Young magician Skeeve and his Pervert…er, Pervect mentor Aahz and their pals are back for their third adventure through the dimensions.
But how does this go round compare to the first two?
Does it hold the same tonal quality or is this where the series starts to go off the rails?
Let’s find out together, gang.
This is your ever helpful and always included ***SPOILER ALERT***, so act accordingly.
Fresh off their victory against Big Julie in Myth Conceptions, Aahz & Skeeve are examining their current lot in life, including the stank ass-ness of the Kingdom they are currently employed by.
But they’re soon joined by an old friend who whisks Skeeve away on a secret mission to get the perfect birthday present for Aahz.
This leads to Skeeve getting roped into a wargame in another dimension and more trouble than he ever imagined.
So by this point I feel I have a damn good grasp on what this series is and what it wants to be, as well as what Robert Asprin’s whole vibe is.
This series is not nearly as D&D inspired as I originally guessed it would be.
It’s more of a mix of middle fantasy with a light sci-fi thread wove through it.
All of the dimension travelling and such feels a bit more sci-fi to me, despite the plane shifting nature of D&D and such.
And I don’t point that out because I dislike it, its purely an observation.
Once again, I have to point out the impeccable attention to detail and continuity.
While this book, much like the other two, can totally stand on its own, the entire series definitely benefits from being read in order.
The references to the battle against the massive army from the last are definitely explained fully enough that you don’t need to have read it, but to actually experience it and see Skeeve’s reputation as it’s built is far better than to see fuckers walk up and say “You’re THE Skeeve??? Whoa!” constantly.
Though I know some may want to discount this as just a throw away series of jokey pun filled nonsense, there is clearly a great amount of world building and thought put into it.
There is no way in hell this can be just brushed off like that.
It doesn’t even tread anywhere near to the line of half-baked bullshit like it could.
A tremendous amount of care is taken, Asprin was a hell of a world builder and each book deeper I get into this series the clearer that becomes.
At this point, I’m a little baffled by this series though.
Robert Asprin was not an unknown author, and I keep hearing that studios are looking for books to turn into new franchises.
I’m stunned that somebody hasn’t snapped this series up to make a Movie series or TV show out of it.
Hell, even an animated series on one of these streamers would be a perfect fit.
Not that every book needs to be turned into a Movie or TV Show, they definitely don’t.
But I generally want the ones I dig turned into something else for the sole, and quite honestly, selfish reason that the more attention they get the more likely I am to get more books.
Jody Lynn Nye has carried this series on after Asprin’s death, so it would be a good boost in awareness and a great wave of new interest as well.
I’m for sure looking forward to more of this series.
It is definitely my flavor of goofy, and I love the wordplay.
With just the language and punage, it feels like a far more fantastical Dan Shamble.
This is a nerd wet dream in so many way, so don’t sleep on it any longer, gang.
Thanks again @MattCbert!
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And finally, given the state of the world, do what you can to leave it a little bit better than you found it.
As difficult as that may be currently, it can have an impact far greater than you know.
Until next time, stay safe out there, gang.
