternative fairy tale and goes in some places you may not expect while looking at what it really takes to be a hero.
Oct 02, 2008
Two young boys set out to find heroes to save their town. They are reading a book about heroes on the trip - funny
