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Myth Directions

(Myth Adventures #3)

Robert Lynn Asprin

4.06 · Rating details · 11,089 Ratings · 124 Reviews

The beautiful Tanda wants the Trophy--and it's up to Skeeve to get it for her. The problem is, getting it will take more than luck. It will take all Skeeve's unproven magical talents, a scaly but clever Pervect, and a charming demon not above a little interdimensional thievery.

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Paperback, 224 pages

Published February 28th 2006 by Ace (first published 1982)

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Jul 02, 2016 Evgeny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

This review is dedicated to Iceland team of UEFA Euro 2016. Guys, you showed everybody you do not have to be a high-paid pro to play a good game.

This review is dedicated to Iceland team of UEFA Euro 2016. Guys, you showed everybody you do not have to be a high-paid pro to play a good game.

“When old friends get together, everything else fades to insignificance."- War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death.

Every chapter of all the books of the series starts with a funny epigraph; I could not resist using one of them above. Anyhow, Skeeve was bored out of his skull doing his job of a court magician (this means doing nothing). It did not help any that it was raining non-stop in the capital of the kingdom which employed Skeeve. Luckily Tanda showed up (for unfamiliar with the series think about a super sexy alien with a green skin from the original Star Trek – this is exactly Tanda).
Tanda

She invited Skeeve to help her with her shopping in other dimensions.

And so Skeeve went despite Aazh gloomy and pessimistic prediction of an upcoming disaster resulting from the trip. Aazh was right of cause. A bold theft went very wrong and Skeeve barely escaped back home to ask Aazh to help him get Tanda out of a tight spot. Their rescue attempt resulted in a lot of absurd situations – each one is more hilarious than the previous – and culminated in a very memorable game vaguely resembling football/soccer, thus my dedication in the beginning.
Fantasy soccer

Yes, the picture above gives a fairly good idea about that game.

It would be sufficient to say the novel made me laugh out loud in a public place, several times. Strictly speaking it does not exactly reach 5-star level, but anything making me laugh during the reread deserves an extra star. In other good news we get to meet even more interesting and colorful characters, Massha first and foremost. General Badaxe got himself a girlfriend and we learn a very interesting and unexpected tidbit about Tanda’s origins and see her brother up close and personal (hint: he does not need to be seen up close as he is very hard to miss even from a great distance).

It is hard to believe for this subgenre, but there are interesting character developments (for the main characters anyway). Both Skeeve and Aazh grow; even Skeeve’s pet baby dragon does (it takes about 300 years for the little guy to become mature). For this reason the series needs to be read in order. I really cannot say anything more than the following. Are you looking for a funny fantasy? Are you looking for a funny read and do not mind reading fantasy? In both cases you are looking for this. I am also sorry to say, but I like this one (at least first several books) more than Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld – Myth series is funnier in my opinion.
...more

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Sep 08, 2016 Orient rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: everybody

Shelves: desperado, entertaining, fantasy, favorites, killer, recs-by-evgeny

I liked the first two books and "Myth Directions" is also a short, fun and easy read. Once more the story is quite simple and it does well as a standalone or as a part of the series. I’m really glad to find fantasy is mixed with humor again. The interaction is quick and smart and the actions take a quick pace. Aahz and Skeeve have become my favorite duo and I enjoy reading about them and meeting their new allies. I enjoyed reading about their new adventures as they find themselves in another int ...more

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Jun 15, 2016 David Sarkies rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comedy

Let the Games Begin
20 June 2016

Well, it is 11:30 (it was 11:00 when I first started writing this review but my computer crashed which mean I lost everything – so much for autosave) and while I should be in bed fast asleep since I do have to go to work tomorrow I would rather be sitting here writing my review because, well, I would rather write a review than think about going to work, especially since my brain juices get a lot more exercise doing this than what I do for eight hours in a day. Min Let the Games Begin
20 June 2016

Well, it is 11:30 (it was 11:00 when I first started writing this review but my computer crashed which mean I lost everything – so much for autosave) and while I should be in bed fast asleep since I do have to go to work tomorrow I would rather be sitting here writing my review because, well, I would rather write a review than think about going to work, especially since my brain juices get a lot more exercise doing this than what I do for eight hours in a day. Mind you, I probably would have finished this review by now if my computer hadn't crashed and I had to do a hard reset (and no, I don't use Windows, or a Mac, but that is beside the point), but I guess I'm going to have to continue talking about this book because, well, I would rather do that than lie in bed (and I can also catch a snooze on the train on the way to work).

Anyway, what can you expect from Myth Directions? Well, you can expect the slapstick hilarity that you have come to expect from Asprins other books (and by they way, make sure your check out his picture on Goodreads, it's pretty cool – it certainly looks like the guy whose brain would come up with the Myth Adventures series – your typical, everyday, 70s hipster). The characters that you have grown to love once again make an appearance, along with a few new ones (including Tanda's brother, who turns out to be a bit of a surprise). Ahaz is his good old scheming self, and Tanda is makes a rather flirtatious return (but would you expect anything else from her). Anyway, here is a picture of our heroes:

Myth Heros

Oh, Gleep also comes back as well, but then again those of us who have read the first book probably know that Gleep ain't going anywhere (he's such a cute little dragon, though apparently he isn't that little by this time).

So, Skeeve wants to learn how to dimension hop, but Ahaz explains that to be able to dimension hop one needs to have visited over dimensions, and the Bazaar at Deva doesn't count (particularly since Skeeve always lands up in trouble when he's on Deva). To Skeeve's surprise Tanda rocks up and convinces Ahaz to let them go on an journey across the dimensions and Ahaz reluctantly agrees on one condition – Skeeve is not to get into trouble. Well, you can guess what happens – Skeeve gets into trouble.

Anyway, they end up on this would that has been at peace for five hundred years, namely because the two superpowers have a sporting event once a year and the winner of the sporting event gets to rule the world for that year. Unfortunately, Skeeve happens to upset the balance which results in Tanda getting abducted and the two superpowers preparing for war (despite the fact that they have actually forgotten how one is supposed to prosecute a war, but that is beside the point). So, to try and save face, or at least get Tanda back, they agree to take on both sides, at once, in this game.

Well, it turns out that this game has some rules, not many mind you – sort of five people on the ground at a time, and you have to get the ball through the hoop, oh and no edged weapons. Mind you, that happens to be more rules than your average game of keep-off, which is basically “don't let anybody else get the ball” which theoretically means that somebody on the sidelines can run onto the field, push a random person into the mud, and run off again (and it also means that the random person can then run off the field, punch that someone in the face, and run back onto the field – and my jaw still hurts).

Well, sport, it's a funny thing isn't it, and sometimes people, when they actually watch a game, wonder if there are actually any rules to the game. Okay, maybe a game like American Football, or Cricket, has clearly defined rules, but if you watch a game of Aussie Rules it might make you wonder if the title is actually in a foreign language that translates to 'football without any' (and the work aussi is actually a French word). Mind you, it is interesting because we all get distracted by these games and in many ways it simply seems that it is very much like what happens in Jhak – two teams go at each other once a year and the winner gets bragging rights – that's pretty much about it. Mind you, I do go to the occasional sporting much, and it really does get pretty emotional, but in the end I sometimes wonder whether it is worth it, especially since if my team loses I leave completely emotionally drained, while if my team wins I get, well, what is it that I get – nothing really. Somebody once said that I get bragging rights – but bragging rights ain't going to put food on my table.

I think I need a different hobby – maybe computer programming. ...more

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Oct 03, 2014 Gavin rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This third installment in Robert Asprin's Myth series was another fast paced and humorous read. All the fun stuff was back. The witty banter between the characters, adventures on weird demon worlds, hilarious situations, and a dose of magic.

The time around our apprentice magician, Skeeve, finds himself touring a few demon worlds in the company of Tanda. The aim is to find a birthday present for Aahz. After a bit of searching Tanda decides a unique trophy would be ideal. The catch? It's not for ...more

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Oct 03, 2014 Desinka rated it liked it

This installment was as fun as the previous one. It was great to follow Tanda and Skeeve in their search for a birthday gift for Aahz through the dimensions. I loved seeing more of the dimensions and the creatures that inhabited them. Then when they finally settled on a gift I thoroughly enjoyed all the mishaps and adventures that led to the hilarious resolution. It was great to see some old acauantances again. I'm also happy we've got some new ones. I'm looking forward to meeting Masha and Grif ...more

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Dec 22, 2013 Ryk Stanton rated it really liked it

This is book three of the series, and you already know that I like this series. It's hard to explain why you would like this series if you haven't already read it, but I'll try: first off, it's just funny. The first-person narrator is a young thief who wants to be a wizard, but his original mentor was killed and since then he has been palling around with a green-scaled dimension traveler. No, that's just not enough. The characters are distinct and fun, the plots are a bit simplistic but fun ... ...more

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Jan 25, 2017 BridgetT rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, my-books

Just too silly (smiley face). Lots and lots of fun. I'm still really enjoying the series. Now on to HIT OR MYTH.

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Feb 07, 2016 Michael rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Young adults, fantasy role-players, Asprin fans

Recommended to Michael by: Serendipity

Shelves: fantasy, literature, satire

This is the third book in the “Myth Adventures” series, but was the second one I read as a teenager. It continues the process of educating Skeeve, the main character, about magic and the multiverse he inhabits. It gives readers the chance to glimpse at least a bit of the many dimensions besides Klah, the narrator’s backwards home world, and Deva, home to the greatest bazaar in the known universe, although both of these locations appear as well.

The original proposal for this novel was that it wo ...more

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Nov 12, 2015 Neil rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is the 3rd book in the Myth Adventures series, and just as enjoyable as the previous outings. This time we follow Skeeve, a magician's apprentice, and Tanda, a lapsed assassin, as they travel through various different dimensions trying to find a suitable birthday present for Aahz, a Demon from Perv. It sounds a simple task, without a likelihood of things going wrong. That was until Tanda spotted the ideal gift, which unfortunately isn't for sale.
With Tanda captured, it falls on Skeeve and h ...more

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Dec 29, 2014 Henrik Havighorst rated it really liked it

Skeeve and Aahz are up to their old tricks again and as usual, they are spiralling into trouble faster than you could say "Gleep". Even though the structure of the storyline is very similar to the previous installment ( Conflict, Team Assembly, Final Showdown with two teams ), I did enjoy the banter and especially the interplay between Aahz and Skeeve. I am not keen on Tananda as a character. I think Asprin is not really very good when it comes to creating female characters and they feel more li ...more

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Mar 18, 2008 Matthew McPike rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Matthew by: Troy

Troy turned me on to this series of books. This was another great read from Asprin. It has a little bit of Fantasy, Comedy and Adventure. I have a copy somewhere for loan but can't seem to locate it right now.

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Jan 15, 2016 Timothy Boyd rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: shelfari-favorites

With the exception of Terry Pratchett no can write fantasy comedy like Aspin. These are great reads and you will laugh the entire way through. Highly recommended

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Sep 13, 2017 Shaun rated it it was ok

I thought this was a step down in the series. Whereas the previous book pushed forward the arc of the characters, this book felt like a complete one-off.

The plot of this book is also a lot weaker than before. The characters' motivations are hand-wavey. Why does Aahz adhere to the Quigley "promise"? Why does Badaxe join up? It is just strange and inconsistent with their previous character development. The whole book just feels very low stakes - who really cares about this random trophy? It feels ...more

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Jan 06, 2018 Charity Fairman rated it liked it · review of another edition

While I still very much enjoy the cast of characters, this particular story was a bit circular for me. Though the creativity abounds in making up the game and the dimensions. I do still enjoy the jokes as well.

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Jun 12, 2018 Allison Ray rated it it was amazing

If you've made it this far in the Myth series, then you, once again, won't be disappointed. Easy reading, funny, clever and witty, and just all around good fun. This time, you get a better sense of just how much Skeeve and Aahz can't help but get into trouble, and you get to meet fun new characters, like Massha! Not to mention getting to hang out with old favorites.

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Aug 21, 2017 Ayala Sela rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017

It was nice enough, but not too good

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Mar 24, 2018 Kalli Simmerman rated it did not like it

Gave the story a shot but even after the first ten pages, I wasn't invested it, the world, or the characters. Even tried browsing other sections but none could entice me to read the entire thing

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Oct 24, 2017 Brian O'Leary rated it really liked it

A very good series, that I would highly recommend, especially if you like your fantasy books to not take themselves too seriously.

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Nov 03, 2017 Crystal Sheldon rated it liked it

Not as catching as the first two, but fun and imaginative:) love the catchphrases that are often not understood

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Nov 30, 2017 Maksim rated it really liked it

Автор немножечко сбавил обороты. Возможно, сильно очеловечил эту часть, сбавил количества волшебства и неожиданых поворотов. Но при этом, это все так же приключенческая серия.

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Dec 17, 2017 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This third book of the series wasn’t quite as clever as the first two. I enjoyed but missed the clever humor and word-play of the previous books.

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Feb 04, 2018 Alex rated it it was amazing

On the run up to the Superbowl, it seemed appropriate to dive into the football caper in this series. It’s still tight and funny.

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Mar 28, 2018 Lynda rated it liked it · review of another edition

A Trophy, a Sportsball game, and Aahz's birthday, oh my! Skeeve goes shopping with Tananda for a gift for Aahz and things go wrong - which is par for the course for him.

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Sep 12, 2017 Stephanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This was another funny story. This story is about gambling and birthday present (for Oz). Love Gleep.

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Jul 29, 2018 Beorn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Another imaginative romp! These books are great fun!

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Sep 19, 2017 Karen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Cute and very punny! Skeeve and Tanda go off to get Aahz a birthday gift. Trouble in many dimensions ensues culminating in a game to end all games.

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Aug 15, 2008 Jamie rated it really liked it

One of my most childhood (well, teenagerhood) possessions is a pair of graphic novels based on Robert Asprin's "Myth" series, illustrated by Phil Foglio. I also read most of the books themselves and enjoyed them nearly as much. When I recently decided to re-read the first three books (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, and Myth Directions) I was surprised to find out how well they held up. They're still really fun!

Now while "fun" isn't the word I'd use to describe most books in the fantasy gen One of my most childhood (well, teenagerhood) possessions is a pair of graphic novels based on Robert Asprin's "Myth" series, illustrated by Phil Foglio. I also read most of the books themselves and enjoyed them nearly as much. When I recently decided to re-read the first three books (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, and Myth Directions) I was surprised to find out how well they held up. They're still really fun!

Now while "fun" isn't the word I'd use to describe most books in the fantasy genre these days, these books certainly are. On the surface they're about a newly master-less magician's apprentice, Skeeve, who is mentored by a demon, Ahz, whose wisdom and experience are only matched by his panache for con jobs and profit. Each book is essentially a caper where Asprin weaves a huge cast of vivid characters into entertaining and often amusing situations. The author has a real gift for plotting to the point where even when the situations are outlandish and complicated, you can trace a clear line of how the characters got into them.

And that's the point at which the real entertainment usually starts --when the characters have to get out of one mess and usually end up in another. What I like about these books is that Skeeve and Ahz and company don't win the day by being the strongest or the most powerful. They win it by using guile, trickery, improvisation, wits, and imagination. It's really satisfying to see these traits win out over seemingly impossible odds, and again Asprin has a gift for making it all believable within his own (admittedly self-created) rule set for the world he's constructed.

It's also worth noting that the books are consistently upbeat and lighthearted, with minimal violence and only mild sexual inuendo. The humor is situational and character driven, but also makes extensive use of puns and pop culture references (though some of those are a bit dated at this point). I'd highly recommend them to people of just about any age. I plan on reading more of the series whenever I want to take a break between other books for something more refreshing and fun. ...more

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Nov 13, 2016 Thomas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, fantasy, funny, re-read

Myth Directions is "The One About the Football Game". And the trophy. I put this first because at some point in the future, I'm going to forget which plot goes with which book, and this will be an easy way to jog my memory.

This is also the one where we meet Maasha and Chumley, the heavyset magician and Tanda's brother, respectively. As usual, the book starts out with an innocuous trip as Tanda takes Skeeve across several dimensions in search of a birthday present for Aahz. Of course, things go s ...more

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Oct 16, 2011 April Brown rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen, fantasy

A childhood favorite re-visited.

Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes

What ages would I recommend it too? – Twelve and up. While ten to twelve might enjoy it, there are many ideas they will not understand. Though, they will certainly get many of the jokes.

Length? – Reasonable for an afternoon.

Characters? – Memorable, several characters.

Setting? – Fantasy, alternate dimensions.

Written approximately? – 1982.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.

Any issues the ...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Ensiform rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

The third Myth Adventures book. The beautiful, flirty demon Tanda recruits Skeeve to steal the Trophy from the sports-obsessed planet Jahk as a birthday present for Aahz. Naturally, things go wrong, and in order to get away with it, they have to recruit a team from the Bazaar, again, and play in the Big Game.

It’s the usual madcap silliness filled with puns (the bird-populated dimension Avis is “number two” in Skeeve’s mind) interlaced with what is intended to be a situation fraught with peril, h ...more

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About Robert Lynn Asprin

Robert Lynn Asprin

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Robert (Lynn) Asprin was born in 1946. While he wrote some stand alone novels such as Cold Cash War, Tambu and The Bug Wars and also the Duncan and Mallory Illustrated stories, Bob is best known for his series fantasy, such as the Myth Adventures of Aahz and Skeeve, the Phule’s Company novels and the Time Scout novels written with Linda Evans. He also edited the groundbreaking Thieves’ World antho ...more