Robert Asprin: M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (1991, Ace Books)
159 pages
English language
Published April 7, 1991 by Ace Books.
As the "Myth Adventures" continue, Skeeve is now reluctant president of the corporation of work-for-hire magicians.
This volume was a big improvement over the previous one and the multiple narrators brought some freshness to the series.
I read a lot of these books when I was in grad school, but I must not remember this one. No, I DON'T remember this one. It does leave several planes hanging, but it gives a real good segue into the next book in the series. It's a good read, but no beginning to think I might have to get the next book…
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? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Fantasy, alternate dimensions.
Written approximately? – 1986.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.
Short storyline: Skeeve seems to have lost his emotions and attachment to his job. Sure, he okays everything, and goes over everything with an eagle eye, he just isn’t in on each project he sends his team into. One tale involves one of his mob bodyguards working in a Deveel factory creating cheap magic …
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? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Fantasy, alternate dimensions.
Written approximately? – 1986.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.
Short storyline: Skeeve seems to have lost his emotions and attachment to his job. Sure, he okays everything, and goes over everything with an eagle eye, he just isn’t in on each project he sends his team into. One tale involves one of his mob bodyguards working in a Deveel factory creating cheap magic toys. While there, they manage to find where the Deveel isn’t really losing money (actually his brother-in-law is cooking the books and gets a promotion), while the body guard manages to start a labor union so the employees could leave work with a few dollars in their pockets each week. Meanwhile, two other assistants (including a vampire from “Mything Persons”) are creating a Casino Hotel for a customer. Towards the end is an interesting tale from Gleep, a dragon’s eye view of the team, and how some people tend to have trouble spotting what is right in front of their noses.
Notes for the reader: In this story, this author takes the emotions of his characters seriously. The characters don’t just race through the story full of action without emotion. The author realized the importance of the reader connecting to the characters by giving us the emotions, and even the reasons behind those sometimes odd emotions for the situation. While the first few times, it is a shock to the system to actually read of a character having an emotion, soon, it just becomes an enhancement to the story. In fact, when the lack of emotions by the main character becomes apparent in a later story, even that is noted by all the characters, until it is resolved.
I'm impressed at the character development of Skeeve, and his relationships with his friends. The ending however... What a cliffhanger!
