Who's Who and What's What in the Myth Universe* from the pages of Something M.Y.T.H. Inc *(Warning: There are story giveaways included in these write-ups. If you're planning to read the whole series from the start, you may want to use this as reference only.) Aahz Aahzmandius. Skeeve's partner/mentor and second main character of the series. A demon from Perv, making him a Perv-ect or Perv-ert, depending on who you ask. Despite the various depictions by the cover artists, Aahz is actually shorter than Skeeve, though longer in the arms. (The stocky build, no neck, green scales, pointed ears, and nasty pointed teeth they got right.) It is not his height but his sheer presence that dominates situations and makes him such a scene stealer. He lost his powers due to a joke (powder) gone bad back in Another Fine Myth (Book 1). Ever since, he has been overseeing Skeeve's progress at learning magik, as well as teaching him the ins and outs of dimension travel and survival. While people who have spoken with me often think his speech patterns mimic mine, he is actually patterned after my old friend and right-hand man from the Dark Horde, Bork the Indestructible, AKA George Hunt. Ace/Berkley The current U.S. mass-market (pocket book sized) publisher of the Myth series. Also published the Thieves' World shared-world anthologies and the Phule novels. Ajax A genuine Archer from the dimension Archiah, the dimension that invented archery. A bit long of tooth, but deadly nonetheless and an old friend of Tananda's. Part of the team that helped Aahz and Skeeve stop Big Julie's army in Myth-Conceptions (Book 2). Anthony, Piers Has absolutely nothing to do with the Myth novels, but is the author of the popular Xanth novels. If you enjoy the Myth books, you'll probably like his Xanth novels as well. Asprin, Robert Began writing the Myth novels in the late '70s and has been (sporadically) writing them ever since. Also known for (co) editing the Thieves' World anthologies and writing the Phule novels. Noted for his lengthy and tear-jerking apologies to publishers, agent/packagers, and readers for missed deadlines and late deliveries. Ax, the A faceless, unknown character assassin hired by jealous rivals in Little Myth Marker (Book 6) to discredit Skeeve. Badaxe, Hugh (Gen.) Commander of the Royal Army of Possiltum. A seasoned veteran who rose through the ranks, he is the consummate burly, ax-wielding warrior. Also was part of the team with Aahz and Skeeve when they entered the Big Game in Myth-Direction (Book 3). Bee, "Spelling" One of the crew who enlisted with Guido and Nunzio in M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action (Book 9). A rather wimpy would-be magician, he ends up in the infantry along with everyone else. He only knows two spells: Dis-spell, and dat-spell. Dat-spell is very much like the disguise spells used elsewhere in the Myth universe, and dis-spell... well, dispels the dat-spells. Berfert A salamander (exact origin unknown) and partner to Gus, the Gargoyle. Part of the team that helped Aahz and Skeeve stop Big Julie in Myth-Conceptions (Book 2). Big Julie Commander and chief strategist for the largest, most effective army to ever sweep across Klah. Unstoppable and unbeaten until they tangled with Skeeve's team in Myth-Conceptions (Book 2). Currently retired and living in a villa in Possiltum. Serves as an advisor to M.Y.T.H. Inc. Brockhurst An Imp, sometimes working as an assassin. He first appears in Another Fine Myth (Book 1) as part of the team that kills Garkin, then appears again in Myth-Conceptions (Book 2) as part of the team trying to stop Big Julie's army. Bunny Member of the M.Y.T.H. Inc. team, primarily serving as personal assistant to Skeeve. Was originally assigned to Skeeve as a Moll by her Uncle, Don Brace. Has since emerged as an excellent financial manager and economics expert. Extremely curvaceous and cuddleable. Buttercup A war unicom. Originally belonging to Quigley, given to Skeeve as a gift. Cassandra A lively bawd that Vic lines up as a blind date for Skeeve in Sweet Myth-Tery of Life (Book 10). This vamp is a genuine vampire from Limbo, who takes it on herself to show Skeeve the nightlife. [The fact that this character's name is the same as that of the actress who plays Elvira is purely coincidental.] Chumley A Troll, also a member of the M.Y.T.H. Inc. team along with his sister, Tananda. Works under the name of Big Crunch, at which times his manners and vocabulary deteriorate noticeably. (There is little work for educated, coherent trolls.) VERY large with tusks and different-sized eyes. D-hopper A mechanical device used to travel between dimensions. Roughly the size and shape of a bicycle handle. One sets it by twisting different portions of the cylinder to align various markings to indicate the specific dimension one wishes to travel to. demon The common term for a dimension traveler. Usually applied by natives of one dimension to visitors/beings from other dimensions. Deva Home dimension of the Deveels. Once ravaged by economic disaster, the Deveels used their dimension-traveling abilities to travel to other dimensions, where they became notorious as merchants supreme. Bom their extreme trading skills and the horrifying tales of their home dimension gave rise to numerous folklores on other dimensions. Deva, Bazaar at As there are too many dimensions for any single individual to travel in a lifetime, however long that might be, there has developed a vast, 24/7 marketplace where the Deveels gather to sell and swap the wonders of the dimensions among themselves. It is said that if you can't find it at the Bazaar at Deva, it doesn't exist dimension One of multiple worlds that exist simultaneously on different planes of existence. There are not many beings who are aware that these worlds/dimensions exist. There are even fewer who know how to travel between them. Djinger The dimension that Djins and Djeanies come from. It makes its money by hiring out its residents as short-term, limited-wish-granting magik users. Don Bruce The current fairy godfather for organized crime on the dimension Klah. At one point negotiated with Skeeve to exchange the Mob's interest in Big Julie's army for access to Deva. Later, after a wave of insurance frauds negated his efforts to sell protection to the Deveels, hired Skeeve to manage the Mob's interests in that same dimension. All that happens in Hit or Myth (Book 4), but he makes return appearances throughout the rest of the series. He is very fond of Skeeve, and has assigned him two bodyguards, Guido and Nunzio, as well as his own niece, Bunny, to serve as his Moll. Secretly hopes that Skeeve will marry Bunny and succeed him as head of the Mob. Donning/Starblaze The original trade (outsized, library-quality) editions of the Myth novels. Kelly Freas, hired as an editor to start their SF/Fantasy Starblaze line, was the only one to show an interest in publishing a humor fantasy novel. Dragon poker The most complicated card game in all the dimensions and very popular with dimension-traveling gamblers. It's basically a form of 9-Card Stud, except there are conditional modifiers that change the value of a hand or card depending on the number of players, the day of the week, the compass point the player is seated facing, the color of the room the game is played in, what the high card of the winning hand was two hands ago, etc., etc. You get the picture. Duchess Aahz's mother. Bankrupted the family with a series of bad investments, causing Aahz to drop out of M.I.P. Lives on Perv and still dreams of making a "big killing." We meet her briefly in Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervestions (Book 8). Flie Brothers Hyram and Shubert. Also known as Hi and Shu. Farm boys who joined the Royal Possiltum Army at the same time as Guido and Nunzio, as chronicled in M. Y. T.H. Inc in Action (Book 9). Passable shots with crossbows. Trained by their father and mother, Horse and Dragon Flie. Foglio, Phil An insanely funny artist and long-time friend (of As-prin's). Did the covers and interior art of the Donning/ Starblaze editions of Books 3 through 10 (also a reissue of Book 1), as well as the adaptation of the first book (Another Fine Myth) into graphic/comic format for WaRP Graphics. Freas, Kelly Multiple-Hugo-winning artist, fellow Klingon, and the original editor and artist for the Myth novels. Frumple A Deveel currently in residence in Klah after having been banished from Deva. Cuts a deal with Aahz and Skeeve that ultimately gets them lynched in Another Fine Myth (Book 1), though he makes occasional appearances in other volumes. [Face it, how many fantasy series do you know of where the two lead characters get lynched in the first book?] Garkin Skeeve's original magik teacher. Assassinated shortly after summoning Aahz from another dimension as a demonstration for his apprentice in Another Fine Myth (Book 1). Geek, the A Deveel gambler and bookmaker. Based at the Bazaar at Deva, he frequently comes out on the short end betting against Skeeve and the M.Y.T.H. Inc. team. Gleep A blue baby dragon "acquired" by Skeeve during his first visit to the Bazaar at Deva in Another Fine Myth (Book 1). His exact size seems to vary with the cover artist and (admittedly) the needs of the storyteller. Though he has an extremely limited vocabulary, there is more to him than meets the eye. More sentient than anyone in the team is aware, he is, perhaps, the only real stone killer in the whole crew, as evidenced by his firsthand viewpoint in M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (Book 7). Grimble, J. R. The head accountant and Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Kingdom of Possiltum, and therefore a frequent advisor of Skeeve and his crew. Originally patterned after one of my old bosses from my accounting days at Xerox, University Microfilms. Guido One of Skeeve's bodyguards, along with his cousin, Nun-zio, and a full-fledged member of the M.Y.T.H. Inc. Team. Think of a couple NFL offensive linemen, only with weapons. At one point in his past, Guido had a supporting role in a production of GUYS AND DOLLS, and it has permanently affected his speech patterns. Gus A gargoyle (exact origins unreferenced), partner of Ber-fert, the salamander, and an old friend of Aahz's. Part of the crew that Skeeve uses to stop Big Julie's army in Myth-Conceptions (Book 2), and part of the team entered in the Big Game in Myth-Directions (Book 3). Hemlock, Queen The ruler of the kingdom of Impasse who joins her kingdom with Possiltum by marrying Rodrick in Hit or Myth (Book 4). Notably homicidal with the morals of an alley cat, it has long been her dream to go into real estate, Genghis Khan style. She was so much fun to write that I gave her a rematch. That starts at the end of M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (Book 7) and inspires the situation the runs all the way though Sonething M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Book 12 ... the one you're holding now). Imper Home dimension of the Imps. Both the dimension and the Imps are poor imitators of Deva and the Deveels. They try to negotiate, but can be outbartered. Isstvan The baddie from Another Fine Myth (Book 1). A renegade magician out to rule the dimensions, mainly by eliminat- ing the competition, who are tapping into each dimension's magical energies. This is his second try at this project, having been thwarted in his first effort by the combined efforts of Aahz, Tananda, and Garkin, among others. For appearance, picture him as a demented Santa Claus. Last heard of running a hotdog stand at the Isle of Coney. Jahk A strange little dimension featured in Myth-Direction (Book 3) wherein the two leading city states, Veygus and Ta-hoe, decide who will run the dimension for the next year by having their representative teams square off in the Big Game. [If you think that's ridiculous, think of counting chads in Florida!] The little tongue-in-cheek twist here is that while the athletes themselves are huge monsters who have been bred specifically for the game for the last five hundred years, the bulk of the citizens are either vastly overweight or thin as rails. Junebug Another one of the "Bug Squad" that went though Basic with Guido and Nunzio in M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action (Book 9). This one is a pretty-boy wannabe actor. Kalvin A mini, one-wish-only djin acquired by Skeeve in Hit or Myth (Book 4), but not actually called on until Myth-Nomers and ImPervection (Book 8). Billed as "the latest thing in designer djins!" Klah Skeeve's home dimension (making him a Klahd) and the locale for most of the novels that don't center around Deva. It is about as exciting as the Midwest without the technological advances. It does, however acknowledge magik and hires magicians. Kow-tow A nearly unreachable dimension populated by vegetarian cowboys and vampire cattle that figures heavily in Aahz and Skeeve's treasure hunt in Myth-Ion Improbable (Book 11 ...well, 3.5, really). Limbo An unlisted dimension accessible through the (boarded? up) back door of the M.Y.T.H. Inc. team's headquarters at the Bazaar at Deva, as was discovered in Myth-Ing Persons (Book 5). Inhabited by creatures of the night, primarily vampires and werewolves, it is one of those dimensions that does not encourage tourism. Massha Originally encountered when she was working as the magician for Veygus on Jahk in Myth-Directions (Book 3), she takes an extended vacation from her position to sign on as Skeeve's apprentice in Hit or Myth (Book 4). As far as appearance goes, she's a show-stopper. She is EXTREMELY large in all directions, which does not keep her from accenting her orange hair with green lipstick, leopard-skin bikini outfits, and enough jewelry to break a mule's back. Primarily a "mechanical" magician resorting to charms and gimmicks, she is also noted for having a heart that dwarfs her physical stature. Meisha Merlin The new hard cover and soft cover trade edition publisher for the Myth novels, having purchased (with the help of Bill Fawcett and Associates) the contract for Myth-Ion Improbable (Book 11) and Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. from Donning/Starblaze. They are also reissuing the first ten titles in four omnibus editions. Meisha Merlin will be doing the new hard cover and soft cover trade edition Myth novels that Robert Asprin is co-authoring with Jody Lynn Nye. M.I.P. The Magical Institute of Perv. Aahz's alma mater and the leading school for magical study on Perv. M.Y.T.H. Inc. Magical Young Trouble-shooting Heros. The name the crew came up with when they incorporated at the end of Little Myth Marker (Book 6). Okay, so it's not the greatest name out there. Still, it's the kind of thing you get when you leave decisions to a committee. Nunzio Cousin to Guido and his comrade in arms when it comes to bodyguarding Skeeve. Prior to working for the Mob, Nunzio worked a stint as a kindergarten teacher, making him the team member of choice to work with Gleep. Perv The home dimension of Aahz. Equally noted for its advanced magick, technology, and inhospitality to visitors. Described as looking like Manhattan, only cleaner. Skeeve finally gets to visit this dimension in Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections (Book 8). Phule, Willard The main character of the best-selling Phule novels. (Hey! If I'm going to plug other authors' series, why not do the same with my own?) Pookie Cousin to Aahz, she is hired by Skeeve as a bodyguard while he is visiting Perv in Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections (Book 8). Unlike the stocky, heavyset males of Perv, she is whipcord-lean and moves like a panther. She decides to tag along when Aahz and Skeeve return to Klah to deal with Queen Hemlock. Possiltum The setting for most of the adventures in Klah. This was the kingdom Skeeve first worked for as Royal Magician, giving him a bit of a soft spot for seeing that things go well for it. Potter, Harry Does not appear at all in the Myth novels, having opted for a more formal education in another dimension/fantasy series. Pratchett, Terry Author of the Discworld novels, another humor/fantasy series you're sure to enjoy when you ran out of Myth novels to read. (Okay. He writes other stuff as well, but it's the Discworld novels that get him a plug here.) Quigley Originally encountered as a demon hunter in Another Fine Myth (Book 1), he nonetheless ends up assisting Aahz and Skeeve in their campaign against Isstvan. At the end of that adventure, he decides he needs to learn more about this magik stuff, and heads off in the company of Tan-anda. When later seen in Myth-Directions (Book 3), he is working as the magician for the city state of Ta-hoe on Jahk. "Road" movies (the) The zany "On The Road To Singapore/Morocco/Rio/etc." movies starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. I was watching a festival of them on television (pre-cable) when I started outlining and writing Another Fine Myth (Book 1), and have been watching them on videotape during my breaks while doing the final re-writes of this volume. To say they heavily influenced the tone and characterizations in the Myth novels is an understatement. Rodrick the Fifth, King As ruler of the kingdom of Possiltum, he is the first one to hire Skeeve full time as Royal Magician in Myth-Conceptions (Book 2) at the suggestion of Grimble and over the objections of General Badaxe. [Badaxe's opinions might have been swayed by the fact that Skeeve was being chosen to fight Big Julie's army instead of putting the money into expanding Possiltum's army.] Rodrick's reign and life come to an untimely and suspicious end shortly after marrying Queen Hemlock. Rowling, J.K. Has nothing to do with the Myth novels, but writes the Harry Potter books. (As if you needed me to tell you!) Sen-Sen Ante Kid The reigning Dragon Poker champion. Named for his habit/tradition of including a breath mint with his ante for the first hand of a game. Large, bald, and wrinkled. (He's had the tide for a long time.) Skeeve The main viewpoint character for most of the Myth novels. Strangely enough, he has never been described in the series, giving the cover artists free rein. Picture him as a gangly teenager, whose body and energies have developed faster than his wisdom. Though normally insecure and angst-ridden, Skeeve nonetheless is fiercely loyal and over-responsible ... and has a temper that surfaces from time to time which makes him formidable. Smiley, Sergeant The Drill Instructor who oversees Basic Training for Guido and Nunzio when they enlist in Possiltum's army in M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action (Book 9). Spyder A rough-and-tumble female punker/street tough who is part of the Bug Squad that Guido and Nunzio serve with in M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action (Book 9). Has aspirations of joining the Mob after her enlistment. Tananda Also known as Tanda for short. (It took the movie types who were optioning the Myth novels to point out to me that "Tanda" was a cute form of "T-and-A"!) First appearing in Another Fine Myth (Book 1), Tananda has become one of the major characters of the series, appearing in nearly every one of the volumes. An assassin and minor magik-user, she is the ultimate sex kitten with green hair and a voluptuous body. Much to Skeeve's disappointment, she has adopted a "big sister" attitude toward our hero. Trollia Home dimension of Tananda and Chumley. Though we never visit this dimension in the novels, it is clear that the men are Trolls and the women are Trollops. Vic A young (Skeeve's age) vampire from Limbo. First seen in Myth-Ing Persons (Book 5), he is currently residing at the Bazaar at Deva, trying to break into the magik business. Vilhelm Makes a brief appearance in Myth-Ing Persons (Book 5) as the dispatcher of Nightmares in Limbo. Based loosely on long-time friend and hard-working packager Bill Faw-cett of Bill Fawcett and Associates. WaRP Graphics The publishing house of Wendi and Richard Pini, best known for the ElfQuest saga. Coincidentally, they also published the graphic adaptations of the first two Myth novels. Weasel One of Guido and Nunzio's old associates from the Mob. Whereas they are large kneecappers who only resort to violence when the other side is too dumb to take the hint, Weasel is a thin, wiry knife-man who likes his work. Woof Riders, The Idnew and Drachir (which are Wendi and Richard spelled backwards), a husband and wife artist/writer team that help Skeeve in Myth-Ing Persons (Book 5). [And they ask writers where they get their ideas!] Zoorik Where the gnomes come from.